Juliette (Rocca) Reynolds, 87 of Salem, died Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at the Aviv Center for Living following an eight year struggle with several strokes and other health complications. She was the wife of the late George F. Reynolds.
Born in Newark, NJ and raised in Leominster, she was the daughter of the late Renaldo and Mary (Lanza) Rocca. In high school and into World War II she worked as a nurse aid and later worked as a secretary at Fort Devens for the University of Massachusetts. It was there that Julie met and married George. She raised six of their own children and took in a seventh, who needed a place to live, all the while working in bookkeeping for several businesses in her home. In 1969 she and her family moved to Marblehead, and in 1978 she opened ‘Salt Air’ a knitting shop which specialized in machine knitting.
Over the years she had studied dress and millinery design, which she put to good use in designing sweaters and various articles of clothing, which she made and sold in her shop.
She also gave machine knitting lesson at the store as well as giving lessons to the disabled for Massachusetts Rehabilitation. Julie retired in 1995 doing secretarial work in the law office of her daughter Carol.
She was a yellow dog Democrat who never left you doubting where she stood on political issues. She was extraordinarily proud of all her children, grand children and great grand children. Her family is truly grateful for the love and support their friends and healthcare providers have given throughout her long illness.
She is survived by her six children, Michael K. Reynolds and his wife Jane of Simpsonville, SC, Nancy L. Pinault and her husband Raymond of Windsor, CT, Carol A. Perry and her fiancée Daniel Houde both of Salem, Maryellen Borge and her husband Joseph of Gloucester, Patricia J. Grzela and her husband Robert of Swampscott, James P. Reynolds and his partner Vincent Cherico of Providence, RI. She also leaves a brother, Francis Rocca of Baltimore, MD, a sister, Josephine Gould of Leominster, 11 grandchildren, 2 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brother, Jack Rocca, her granddaughter, Juliette Borge and her son-in-law, Paul A. Perry.
Relatives and friends are invited to her funeral mass in Ste. Anne Church, 290 Jefferson Ave., Salem on Monday, July 29, 2013 at 10:00 A.M. There will be no visiting hours and burial at a later date will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Diabetes Assoc., 10 Speen St., 2nd Floor, Framingham, MA 01701.
Funeral arrangements are by the Levesque Funeral Home of Salem. For guestbook please visit www.LevesqueFunerals.com