Vincenza “Ginny” Gillette, 98, a World War II Veteran, died Sunday, May 8, 2022, at Health Central Hospital in Ocoee, FL. Born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts on July 27, 1923, Ginny graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1941 and attended Berkshire Business College for a short time.

On July 27, 1943, Ginny joined the United States Marine Corp. At that time, the enlistment age, at least for women, was 21 and Ginny’s father Frank, who emigrated to the US from Italy, had to sign his approval.  I’m sure he wasn’t thrilled about that, but he was so very proud.  After boot camp at Paris Island, Ginny was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California.

On January 20, 1945, Ginny married George Allen in Santa Ana, California.  She was honorably discharged from the USMC on April 14, 1945, as she was expecting.  On May 19, 1945, Lt. Allen, a USMC pilot, was killed in action over Okinawa.  Ginny was three months pregnant at the time and gave birth to son Michael in Pittsfield, Mass later that year.  (Michael, adopted and loved by Ginny’s husband John, tragically died in 1958.)

Ginny and John Gillette went to high school together. After the war (John honorably served, in battle, in the United States Navy) they became reacquainted and got married on September 20, 1947.  That glorious union lasted 66 years until John’s death at age 92 in March 2014.  Daughter Mary Louise was born in 1956 and son John Joseph III in 1961.  And they are grateful to God for the wonderful relationship, many lessons and shared wisdom, and most of all, many years of love.

Ginny was a faithful servant of God and His Kingdom. She and John joined St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in 1988 (I think.) She sang in the choir for years (David is signing – he may have a story to share), became a Eucharistic Minister serving Holy Communion to the ill, and attending Father at mass as possible/needed.  Ginny attended mass daily. (Two or three years ago mom, Grif and I were at a Christmas service. We were all standing as the choir performed a very dramatic rendition of O Holy Night.  The song reached a passionate crescendo at “Fall on your knees.” And down she went. No kneeler, no matter!) 

Additionally, she was a volunteer at the WPB VA Hospital for 20 years visiting hospitalized service men and woman every week. 

Ginny was on the cutting edge professionally too – not only did she join the Marine Corp, underage during war time, during her civilian career, her and John moved to Mississippi and worked on the Saturn V space project (first to carry man into space), and subsequently to Maryland where both worked for GE Information Services in the very early days of computers.  Her favorite pastime was Scrabble – on her iPad! And she never missed Jeopardy. (But I miss our nightly calls to each other after Final Jeopardy. What is “I love you mom?”)

Ginny touched everyone she met. Sometimes literally. (Walking with her on Riviera Beach one day, she saw a woman with a young child.  Assuming the woman was pregnant, mom warmly greeted her, placed her hand gently on the woman’s stomach and said, “When are you due?” You know where this is going. ) Always virtually. If you met Ginny, you remembered her and wanted to be in her presence again.

Ginny stayed in Palm Beach Shores for two years after John died in 2014 and moved to Clermont Florida in 2016.  She truly enjoyed living in the hills and around the lakes of Lake County. It reminded her a little bit of her beloved Berkshire Hills and the lakes of Pittsfield.  She was a lifelong Boston Red Sox and Patriots fan.

Ginny is preceded in death by son Michael, husband John and brother Santo. She is survived by daughter Mary (Grif) Highley of Clermont, FL; son John J. (Karen) of Coventry, RI, three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

She will be sorely missed here on earth, and we look forward to reuniting in Heaven.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Northwood Funeral Home of West Palm Beach, Florida.