Doris J. Reilly, 87, beloved wife of the late Charles J. Reilly, died peacefully, surrounded by her family, November 9. She was born in Bridgeport in 1928, and raised in Milford, a community that remained close to her heart. She was the daughter of the late Frances and Frederick Montgomery.

Her loving daughter, Kathleen Budnick, and her husband Mark, of Sandy Hook; her son Charles O’Reilly, and his wife Donna, of Stratford and her son Sean Reilly; and her brother James Montgomery of Ocala, Fla., survive Mrs Reilly. She called her grandchildren the light of her life. They include Brian Budnick and his wife Stephanie of Hoboken, N.J., Jessica DeFeo and her husband Joseph of Boston, Mass., Erin Hunt and her husband James of South Norwalk, and Caitlin O’Reilly of Shelton. A great-granddaughter and many nieces and nephews also survive her. Her daughter, Maureen Reilly, and brother, Robert Montgomery, predeceased her.

Mrs Reilly loved the beach, and was an unwavering New York Mets fan. She was always listening to music, especially her favorites — Tony Bennett, Barbra Streisand, and Judy Garland. She never stopped making friends, wherever life took her, and left a smile on the faces of everyone she met. She will be missed dearly by all who knew her, though her family and friends can take comfort knowing she is now somewhere over the rainbow.

The family would like to the thank the third floor nurses, aides, and staff of Lord Chamberlain Nursing and Rehabilitation in Stratford for the compassion and care provided to Mrs Reilly in her final months.

Internment will be private. A memorial service is planned for a future date.

As Mrs Reilly always said, “Don’t say goodbye, just so long.”