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Life Story for Elizabeth G. "Betty" Bradley (Gow)

Elizabeth G. "Betty"  Bradley (Gow)
OXFORD, CT: Longtime Oxford resident Elizabeth (Gow) “Betty” Bradley, a career registered nurse, died Nov. 8, 2014 at the age of 90. She lived in the same historic home in Oxford for over 53 years, where she raised her family and pursued life with uncommon faith and enthusiasm. Betty was happily married for 68 years to her loving husband, Henry M. Bradley. Her passing occurred peacefully at home in the company of her immediate family. Betty was the eldest of four siblings and born in New Haven, Connecticut in September 1924 to parents Harry D. & Elizabeth Gow of Derby. She was later joined in the family by sister Kathleen Gow Regan and brothers Harry D. Gow Jr. (“Bud”) and Gerard Gow (“Jerry”). During her early years going to school in Derby, Betty developed an uncommon love for learning and a deep interest in helping people that eventually led her to pursue a career in nursing. She graduated from the Hospital of St. Raphael School of Nursing in New Haven in 1945 and began her practice as an RN in St. Raphael’s maternity ward. After she married Henry in September 1946, Betty bravely professed she wanted to have four sons, a feat accomplished, as she gave birth to four boys in later years. With a need for “rambling” space, she moved the family home over the years from Derby to Milford to Ansonia and finally to Oxford, where there was enough open space to raise her sons. Following a number of years being a stay home mom, Betty again returned to the other big love of her life, nursing, at the Griffin Hospital in Derby. During her many years at Griffin, she earned the respect of all as both a nurse and supervisor for her energy and accomplishments. Her most notable achievement was perhaps being a member of the team that opened Griffin’s first intensive care ward. After a rich career in nursing, Betty retired from the Griffin Hospital in 1982 to devote her attention to her family and other interests. Betty was a member of the St. Raphael’s Nurse Alumni Association and her love for nursing also led to her faithfully participate in the famous Nurse’s Health Study, a cause she heartily believed in, for 37 years. This ongoing study follows the lives of tens of thousands of nurses and continues to provide the medical world with critical new insights into lifestyle factors, heath, diet and disease. Among affiliations and interests, Betty was an active member of the Good Shepard Church in Seymour. In her later years, she regular attended the daily televised masses broadcast by the Archdiocese of Hartford Office of Radio & Television. Among interests, Betty loved photography and dabbled in it for years. She also liked to hop on a bus with the girls -- other retired ladies – and travel to the various Indian casinos in the area to try and beat their slot machines. No doubt, though, her biggest interests were playing Scrabble and doing crossword puzzles, activities she just loved. Betty is survived by her loving husband, Henry, sons and daughter-in-laws Miles & Vicki Bradley of San Marcos, California, Martyn & Johanna Bradley of Norfolk, Virginia, David & Antoinette Bradley of Oxford, Connecticut and Jeffrey & Ann Bradley of Columbus, Indiana, and grandchildren Joshua, Brent, Jordan, Sarah, Kelly, Samantha, Matthew, Alexandra, Ann Marie and Shannon. Betty had five great-grandchildren with a sixth expected in the near future at the time of her death. She is also survived by her brother Gerard Gow and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Kathleen Gow Regan and bother Harry D. Gow Jr. The family extends its gratitude to Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut and the doctors and nurses of Griffin Hospital for their wonderful and caring services. Also, the family would like to give special recognition to Dr. Carlos Schweitzer for his longtime service and friendship with Betty. Calling Hours are Wednesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the Ralph E. Hull Funeral Home, 161 W. Church St., Seymour. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday at 10:30 a.m. in the Church of the Good Shepherd (DIRECTLY) 135 Mountain Rd., Seymour. Interment will be in Mountain Meadows Cemetery, Seymour. Memorial donations in memory of Betty may be sent to the Archdiocese of Hartford, Office of Radio & Television, 15 Peach Orchard Road, Prospect, CT 06712-9969 and/or Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut, Attn: Lila Grimes, Development Associate, 765 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT 06604. For directions or to share a memory online please go to www.hullfh.com In closing, Betty espoused a philosophy and a statement that best describes her approach to life: “Why walk when you can run!”

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