NOANK: Linda Grannis (Phelps) Saffomilla, 84, of Noank (Groton) died on January 10, 2026. She is survived by her beloved husband of 55 years, Donald Bruce Saffomilla.
She was born December 2, 1941 in Lawrence Memorial of New London, CT to Clifford Walton Phelps and Helen Elizabeth Holaday Phelps. She grew up in Noank Village and attended Noank Grammar School, Robert E. Fitch Middle School, and graduated at Robert E. Fitch Senior High School.
Linda was the youngest of 6; her siblings William (Billy) F. Phelps, Donald Phelps, Mary Louise Champlin, Nancy E. Matzdorff Meister, and Helen E. McGuire.
She was first a member of the Noank Methodist Church and for some time she became a member of the Noank Baptist Church, but returned and remained a Methodist. Linda and Donald were married on April 25, 1970 at the Noank Methodist Church. Together they raised three boys in the same home she grew up in. Linda was a cheerleader in high school and did calligraphy on the certificate awards presented by the Fitch Senior High School Athletics Department for Mike Ellis for several years. She was also the Secretary of the Mystic Little League during the times her sons were playing, where she kept records and ran The Snack Shack. Linda worked at Electric Boat as a Materials Supervisor. She started out as a Clerk, worked in the Insurance Office handling Death Policies, and after her first 20 years, she became the 1st Female Supervisor in the department. Linda retired after 54 years in 2016.
She was predeceased by her youngest son, Christopher E. Saffomilla and is survived by her eldest son Patrick N. Saffomilla, daughter in-law Maricar Geronimo, grandchildren Jack and Jade, son Bryon M. Saffomilla, daughter in-law Erin, grandson Sean, her sister Helen McGuire, and many nieces and nephews.
Linda had the sweetest smile that was contagious. She enjoyed having conversations with everyone, was very outgoing with her husband to live concerts, sporting events, road trips, and taking vacations together. She loved reading books or her kindle out on her back porch during the warm summer days until she fell asleep. Linda was most happy when she became a grandmother. Spending as much time with her grandkids brightened her day like gardening with them in her beautiful backyard, taking walks up to Noank Park, Corner Closet, and to Carson’s to get ice cream, and attending events for her grandchildren. She adored her grandchildren. Linda was also a big time New York Yankees and UCONN fan. She had the most kind and heart-warming generosity towards others, because she was a mother to all. She will be dearly and deep-heartedly missed. We love you, Grammy, to the Moon and Back.
Linda's family will greet relatives and friends from 2 to 4 PM and 6 to 8 PM Saturday Jan. 24, at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic.