Marcella Marguerite (Vincelette) Guilmette, of Westport, cherished wife of the late Alfred J. Guilmette, Jr., peacefully joined her husband on Monday, January 19th, 2015, surrounded at home by her family.
They were married on May 10, 1947 at Our Lady of Consolation Church in Pawtucket, RI, shortly after Alfred returned from serving with the Army in the European Theatre during World War II.
Marcella was the beloved mother of Suzette M. Vernon, husband Bill from Brewer, ME; Janet A. Blais, husband Jerry from Tiverton, RI; and Janice A. Oliver, husband Frank from Westport, MA. She also leaves grandchildren and great grandchildren, Todd C. Oliver, wife Susan, and children Logan and Riley, from Westport, MA; Jennifer M. DaRocha (Oliver), husband Jared, and children Payton and Teagan from Marion, MA; Emily S. Hill (Blais) and husband Dana from Warwick, RI; and Elizabeth A. Johnson (Connolly), husband Scott and daughter Lia from Greenville, SC; Frank A. Connolly IV, partner Becky Hall and daughter Maddie from Hampden, ME. Her great strength and love will be missed by all of her family.
Marcella was born in Pawtucket, RI on July 22, 1925, daughter of Eva (Ethier) and Alphonse Vincelette. In 1943 she graduated from East High School followed by Burroughs Secretarial School in Providence, RI. She worked as a billing and payroll clerk at Robison Manufacturing, and billing department at Lamport Manufacturing in Fall River, MA until the birth of her first daughter. Her life was filled with caring for her family and supporting her husband who worked as a Line Supervisor at Montaup Electric in Somerset, MA. She was an accomplished seamstress who designed and sewed all her children’s clothing from their every-day outfits to their winter hats, coats and snowsuits. It was always a Christmas treat for her daughters to open special gifts of doll clothes each year. At the request of then parish pastor Father Edmund Levesque, Marcella “took to her sewing machine” and for several years sewed vestments for the priests along with individual linens for the altar. Beautiful gladiolas, which Marcella and Alfred harvested from their large garden also adorned the church every summer.
With her husband Alfred, they supported many events at St. George Church, square danced for many years, loved gardening, hosted family gathering on the backyard patio and enjoyed day trips to Cape Cod and Maine.
She loved being surrounded by her grandchildren and great grandchildren who lovingly called her Memere. She leaves a special niece and goddaughter, Gail O’Connor, her husband Tom, and their sons, Thomas, Jeremiah, Benjamin and Zachariah, along with many wonderful nieces and nephews. Mrs. Guilmette was predeceased by a brother, Alphonse Vincelette, Jr. and a sister-in-law, Patricia Vincelette.
A heartfelt thanks to her physician Dr. Jessica Inwood, physicians and staff at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Southcoast VNA and Hospice Staff, Home Instead staff and Enos Medical personnel who all showed great respect and compassion for our mother.
The family invites you to join them at the Potter Funeral Home for calling hours between 5 and 8 p.m. on Thursday, January 22, and funeral from the Potter Funeral Home at 9 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. George Church, 12 Highland Ave., Westport at 10 am on Friday, January 23.
Interment in Beech Grove Cemetery, Main Rd., Westport.
If you wish, donations may be made “in memory of Marcella Guilmette” to the: Westport Police Department Gift Fund, 818 Main Rd., Westport, MA 02790, the Westport Fire Department Gift Fund, P.O. Box 3470, Westport, MA 02790 or Southcoast VNA Hospice, Community Affairs, 200 Mill Rd., Fairhaven, MA 02719.