Priscilla Jaffe, 80

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WOODSTOCK, CONN. – Priscilla (Guttin) Jaffe passed away on Jan. 9,  2023, at her home with her family by her side. She was the beloved wife of Robert Jaffe for 50 years before his passing in 2015. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, she was a daughter of the late Alexander and Alice (Brookstone) Guttin.

Priscilla spent her formative years in Rhode Island and graduated from Classical High School with honors. She went on to complete a bachelor’s degree in history and English at the University of Rhode Island in 1964. Following graduation, Priscilla taught history for several years in Hartford before moving back to Rhode Island with her husband, Robert, to raise their family. In 1985, she moved to Connecticut with her family, this time relocating to Woodstock. Priscilla loved rural living and really enjoyed the people and community.

Priscilla was a firm believer in small business. She helped Bob successfully run two pharmacies, first in Rhode Island and later in Connecticut. As a child and young adult, she also worked in her father’s bakery. This is where she learned to bake and decorate cakes, a hobby which she would enjoy for most of her life. Although she did maintain a small business selling cakes, much of her energy in this area was devoted to being the family “cake maker.” So many family milestones were celebrated with Priscilla’s cakes, which were not only beautiful and delicious but were also baked with love.

Priscilla also loved to travel, particularly in the United States. Her love of American history was apparent in many of her chosen destinations. Multiple family vacations were spent visiting battlefields and historic sites in this country.

After retirement, she and Bob took a good number of trips to different domestic destinations. They would often fly to a particular place and drive hundreds of miles just exploring.

While Priscilla was fiercely patriotic and was fascinated by the history and scenic beauty of her country, her first love was her family – both immediate and extended. She never missed the opportunity to host a family celebration. Whether it was a holiday, engagement party or a graduation party, she was always the first to open her home.

Priscilla was the devoted mother of Naomi and her husband, Theodore Roy, of Woodstock, as well as Jordan Jaffe and his wife, Deborah, of Barrington. She was the dear sister of the late William and Dinah Guttin. She was the loving grandmother of six: A.J., Andrew, Jacob, Alan, Alison and Jackson. She was the cherished aunt of Rachel and her husband, Jeremy Graves, whom she loved like her own children. Most recently, she was blessed with two exceptional caregivers, CariAnn and Patricia, with whom she laughed and enjoyed her days.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation at www.parkinson.org.

obituary, Priscilla Jaffe