I only met Gretchen very recently when she was a guest at our pop-up dinner in the fall and I had the most wonderful evening of conversation with her.  Her energy, sharp eyes and  quick humor made me a fan instantly.  It saddens me that she has left us but also reassures me that her spirit will be ever-present .

Your Mom will always be in our hearts along with your Dad.....two fab people who mean so much to us....and then Molly came along
such a warm and comfy family...we are here
Molly....the door is always open to you...
Rosemary and Michael Sternbach
Little Silver, NJ 07739
We are a skip and a jump from New York City

Molly, our thoughts are with you.  You're mom was a wonderful woman and will be very much missed.
Peter & Alex Carlson

"Molly's mom is great! Her name is Gretchen and she wants to help."
That is how I was first introduced to this wonderful person.  Her contributions to Camp Claire will never be forgotten. Gretchen brought so much positive energy and style with 
her wherever she went. You couldn't help but smile when she was around. She made the world a better place, and Molly you are following in her footsteps. 
Brenda Moriarty

I was very sorry to get the news this morning. I met Gretchen tending bar on the Cape - she invited me to visit in Aspen - I did - met Janet and Harvey Finn and David MacDonald - and lived there for a year! Changed the rest of my life for the better. We lost touch - but you really can't forget her?

I grew up with Gretchen and remained close friends for over 55 years. Will always remember our trips to Aspen and Woodstock with great fondness. Molly, I am so sorry for you loss. David Macdonald, Dallas Texas.

Molly,
  Our prayers are with you during this difficult time. Your mom is in heaven now and her spirit will always be with you. You are such a lovely, kind person. You and your mom share the same special light that is a blessing to all that know you. God bless you.
 Love,The Klein Family

She was such a special person. There was not a thing. She wouldn't do for you. Her love for animals was her passion. My heart goes out to Molly, I hope you find pease and the way of life that should would want for you.

Gretchen was my first friend in college and I have so many wonderful memories of our times together.  We laughed a lot throughout those years and continued to share many shenanigans together during our 20's. From the North Shore and Boston to the Cape, from CT to the Florida Keys, the Caribbean and everywhere in between we certainly had fun! We were young and carefree and nothing stopped us. I am saddened to hear of Gretchen's passing...it's much too soon. I saw her about 10 years ago and it was as if time had stood still. She was still the same warm, loving, passionate and witty friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I'm a better person to have known and loved Gretchen.

Gretchen:  Always such fond memories of time together with the horses!! Teaching Molly to ride and chasing an emu. A generosity that was unsurpassed and joy of life in every little thing!! One of the few that was welcoming to me when I was new to this area. A true spirit!! Much love to you Molly!

Gretchen always made us laugh. She was bigger then life.   Her love for animals was so incredible.  Every critter she adopted was solo lucky.
Looking forward to seeing Molly.  Thinking the last time we saw her was at her baptism in the barn.
Gretchen's memory will live on forever in our family!

Dear Molly,
The world became a dimmer place with the loss of the light that was Gretchen.  But Heaven is brighter now.  We mourn with you and wish you peace.
Love,
Rebecca and Jeff Parsons and family

Such wonderful memories of our time together. Molly, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Ozcur was only one of the wonderful gifts we received from you and your mom and we are all heart-broken for your loss. Sending you lots of love from the whole family.

I am so sad to learn she was I'll.. Her smile will be missed.

Gretchen you will always be missed by me and everyone who knew you. Too young to leave us but somewhere someone has a better plan for you. Thank you for your friendship and as always your help with my stray cats. No one could pill a cat as well as you. Today the sky is crying white flakes and you are no longer suffering. Our love to Molly and hugs to you. It will be a different town without you. Love and friendship, Jean and Art

We at the Saybrook Veterinary Hospital have known and loved Gretchen for over twenty years.  It was routine for her to breeze into the clinic with her cheery "hello kids!" and go off in search of an animal to rescue.  We could always count on her to place a homeless dog or find just the right pet for a grieving client.  When Mowry was alive our office would host Mr and Mrs Santa parties for the pets.  Mowry dressed in full Santa gear and in no time his glasses fogged and he was covered in dog urine, much to Gretchen's delight.  More recently Gretchen generously offered her barns for our whimsical staff photo shoots.  Her "goose portrait" and many barn photos still hang on our walls.  They are a reminder of her compassion for every animal she encountered.  We will all miss her terribly.
Our heartfelt condolences to Molly and family.

Molly,
 I am so deeply saddened at the loss of your mother.  I don't believe I ever met her, but she must've been a great woman to have raised a daughter like you.
 You are in my thoughts and prayers.

I will always treasure my memories with Gretchen  especially our magical week in Mykonos together. Another favorite memory is the time she went through the screen door by mistake one summer evening, falling down - but keeping her drik upright and not spilling a drop of her martini or losing the olives! She was very proud of herself! I can just imagine the smiles she is bringing to Heaven. Gretch, You will be  with me forever in spirit. Molly, you had the most amazing and magical mother!

Rest in peace Gretchen~
Molly our thoughts and prayers are with you! Your Mother was a larger than life character who will be with you, and all who loved her, through her warm and wonderful spirit! Cherish your wonderful memories and God Bless!

