Gillian (Synge) Ames

Gillian (Synge) Ames age 77 of Concord, Massachusetts died on Monday, November 22, 2010 at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was the wife of George S. Ames.

Born on July 1, 1933 in Hertford, England, she was the daughter of the late Capt. Robert Millington and Christabel (Etrenne) Synge.

In 1940, at the age of 7 Gillian was sent with her brother and sister to America in order to escape the German bombing of England during World War II. She spent four years in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts living with an Aunt and Uncle until the worst of the bombing was over. During this time she spent summers in Castine, Maine with her brother Allen. One of Allen’s friends was George Ames. In 1950 Gillian came back to America to visit her Aunt in Castine, and during this time an international romance began with George, which culminated in a wedding in Chorleywood, England in June, 1952. George was in the Marine Corps, and in the early years they lived in Fredericksburg, VA, settling in Concord, MA when he returned from serving in Korea.

Gillian was a devoted wife and a loving caregiver for her family, and virtually all who crossed her path. She was an Associate at the Order of Saint Anne-Bethany in Arlington MA, where she enjoyed worshiping with the sisters and supporting them in their activities. Always seeking to help those less fortunate, she was also an active supporter of Boston soup kitchens during the 1970s and 80s. She would go in weekly to help prepare and serve meals, bringing along friends and family members to expose them to the power of generosity and kindness.

Gillian was an avid bird watcher, and loved to report her sightings of rare species to the skeptics at the Massachusetts Audubon Society. She waited with George every spring for the arrival of the blue birds, who nest behind their house and watched while they taught their babies to fly and to eat from the bird feeders. She had a keen eye for four leafed clovers, and loved scouring certain beaches in Maine at low tide in search of Indian scrapers and axe heads.

She loved the slow movements in music, good books, a stimulating conversation, the Democratic Party, and the London Daily Telegraph crossword puzzle. She cherished her family on both sides of the Atlantic and her friends.

Along with her husband, Gillian is survived by her children, Elizabeth Ames Macdonald of Westwood, Richard M. Ames of Kiawah Island, South Carolina, John B. Ames of Concord and Robert O. Ames of Arlington, VA. She is also survived by ten grandchildren.

MEMORIAL SERVICE
Saturday - January 8th at 2:00 p.m.
Chapel at Trinity Episcopal Church
81 Elm Street
Concord, MA 01742


GIFTS IN HER NAME MAY BE MADE TO:
Mass. General Hospital
Cardiac Care Unit
55 Fruit St.
Boston, MA 02114
https://give.massgeneral.org

Arrangements under the care of Glenn D. Burlamachi, CONCORD FUNERAL HOME, Concord, MA.

Proud to be family owned, operated and occupied since 1936.