Mona Louise (Axtell) Gillie
Mona Louise (Axtell) Gillie, 50, of Bradford, Mass., passed away Wednesday, April 6, 2011, surrounded by family after a four-year battle with breast cancer.
She was born in Waterville, Maine, on May 2, 1960. She is the daughter of Frank Axtell and Gabrielle (Pelletier) Axtell of North Vassalboro, Maine.
She graduated form Waterville Senior High School in 1978. She attended Hesser College in Manchester, N.H., where she received her associates degree in business in 1980. She later received her bachelor’s degree in business from Southern New Hampshire University in 1999.
She was employed with several law firms in New York City from 1980 to 1986. She then worked at Lucent Technology in North Andover in materials management from 1986 to 2003. She then embarked into an entrepreneurial partnership with Bill Schwarz where she was part owner and operator of Melrose Blossoms Flower Shop in Melrose, Mass. She was truly masterful at the art of floral design.
She is survived by her husband of 29 years, Luke Gillie; their two sons, Edward and Andrew; parents, Frank Axtell and Gabrielle Axtell; sisters, Carol Axtell and sons, Joshua and Isaac, Evelyn Axtell and husband, Willie Hornberger, Ruth Axtell and husband, Gerry Texeira, and sons, Elliot and Gabriel; her in-laws, Dr. Edward and Ruth (McEachern) Gillie of Cape Coral; and sisters-in-law, Mrs. Lee (Gillie) Egan of Manchester N.H., and Dana (Gillie) Mularoni of Virginia.
She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife and mother. She was very involved in both of her sons’ swim teams and was incredibly proud of all their accomplishments.
The family would like to thank Merrimack Valley Hospice for the wonderful care Mona received in the final weeks of her life. The family is incredibly grateful for all the loving support from all our friends at St. John’s Prep High School, and the swim team in Danvers and Crimson swim team in Andover, Mass. The family also wants to give a special thanks to Dr. Leroy Parker, her oncologist; Lindsey Shaw, her nurse practioner; Ginny Grace, her RN; and the entire staff at Faulkner Hospital in Boston.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her Memorial Mass Monday, April 11, at 10:30 a.m., at Sacred Hearts Church, South Main Street, Bradford, Mass. Visiting hours will be held Sunday, April 10, from 3-6 p.m., at the H. L. Farmer & Sons Bradford Funeral Home, 210 South Main St. Bradford.
Interment will be held on a later date at Pine Grove Cemetery in Belgrade, Maine.
Arrangements are by H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Homes and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, friends and relatives may make memorial contributions to the Faulkner Hospital in Boston. www.faulknerhospital.org/giving.html.
Condolences to her family may be made at www.farmerfuneralhomes.com