Maude Stella (Smith) Whipple, 72, of 7 Fair Acres Lane, died Thursday evening at Lawrence & Memorial Hospital after being stricken at home. She had just returned from participating in her favorite pasttime, Bingo.
Maude, a lifelong resident of Mystic was born June 18, 1931 to Charles Smith Sr. and Ethel (Osbourne) Smith. She attended local schools. Prior to her retirement, she was employed at George C. Moore Co. in Westerly and later Ducx’s Textile Mill in Stonington .
She will be fondly remembered as an avid bingo player, participating weekly at the Westerly Lodge of Elks and the Westerly Senior Center.
Her husband, Albert E. Whipple Sr., died August 24, 1995.
Maude is survived by her three children, Gordon W. Stafford and Richard E. Stafford, both of Mystic and Linda M. Stafford of Westerly; 2 grandchildren, Julie Delzer and Michael Stafford; her siblings, Dorothy DeMoura of Noank, Charlotte Whipple of Pawcatuck, Bessie Stafford of Mystic, Robert Smith Jr. of Mystic, Frederick Smith of Palmer, MA, George Smith of Ledyard, and Nathan Smith of New London, and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her other siblings, Francis Smith who died April 5th, Ethel Smith, Barbara Smith, Charles Smith Jr. and Albert Smith Sr.
Maude’s family will greet relatives and friends at The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, historic downtown Mystic on Monday from 6-8pm. Her Funeral Service will be conducted at the funeral home on Tuesday at 11am with the Rev. Lisabeth M. Gustafson, Pastor of the Old Mystic Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Donations in her memory may be made to the American Heart Association.