September 17, 1930 — November 29, 2022
Mary D. (Tonra) Gillis, known as “Marlene,” of Reading, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 29, 2022, surrounded by her family. She was 92 years of age.
Marlene was a head nurse for many years. She graduated and worked at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Brighton, MA. Later she worked at Lawrence General Hospital and then at Daniels Nursing home in Reading. She then went on to be a part of the R.E.A.P education for preschoolers in Reading. Marlene loved caring for the elderly and for children. She always had her arms ready for cradling an infant. She will be remembered for her unconditional love to those in need.
Mary is the beloved wife of the late Kenneth A. Gillis. She is the devoted mother of Patricia M. Gillis-Coppola and her husband William, Paula M. Ojemann and her husband Michael, Judi A. Paffenbarger and her husband Andrew, Nancy J. Gillis-Hendel and her husband Jeffrey, Jo-Anne Christopher and her husband Joseph, Kathleen Gillis and her husband Douglas and Joanne Taylor. Loving grandmother of 13, Rachel O’Neil and her husband Evan, Thomas Coppola and his wife Michele, Abigail Ojemann, Margaret Corey and her husband Jeremiah, Elizabeth Rampulla and her husband Frank, Alex Paffenbarger and his wife Kimmy, Taylor Hendel and her husband Tony McMillen, Hayley Hendel and her partner Austin Navidad, Kenneth Christopher and his wife Brianna, Peter Christopher, Claire Davis and her husband Kyle, Greta Luf and August Luf, and great grandmother of 4, Dustin, Nora, Nolan and Maya.
Dear sister of the late Robert Tonra, Joan Eddy and Elaine DiStephano. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Marlene will join her lifelong friend Jacqueline Deshenes of Amesbury and leaves behind her longtime Reading friends, Janet Doherty and Barbara Gugger. The family wishes to express gratitude to Joanie, Louise and Judy from Arlington’s Visiting Nurse and Community Care’s hospice program for their care of mom this past year.
Family and friends are kindly invited to gather and share memories with her family on Tuesday December 6th, 2022 in the Doherty Barile Family Funeral Home 11 Linden St. READING from 8:30 am to 10 am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating Mary’s Eternal Life in St. Agnes Church 186 Woburn St. Reading at 10:30 am. Interment to follow at Forest Glen Cemetery, Reading.
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