Gayle Mary (Fitzpatrick) Kissell

Gayle Mary Kissell, 79, of Natick passed away October 20, 2022, following a brief illness.

Gayle was born in Walpole on October 29, 1942. She spent her childhood in Walpole, MA attending local schools. After graduating from Walpole High School, she attended Aquinas College in Milton, MA where she majored in secretarial studies.

Gayle started her professional career at the Plimpton Press in Norwood where she met her future husband, Bruce Kissell, who had just moved to Massachusetts from Pittsburgh, PA after attaining his degree from Carnegie Mellon University.

They were married three years later in 1966 and lived two years in Stamford, CT before returning to Walpole where they began their family.  Gayle and her family moved to southern, NJ in 1980 only to return to New England in 1985, settling in Lexington, MA.  In 1976, she and her husband bought a summer home on Martha’s Vineyard, and this instantly became her favorite place on earth.  Ultimately, she and Bruce made that home their main residence.  On the island, Gayle donated much of her time driving senior citizens to appointments and helping them run errands.  She also acted as an art instructor’s assistant with her husband for the senior citizens of Vineyard Haven.

During her life Gayle was an avid reader who loved books and libraries.  She loved walking on the beach looking for sea glass and was famous for rewarding any grandchild who found a rare piece of beach glass.  Most of all, she loved spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren. 

Gayle is survived by her husband of 56 years, Bruce, her older sister Elizabeth Shore of Sorrento, FL and younger brother Jack Fitzpatrick, of Coconut Grove, FL.  In addition, she is survived by her daughter Kristin (Miller) and her husband Alan of Claremont, CA, her son Jason and his wife Beth of Westwood, MA and her son John and his wife Alissa of Wayland, MA.  She was also “Gum” and “Gammy” to seven grandchildren who adored her - Ryan, Lily, Katie, Adelaide, Felix, Finn, and Sevi.

Services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, tax deductible donations can be made to the Vineyard Haven Library Building Fund, 200 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568

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