She was the beloved wife of the late Melvin Gillette; devoted mother of Judith and Steven Wasserman and Robert and Ellen Gillette. She also leaves her grandchildren, Jonathan and Leah Wasserman , Michael and Jaclyn Desmond, Kevin and Danielle Gillette, Stephanie Gillette and Luis Figueroa, Rachel Gillette, Amy Dorsey, and Tracy Dorsey.
She was the great grandmother of Maya and Eli Wasserman, Mason and Dylan Desmond, Ryan and Nicholas Gillette, Isaiah and Joziah Figueroa, and the late Jeramiah Figueroa, Christian Hoskins, Broderick and Margaret Lindsay, and Ryan, Kelli, Reese and Eric Livingstone. She also leaves her sister, Muriel Robinson and her husband Allan.
Edith was born in Boston, and graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls.
She and Mel raised their family in Brookline, and lived for a short time in Florida, and for several years in Framingham. She moved to the Golda Meir House in Newton in 2011.
Edith had a long and successful career. She was executive secretary for the Brookline League of Women Voters (1963-68); and director of finance & office manager for Planned Parenthood of Massachusetts, Boston (1968-72).
At Brandeis University, she was executive director of the National Women’s Committee (1975-78); staff director for the presidential search committee (1982); and administrative assistant to the president-elect (1982-83).
Edith served as executive assistant to the Brandeis Board of Trustees (1983-89).
She was the Wien Alumni Relations officer at the university (1989-91), and worked, at various times, for the Heller School at Brandeis, and for Faulkner Hospital and the American Heart Association.
She loved to read, follow local, state and national politics, and believed in lifetime learning. She and Mel met at Nantasket Beach, and loved spending time there throughout their marriage.
The family would like to thank the staff at Newton-Wellesley Hospital and at Parlin House for their outstanding care and support.
Services will be at Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard St., Brookline on Monday, March 25 at 12 noon. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., Sharon. Memorial Observance immediately following burial at Golda Meir House, 160 Stanton Ave., Newton until 8PM.
Donations may be made in her memory to 2Life/Golda Meir House, 160 Stanton Ave., Auburndale, MA 02466, or to Parlin House, c/o CareGroup Parmenter, 1 Arsenal Marketplace, Watertown, MA 02472.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.9.5