Marguerite 'Gretel' Wilson Obituary (2015)

CHELMSFORD - Marguerite Gretel (Smith) Wilson, a longtime resident of Chelmsford, passed away peacefully at home with her family at her side. She fought a courageous battle against cancer and pulmonary fibrosis. She was the beloved wife of the late Ernest C. Wilson. Gretel was born July 31, 1932 in Montreal, Canada to Rose (Epstein) and Thomas Smith. She was raised in Lowell and Montreal. While in Lowell, she attended and graduated from Notre Dame Academy. She then moved to Boston and attended Katharine Gibbs School. After working in Boston she travelled to Europe and lived a short time in Wembley, England. Upon her return she moved back to Lowell, married and started a family. Prior to her retirement she was a telephone operator for Apollo Computer Systems. She also enjoyed her position as a food demonstrator for local grocery stores. Gretel enjoyed gardening, cooking, her family, friends and pets. She loved making tomato sauce from the tomatoes she grew in her garden or strawberry jam from her strawberries plants. She also enjoyed taking trips to the ocean and to her beloved city of Montreal. She loved talking with her friends and family, and the phone was her constant companion. She was also known for her sense of humor and especially the jokes and pranks she would play on everyone. She also taught her family the value (and reward) of adopting animals that needed homes. She is survived by her daughter and son in law, Wendy and Bob Valentine of Lowell, her son, David and his wife, Natasha of Chelmsford, her daughter, Diane of Chelmsford; her brother Thomas Smith of Lowell; her pets Molly, Sasha and Chester and many dear friends and extended family. Visitation will be held at the BLAKE FUNERAL HOME, 24 Worthen Street, CHELMSFORD on Wednesday from 11 am until 1 pm followed by her Funeral Service at 1 oclock at the funeral home. Interment will be private in St. Patrick Cemetery in Lowell. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Best Friends Animal Society (http://bestfriends.org/), Villalobos Rescue Center (vrcpitbull.net/dog) or the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (pulmonaryfibrosis.org). Visitation July 1, 2015 11:00am - 1:00pm, Blake Funeral Home 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Service Information July 1, 2015 1:00pm, Blake Funeral Home 24 Worthen Street Chelmsford, MA 01824 Interment Location Saint Patrick Cemetery 1251 Gorham Street Lowell, MA Interment will be private.