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Barbara Aston

Barbara J. Aston (formerly Barbara Tichy), 81, of West Hartford, passed away on Nov. 16, 2023. She was born on Feb. 4, 1942, and spent her first 72 years living in her beloved hometown of Guilford. She fondly remembered all of her favorite hometown haunts, including Bishop’s Orchards, the Town Green, the Guilford Free Library, Breakwater Books, Ashley’s Ice Cream, and First Garden Chinese Restaurant.

She is survived by her daughter, Allison Branco Tichy, and husband, Carlos Branco; son, Douglas Tichy and wife Eileen Tichy; and brother, R. Barry Aston and wife, Amy Aston, of Smyrna, Tennessee. She also leaves behind her four cherished grandchildren: Ryan and Brenna Tichy and Lucas and Danielle Branco. She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Jewell, and her parents, Del and Dorothy “Dot” Aston. She is remembered as a true and loving daughter.

Barbara was a graduate of both Guilford High School and Southern Connecticut State University, where she earned her master’s degree in school psychology. During her teaching career, she taught fourth grade at Guilford Lakes Elementary School and English as a Second Language. Later in her career, she made significant contributions in the insurance industry, first working at the Yerkes Insurance Agency in Guilford and later as a trainer and Supervisor of New England States for Nationwide Insurance.

Barbara was a strong believer in community service and in participation in the democratic process. Over her lifetime, she served as the first woman on Guilford’s Police Commission, served on the Guilford Housing Committee, and volunteered many hours for Guilford’s Republican Town Committee. In her leisure time, Barbara had a deep appreciation for life’s simple pleasures. Her interests included handcrafts, design, travel, sweet treats, murder mysteries, crossword puzzles, and UConn women’s basketball. Barbara also embraced her creative side by dabbling in interior design, fiction writing, and crafting. She could often be found sitting in a rocking chair on her back porch, immersed in a good book.

A drop-in visitation to honor Barbara’s life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, at Guilford Funeral Home. A brief memorial service will take place around 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that contributions be made to the Guilford Free Library. Donations can be made at www.guilfordfreelibrary.org/atl/support-the-library.