Paulette L. Reilly ,88
Dateline: Springfield, MA
SPRINGFIELD, MA
Paulette L. (Robert) Reilly, 88, of Springfield, formerly of Norton, went to her eternal rest on Tuesday, March 4, 2014 at the Wingate Nursing Home in Springfield, MA, following a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.
She was born on April 22, 1925 in Canada to Ismael “Joe” Robert and Marie (Petite) Robert. She moved to the United States and became a citizen in the 1950’s.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, William L. Reilly, and her brothers George Robert, Albert Robert, Joseph Robert, Armand Robert, Roland Robert, and her sisters, Jean (Robert) Brodeur, Anita (Robert) Hermes and Lucianne (Robert) Jones. Paulette is survived by her twin brother, Paul Robert, of Kissimmee, FL. Paulette had four children, the late William P. Reilly of North Carolina and his wife, Rosemarie Reilly, Sandra D. (Reilly) Gallant, of Port St. Lucie, FL, and her former husband, Robert Gallant of West Springfield, MA, the late Robert Reilly of Washington, D.C., and his wife, Mary Withum, and Patrick Reilly of Phoenix, AZ. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Melissa (Gallant) McCoy of Longmeadow, Christine Gallant of Sharpsburg, GA, Cynthia Gallant of East Longmeadow, MA, Michael Reilly of Jacksonville, FL, Michelle (Reilly) Hester of North Carolina, Robert Reilly Jr. of Raynham, MA, Justin Reilly of Taunton, MA, Amanda Reilly of Washington, D.C., Joshua Reilly of Sutton, MA and Jamie (Reilly) Rauer of Norton, MA. Paulette also had 12 beloved great-grandchildren.
Paulette was a talented musician; she sang, played many instruments including the guitar, the organ, the accordion and the tambourine, and she enjoyed teaching these skills to her children and grandchildren.
She was also a talented self-taught painter, artist and craftsperson. She worked for many years at the former Paul A. Dever State School, in Taunton, MA, teaching arts and crafts to disabled individuals, and working in their gift shop.
She loved her family and her friends, painting, making music, playing cards and Bingo, and making stuffed animals and crafts for her grandchildren. The family would also like to thank Joan Reilly, whose help and care allowed Paulette to maintain her independence for several years after her husband passed.
Before she became ill, she was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Norton, MA and spent time at the St. Mary’s Recreation Center in Norton.
Her funeral service, to which relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend, will be held on Friday, March 7th at 1:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home, 19 Clapp St. (Off Route 140, Taunton Ave,) Norton. Burial will follow in the Timothy Plain Cemetery, Norton.
Visiting hours will be held prior to the services on Friday from 11:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M. at the Norton Memorial Funeral Home.
Donations may be made in Paulette’s memory to The Cure Alzheimer's Fund 34 Washington St., Suite 200 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.
To send Paulette’s family a message of condolence, please visit www.nortonmemorial.com