Obituary of Gail Huffaker Whiteside

Gail Huffaker Whiteside August 1, 1925 February 13, 2011 "It's a plane! Oh my God it's heading right for us! Get down on the floor!" Such were my mother's hysterical screams one April first as my sister Neal and I casually headed into the Highland Avenue kitchen for breakfast before school. We dove under the small dining table with absolute certainty of a horrible and fiery demise, only to turn and see her slapping her leg, rolling with near breathless laughter, and barely able to manage the words, "April Fools!". An irresistible tangle of beauty, energy, enthusiasm and mischief, this remarkable force of nature was born in Chicago and grew up in Glencoe Illinois when the 20's still roared, and was daughter of Mildred and Frank Huffaker, the latter being President of the Chicago Stockyards. She attended Bennett College in Millbrook New York and Northwestern University in Evanston Illinois. Our mother acquired new friends almost involuntarily, like some people breathe. Close friends from her school days at New Trier High School in Winnetka, Ill. and from many years living in Chicago and Darien, have spread out around the country throughout the years from California to Chicago to Connecticut, from Arizona to the Carolinas, and all stayed in touch with regularity. She also enjoyed sharing friendships with Darien merchants, grocery store clerks, and the warm staff of Wee Burn Country Club. Gail took great pleasure in symbiotic relationships of many years with Children's Aid of Darien, and Person to Person. She died peacefully while surrounded by family and under the extraordinary care of hospice attendants. Gail was preceded in death by her husband Robinson Richard (Bob) Whiteside of Darien, CT, and sister Helen Rentner, Glencoe Illinois, and her many dogs, Beau, Charley, Bear, Jerousha, Sam, and Belle. She is survived by her three children, Mark Whiteside of Boulder, CO, Neal Werner of Sandy Hook, CT, and Paul Whiteside also of Boulder, CO, and by her niece, Tracy Carroll of Northbrook, Illinois, eight grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Services will be held at the Noroton Presbyterian Church, 2011 Post Road, Darien on Saturday March 5 at 11am. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a gift to one of the following exceptional organizations: National Audubon Society, www.audubon.org/, Person to Person, www.p2pdarien.org/, Children's Aid of Darien, or Friends of Animals, http://www.friendsofanimals.org/. Funeral Home: Edward Lawrence Funeral Home 2119 Post Road Darien, CT USA 06820