Esther Frances (Harrington) Gillis

November 12, 1931 – November 22, 2020

Posted 11/24/20

Esther Frances (Harrington) Gillis of Katy, Texas passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2020, at the age of 89 years.  She was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on November 12, 1931, the fourth …

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Esther Frances (Harrington) Gillis

November 12, 1931 – November 22, 2020

Posted

Esther Frances (Harrington) Gillis of Katy, Texas passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2020, at the age of 89 years.  She was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts on November 12, 1931, the fourth child of Edward J. Harrington and Esther Frances Yates.

Esther attended Holy Family High School.  She was a piano student of Lil Dumond Mindus, a concert pianist of world renown.  She was educated at the College of Music at Boston University where she earned a Bachelor of Music Degree.  Esther taught music in schools and gave piano lessons as a private teacher.  She also studied at Framington State College in the field of Early Child Education.  She received her Masters Degree in Special Education from Buffalo State College and taught in this field and in music in several states before retiring from Katy schools.  Esther was also a volunteer at the Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital for many years. 

She was preceded in death by her son, Thomas A. Gillis; her parents; brothers, Edward J. Harrington, Jr. and Monsignor Thomas J. Harrington; and by a sister, Ann Callanan.

She is survived by her loving husband of over 63 years, Hugh Colin Gillis; children, Catherine Gillis, Colin Gillis and his wife Denise, Rosemary Buetikofer and her husband Clifford, and Esther Finley and her husband Sean; nine grandchildren; many great grandchildren; sister, Mary Cain; as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Monday, November 30, 2020 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway Chapel, in Katy, where a rosary will be recited at 11:00 a.m. with Deacon John Evanoff reciting.

Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to Maryknoll Fathers, P.O. Box 302, Maryknoll, New York 10545.

Condolences may be expressed at www.SchmidtFuneralHome.net

Funeral services held under the direction of:

Schmidt Funeral Home
1344 W. Grand Parkway South
Katy, Texas  77494
(281) 391-2424

Esther Frances Gillis, Ester Frances Harrington, Gillis