Statue Stolen From Couple’s Grave In Groton Cemetery

Over the weekend, someone stole a lighted statue from a couple’s grave in a Groton cemetery on what would have been their 69^th wedding anniversary.

Linda Gaudet, of Groton, said her sister bought the fairy statue and placed it on their parents’ grave on Oct. 22, 2010 on what would have been their anniversary. 

Gaudet's parents - Edward Davis, who worked at Electric Boat and Hilda Davis,  one of the founding members of the first chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in Connecticut - married in 1942.  They are buried at Starr Cemetery on Lestertown Road.

“It’s heartbreaking," Gaudet said of the theft. "It was like, it’s one thing for somebody to be that awful to take (a statue) off a gravestone, but to do it on their anniversary, it’s like reopening old wounds. That’s all I can say. It’s awful.”

Two potted mums were also stolen.

Cemetery Supervisor Marilee Dull said vandalism happens often at cemeteries, but this is the only second time someone has called to report something stolen. Her husband was cemetery supervisor for almost ten years before she took over.

“It’s too bad that people feel that they can be that disrespectful,” she said.

Groton Police Lt. John Varone said thefts at cemeteries are uncommon.

Edward Davis was as a welder at Electric Boat, and worked on the Nautilus. Hilda Davis was a stay at home mother for the most part, but also worked several years at Electric Boat as a secretary. The couple is buried next to their son, Rick, who was killed by a drunk driver at age 35 in 1982.

After his death, Gaudet said her mother channeled her grief into starting the chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Edward Davis died in 1996; his wife died last June, of lung cancer.

Gaudet said her sister, Maureen Reubelt of Gales Ferry, bought the solar fairy statue named “Lilly” because their mother always liked fairies.

Hilda Davis sewed quilts, and one of the last ones she finished had fairies on it.

“Fairies are always happy,” Gaudet said. “I think after losing my brother, she went through a tough time. So did my father. It’s not something you ever get over. It probably doesn’t hurt as bad, but it’s still there.”

The statue made by Plow and Hearth is about 14 inches tall and holds a solar powered lantern.  It’s been discontinued.

It was taken sometime between 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 22 and the morning of Oct. 23. The statue lights up a night, and Gaudet said Dull saw a small light by the grave before she left to go home on Saturday. The following morning, the statue and mums were gone, Gaudet said.

“This is the whole thing, it’s sentimental,” she said. “It’s not the value of it. We’d like her back. We don’t care. Bring her back.”