11/09/2025
We were honoured to be invited to celebrate the life of, and say goodbye to one of our residents, Nancy Joan Gifford, this week. Joan lived in the same Glastonbury family home for 102 years, until spending the last three years of her life with us, at St. Benedicts Nursing Home, within which she found another loving and caring home. We weren’t the only friends invited to Our Lady St. Mary’s Church. Regular visitors to St. Ben’s, Owl Obsession UK, were also in attendance with Joan’s’ favourite owl “Gizmo”. Joan always looked forward to stroking these fascinating birds and having a chat with them during their regular visits to the home. Joan had seen so much change throughout her long life, (with the exception of where she lived!) monarchs, prime ministers, telephone and communication, cars, moon landings, the internet, all of which she took in her stride taking strength from her catholic faith. She never lost her love of the natural world, that had changed so much around her in the last 106 years. Feeling close to nature is why she so enjoyed “Gizmo’s” visits and being able to get so close to this beautiful, gentle bird.
RIP Joan.
