With heavy hearts and so much love, we share the passing of Beverly Sienna Gibbons, who left us on June 8 at the age of 82 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer.

Beverly was a wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and aunt. She cared deeply for her family and friends, and she loved spending time with the people closest to her.

A smidge over 5 feet tall, with the energy of an Italian tornado, Beverly was an avid sports fan and a costume-wearing, organ-playing, convertible car enthusiast who firmly believed that “Happy Birthday” sounded better when she harmonized at the end, even when she was singing it alone. All of us lucky enough to have been loved by her, knew what it was to be family. She was our biggest cheerleader, and her unwavering faith in us, a constant comfort. She’d light candles and pray for our protection, celebrate our milestones, and remind us, in our darkest moments, that she knew we would find our way through it.

She and her husband, Jim, shared a life built on love, respect, and many memories. As a mother, she gave guidance, support, and love that will continue through her children and grandchildren.

Beverly graduated from Middletown High School in Middletown, Connecticut, where she was the Drum Majorette in the marching band. She went on to earn both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in physical education from Southern Connecticut State University.

Over the years, she enjoyed successful careers as a teacher, property manager, sales manager, and elder care consultant.

Beverly loved traveling, clamming in Ninigret Pond, and spending time on the water in her pontoon boat. Born on April Fools’ Day, she took it to heart and loved playing jokes and making people laugh.

Beverly will be remembered for the way she showed up for others. She listened, helped, cooked, laughed, and made time for the people she loved.

She is survived by her loving husband, Jim, her brother Philip Sienna of San Jose, California, her children, John (Tami) Boden of Boca Raton, Florida and Caroline (Kevin) Dowling, Stepchildren Rachel Kiselback of Newington, Ct, Shannon (Tom) Gibbons of South Windsor, CT, Geoffrey (Robin) Gibbons of St Augustine, FL and her grandchildren, Alexander, Danielle, Miranda, Shawn (Liz), Susie (Kindra), Megan, Sage, Ellie, Sean, Jake (Nicole), Jared (Sidney) and a host of relatives and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Phyllis and August Sienna, and her sister Roselyn Shelly.

We are grateful for the memories she leaves behind and for the love, humor, and kindness she shared with us. We are all blessed to have known her, and will, forever, sing “Happy Birthday” with a high note at the end.