We only met a few times but Gretchen was certainly a memorable lady. What fun to be around her. .  So sorry. Prayers  on the way.  My love to molly     Bobbie's Grandma  Erie, Pa

GG, I always loved you and I still do and I hope when I die I can see you in heaven. I love you. Goodbye GG. Love your grandson Witt.

I'm so proud to be able to say Gretchen was a family friend, to remember her for unstoppable spirit and her always welcoming nature. Rest in peace, dear friend.

My deepest sympathy to your family....rest in peace Gretchen.

She was truly a one of a kind, a wonderful caring person.  We look at her picture in this obituary and she made us smile.  We have wonderful memories of the times spent with her and Mowry.

Way too early to leave the planet Gretchen. What a loss for all of us. At least I know my mom will have her fun friend to party with up in the clouds. Peace.

FONDEST memories of our few playgroups with Molly and Keays.....and always felt you were a kindred spirit with your love of animals.  Rest in peace my friend, whatever lies ahead just became a whole lot better with you in it!

Gretchen, you embody our wonderful life in Old Lyme. I will hold tight to those memories and hopefully soon, I can laugh again, when I think of you.

Many kudos to Gretchen and Molly for their love and care of animals. May your family find solace in the many wonderful memories of a life well lived by an amazing woman.

I was so sorry to hear of Gretchen's passing.  We went to high school, college and moved to Aspen together.  Even though we lost touch through the years, I still thought of Gretchen often.  My heart is heavy.  My prayers to her daughter, Molly.

Molly,
Please know your mom was a ray of sunshine when she came into our office. We will miss her greatly. Our thoughts are with you.

Gretchen, my dear, dear friend..why did you have to leave us so soon? So many more days of fun and laughter ahead, but we'll have to forge ahead with you in spirit only, while you celebrate with the person you missed the most, Mowry. Save a spot at your table for us. You will be missed a lot.

An original...so very sad for all of us who knew her

Molly, I am so very sorry for your loss.  She was a wonderful person and such fun to be around.

Our dearest friend.  You brought such light into our world.  Our heart's are broken, beyond repair, just like so many other's.

Gretchen was the first person to show me how to wear makeup!! She was a paramount influence throughout my elementary, Junior high, high school and college years. She helped me through...car accidents, track meets, dances and boyfriends. I will always remember having sleepovers with Gretchen early on in Westport. She had the coolest loft. Everything she touched turned to " style" ! I remember her dogs and cats and soaking up the beautiful decorating. The coolest days were when my best friend Gayle and I we're lucky enough to be the recipients of Gretchen's old clothes. We couldn't believe she was willing to part with the Indian shirts and silver Mexican jewelry. I will never forget Gretchen looking into her bathroom mirror while painting freckles on her cheeks with an eye lining pencil. She showed me how to take the wet and creamy olive green eyeliner with a big fat wand and surround my lower and upper eyelashes. I remember that eyeliner like it was yesterday. I remember the days at the Old Greenwich Flower Shop and how she and my mother kept wine and cheese in with the flowers for afternoon arrivals. Old Greenwich Flower Shop was THE place to go for all the local woman in the afternoon. Gretchen was there for me!~ always there for my mother on the days my Dad worked late which was every night! She always laughed and tried to help me not to take things so seriously. I remember being in art school and smoking occasionally and Gretchen saying " come on Lis..do i need to worry about you dying of lung cancer now?' I think i quit my occasional smoke shortly thereafter.I suddenly agreed. It wasn't cool or fashionable it was deathly and gross. 
Gretchen  was an influence on my love for animals,n as i sit by the computer with a cockatoo and poodle mutt. I could easily have 4 dogs! Gretchen was an influence on my love for beautiful interiors.I was always tagging along my mother and Gretchen's shopping sprees for a house they were decorating or for one of their homes.  I think my idea to become a painter was influenced by all the decorating magazine lying around the stores and houses.  Gretchen showed me how to keep " interest " files. Pinterest before the days of computer. 

I remember one time Gretchen asking me for the negatives of my black and white Cow photography- she wanted them for a house she and my mother were hired to decorate. I was SO flattered. They even made it into a magazine! I remember Mowry calling me to say that people had written to inquire about those photographs. How inspiring for an art student during my RISD days. 
Later memories were filled with Molly!!! Gretchen and Mowry always threw the most amazing birthday parties. The last one  that I remember  was at a Beauty shop... Funny..similar to the early memories that I had with Gretchen. Stylists painted the girls nails and created elaborate hairdo's. It was So much fun although I was so sad because Mowry was so sick!! 

Gretchen will always be such an important person in my life filled with vivid and colorful memories. I dreamt of Gretchen the whole night she died. My hugest regret was losing touch and not making it to the hospital to say "I LOVE you Gretchen." my eGreeting hopefully made it into someones hands who could have read my last words to her .. hopefully there is a way that she will know how I loved her and she will feel my deepest appreciation for all that she gave to me.

An extraordinary woman who will be missed by many. Our deepest sympathies, thoughts, love and prayers to all, especially to her beloved Molly.

Your grandchildren and I will love you till the end of time GG..

Our deepest sympathy so young.

 Cathy and Jim Elliott
EF watermelon

The world is a better place for having had you in it.Keeping you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.Rest in peace Gretchen...

OBITUARY

Gretchen Lee Mann

March 27, 1947 – January 22, 2015

Fulton-Theroux Funeral Service

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