Rhonda Gracilieri Passes Away

Rhonda Gracilieri (Foreman) died on Dec. 18th after a courageous and hard-fought 3.5 year battle with cancer. She was 64.

Originally from Malden, Rhonda was a Reading resident for the past 37 years where she lovingly raised her family. Rhonda’s biggest passion in life was her family, especially being a Nanny to her 5 grandchildren. Rhonda always looked forward to fall apple picking with her family, decorating gingerbread houses, and weekends in Cape Cod when all of her grandchildren were there together. She loved nothing more than simply sitting on her outside swing and watching the grandkids play with their cousins in the backyard. Rhonda, and her husband Robert of 41 years, had a very special marriage. They enjoyed summer night outings for ice cream, winter fires in their home, car rides to Rockport to eat hot dogs and walk around hand in hand and most of all dancing together. Rhonda was thankfully able to enjoy a trip to Disney World with her family this past November, an absolute on her bucket list. Rhonda was everything we could’ve asked for in a wife, mother, nanny, daughter, sister and friend, who touched the lives of so many. She will be missed dearly by anyone who was fortunate enough to know her.

She was the beloved wife of Robert A. Gracilieri. Devoted mother of Jason R. Gracilieri and his wife Julie H. Kramer of Melrose and Jennifer L. Donaghey and her husband Paul of Reading. Loving Nanny of Lucia, Adelaide, Sean, Christian and Emma. Cherished daughter of Helen L. (Burke) Foreman of Malden. Cherished sister of Elizabeth Holland of Lynnfield, Nancy Brown of S. Dennis, John Foreman of Melrose, James Foreman of Peabody and Sandra Foreman of Andover.

Rhonda’s funeral will be held from the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home 25 Sanborn St. (corner of Woburn St.) Reading on Saturday, December 23 at 9:30 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Agnes Church 186 Woburn St. Reading at 10:30 am. Burial to follow at Wood End Cemetery, Reading. Funeral home visiting hours will be held Friday from 4-8 pm.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Rhonda’s memory to the American Cancer Society 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701.