V. Geraldine J. (Nettles) Mills, 82, of Salem, wife of the late William A. Mills, passed peacefully into the presence of her Lord and Savior, Sun., July 13th at Salemhaven Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by her loving family.
Gerry was born in Somerville, MA, the daughter of the late Velma (Arens) and John Nettles. She grew up in Somerville and graduated from Somerville High School, and then she attended Lowell State Teachers College. There she met William A. “Bill” Mills and they married Aug. 16, 1953 and celebrated 55 years of marriage before Bill passed away in 2008.
Gerry was loving, generous and friendly. She loved her Lord, her family and her church family and she enjoyed music, gardening, bird watching and the seashore. She worked in banking for many years, initially at Cape Ann Bank and Trust in Gloucester, MA and then at Commercial Bank in Wilmington, MA and Depositors Insurance Fund in Woburn, MA.
Gerry moved to Gloucester, MA where she raised her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and loved her family unconditionally.
In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her 2 brothers, 2 sisters and their spouses, Orill and Alice Fitz, Carl and Helen Fitz, Irma and John Sullivan and Barbara Nettles..
Geraldine is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, David A. and Suzanne Mills of Melrose, MA, Daniel W. and Lidia Mills of Windham, NH; 3 daughters and sons –in-law, Laura T. and James Brown of Kissimmee, FL, Cheryl J. and David Schleh, Jr. of Methuen, MA and Susan D. and Leonard Gilardi of Gloucester, MA; 10 grandchildren, Amanda (Mills) Foley, Meredith (Mills) Nichols, Dawn (Brown) Burke, James Brown, Jennifer (Brown) Martin, Ester Mills, Daniel Mills, Rebecca Schleh, Madison (Gilardi) Aberle and Max Gilardi, 13 great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
Calling hours will be Monday, July 21st from 4:00 – 7:00 PM at Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, NH.
The funeral service will be Tuesday at 10:30 AM at Fellowship Bible Church, 1 Fellowship Way, Methuen, MA. Burial will follow at the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH.
Memorial contributions in Geraldine’s name may be made to: Fellowship Bible Church, 1 Fellowship Way, Methuen, MA 01844 or Cape Ann Bible Church, 8 Thompson St., W. Gloucester, MA 01930.