Suzanne D. (del’Etoile) Gralla, age 74, passed away peacefully in the Milford Center on Monday, May 27, 2019. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on March 31, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Richard and Margaret (Kelley) del’Etoile. She was raised in Belmont, Massachusetts, where she graduated from Belmont High School with the Class of 1962.
Suzanne continued her education at Emerson College, earning her bachelor’s degree with a focus on speech pathology in 1966. Following graduation, Suzanne took a position in the Audiology Department of Boston Children’s Hospital. She went on to work with developmentally disabled children at Mainstay in Needham.
After settling in Walpole, Massachusetts to raise her daughters, Juliette and Nicole, Suzanne took a teaching position with Blessed Sacrament School. She spent many years as a kindergarten teacher before taking on the role of a special education teacher in the school’s newly formed program. In the mid-1990s, Suzanne settled in Warwick, Rhode Island, where she loved spending her free time on the water.
After more than 30 years of dedication to the students of Blessed Sacrament School, Suzanne retired in 2011 and made her home in Franklin. While Suzanne loved spending time on the water, she also enjoyed taking care of her home and those she loved. She looked forward to cultivating both her flower and vegetable gardens every year and regularly prepared meals for her family and friends to enjoy together.
Her culinary skills did not stop with her meals, as she made sure to bake the perfect dessert. She was a lover of music, especially enjoying listening to showtunes, Neil Diamond, and Jimmy Buffet. Suzanne enjoyed her quiet time as well, building doll houses, catching up with one of her favorite books or watching a classic western television show.
Most of all, she will be remembered for her generous ways, always willing to help anyone in need. Loving mother of Nicole V. Haywood and her husband, George, of Taunton and the late Juliette S. Bourgeois. Cherished grandmother of Angelique Bourgeois, Jacqueline Bourgeois, and Alexi Haywood and great grandmother of Saydee Marie and Bradley Francis.
Sister of Alfred “Skip” del’Etoile and his wife, Catherine, of Foxborough, Richard del’Etoile and his wife, Eileen, of Denver, Colorado, and Nina del’Etoile. Former spouse of Thomas Gralla of Attleboro. Dear friend of Patricia Wallwork of Franklin.
Also survived by her god daughter, Jamie Guillet of Bristol, Rhode Island, four nieces, and one nephew. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Suzanne’s Life Celebration on Monday, June 3, 2019 from 4 to 7 PM and Tuesday, June 4, 2019 from 9 to 9:30 AM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Blessed Sacrament Church, 10 Diamond Street, Walpole on Tuesday, June 4, 2019 at 10:00 AM.
Interment will follow in Saint Francis Cemetery in Walpole.
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