Isabel “Pinky” Gaffney passed away on September 30, 2026 at The Gardens of Newbury Court in Concord, MA. She was 27 days away from her 100th birthday.

Isabel was born on October 27, 1926, to Stanley and Catherine Szczygiel Planeta in Southbridge, MA. She graduated from Mary E. Wells High School in Southbridge in 1944 and subsequently received a BS in Mathematics from Bates College in 1948. It was at Bates where she met her future husband of 63 years, John Gaffney; they married in June of 1949.

Isabel began her career as a children’s librarian at the Jacob Edwards Library in Southbridge, MA. In South Bend, IN, she worked for Bendix Corp in the Patent Department and then in the Radio Division of the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington DC. In 1959 Isabel and John settled in Concord, where they raised their family of 5 children. From 1971-1983, Isabel was a math teacher at Concord Carlisle High School in Concord, MA.

Isabel and her husband were instrumental in establishing the first Columbia Artists Community Concert Series in the Poughkeepsie, NY area. She volunteered as a Girl Scout Brownie troop leader and Sunday school teacher at St. Bernard's Parish in Concord while her children were growing up, and was a faithful member of Our Lady's Catholic Church in West Concord. In her retirement, Isabel volunteered at Emerson Hospital alongside her husband, John. She was a member of the Concord Women’s Club, where she held various positions and participated in their annual fundraising efforts. Pinky and John enjoyed square dancing, bowling, golf, and cross-country skiing. She also found time for bridge, aerobics, tap dancing. sewing, and knitting with dear friends. She baked apple pies and mincemeat tarts, and made Polish pierogis. The recipe for her cheesy crab appetizer, "Crabbies," along with one for baked sugared nuts affectionately called "Gaffnuts," have become family favorites repeated through the generations.

Left to cherish her memory are daughter Lonnie England and her husband Jeff of Overland Park, KS; daughter Kathy Carson and her husband Jack of Fremont, NH; son Chris Gaffney and his wife Kathleen of Atlanta, GA; and son Michael Gaffney of Fairfax, VA. Isabel was predeceased by her son, John, and her husband, John. Zoom meetings brought Pinky and her kids together every other Wednesday night. Lovingly called Babcia (Polish for Grandmother), she also leaves six grandchildren, Christin Howard, John Stafford, Meredith Carson, Matthew Carson, Michela Kane and Sarah Gaffney Christie with memories of time at the family lake house in Norway, Maine and lobster dinners, water sports, fishing, rainy-day games of Monopoly and fetching milk-bottles of drinking water from the town water pump. Also known as Big Babcia to her ten great-grandchildren, she leaves memories of laughter and hugs. She was much loved by numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends as well. Her husband, John, her son, John Francis, her sister, Jennie Saletnik, and her brother, Clem Planeta, predeceased her.

The family would like to thank the many friends, caregivers, doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals who shared their hearts, knowledge and love throughout her life journey.

Pinky was a spark who brightened everyone’s day with her wit, her kindness, and her love. She loved chocolate, babies and a good laugh. To know her was to love her. Memories for the family may be left her tribute page here.  

Family and friends may gather for a period of visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 5, at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, MA. A Funeral Mass will follow at 11:00 a.m. in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord. Burial will be in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery at a later date.

Isabel requested contributions be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.