Abington – Carole A. (Whiteside) Gridley, 73 a longtime resident of Abington, died Monday August 24 in her home surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. She was the beloved wife of 54 years to James Gridley.
Born in Everett and raised in Weymouth she was the only child of the late Joseph B. and Hazel (Tingley) Whiteside and a graduate of Weymouth High School, Class of 1960.
After graduation and prior to raising her family Carole had worked as Security Secretary for the Office of Naval Research at the Boston Ship Yard and later when her children had grown she spent 20 years working as a display specialist, creating beautiful displays in the retail stores of the Hallmark Company.
Carole was a true artisan and her life and home reflected her natural talents. She was well known locally for creating splendid porcelain dolls beginning with the mixing and firing of each doll and painstakingly painting each face, to hand sewing each outfit and accessory. Christmas and all holidays were celebrated with joy as each corner of her house showcased her true artistic talents, and celebrated in grand fashion with family and friends.
As her family grew, and her eight grandchildren arrived, Carole had used her talents to create holiday outfits for each one of them and spent much of her spare time hosting “grandchildren tea parties”.
For over 50 years she had been an active member of the Abington community, where she and her husband Jim had raised their four children. She was a member of the Abington Garden Club and past President of the Hanson-Pembroke Women’s Club.
After a previous battle with ovarian cancer nine years ago, she began traveling with family to locations near and far. She shared “family roots” with her children, returning to Georgia the birth place of her Dad, and touring through the south. Her 50th wedding anniversary was spent dancing with her cherished husband Jim on Beale Street in Memphis, TN where she also debuted her own country music recording!
In addition to her husband Jim, she is survived by her loving children Michael Gridley of Lakeville, Debra Nee and her husband Kevin of Lakeville, David Gridley and his wife Colleen McAuley of Hampton, NH and Thom Gridley and his wife Donna of Newburyport, her brother-in-law Philip Gridley, her sister-in-law Janet Feeny and her daughter-in-law Carol Lee D’Alessandro. She is also survived by her grandchildren, whom she adored, Melissa Desroches and her husband Ryan, Amy Gridley, Casey and Callie Nee, and Ava and Lila Gridley, and her great grandchildren Charlotte and Emmeline Desroches as well as many nieces, nephews, friends and her beloved cousins Beverly White and Shirley Fogarty. She was a loving daughter-in-law to the late James and Margaret Gridley.
Her funeral service will be held Friday August 28 at 10:00 AM in the Blanchard Funeral Chapel, Plymouth Street (Rte. 58 @ the rotary) Whitman. Burial will follow in the Village Cemetery, Weymouth. Visiting hours will be held Thursday August 27 from 4:00-8:00 PM.
Donations in her name may be made to Ovations for the Cure, 79 Main Street, Suite 202, Framingham, MA 01702 or to Dana Farber Cancer, Box 849167, Boston, MA 02284 or to Hospice of the South Shore, 30 Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA 02370