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Elsie Catherine Mills Chichester, age 104, of Westbrook passed away peacefully on Jan. 6 at her home. Elsie was born in Orange on Nov. 23, 1914, the first child of Charles Herbert Mills and Esther Gertrude Mills.

Elsie grew up on her parents’ farm on Ridge Road in North Haven. She attended Hillhouse High School in New Haven and married Jerome Campbell Chichester on Aug. 19, 1935, in Vermont. After high school she completed her training as a physiotherapist in New Jersey and returned to work at the Newington Children’s Hospital and later for Dr. Edward O’Donnell in New Haven.

Elsie and Jerome took their four sons on a two-month camping trip in 1952 to state and national parks through most of the (then) 48 states. They enjoyed traveling the world through their later years, often accompanied by or visiting their grandchildren. She loved gardening, cooking, reading, and playing cards.

Elsie is survived by her sons Douglas and his wife Mary Lou of Gales Ferry; Greg and his wife Betsy of Clinton; and Russell and his wife Linda of Austin, Texas. She has 12 living grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Jerome; her son Steven; a grandson, Douglas Jr.; and her brothers David Warren Mills and Robert Charles Mills.

The family is sincerely grateful to all those involved from Companions & Homemakers and Vitas Hospice for the wonderful attentive care they gave Elsie.

A Memorial family reunion is planned for the summer to gather and remember her long and wonderful life. Donations can be made in her name to Vitas Healthcare, 199 Park Rd. Ext., Middlebury, CT 06762.