Gretchen Gainer

Gretchen was born on January 13, 1973, in Boston, Massachusetts. At just one week old, she was lovingly adopted by her devoted parents, Amelia “Mimi” Waible and David Waible, longtime residents of Sudbury, Massachusetts. From the very beginning, she brought much joy to their lives and continued to spread that joy to all who knew her.

A lifelong resident of Sudbury, Gretchen was known for her kindness, strong loyalty, and funny personality. As a child, she formed deep and lasting friendships, connections that endured through the years. She loved her friends fiercely and stood by them with steady support. There was a special place in her heart for her girlfriends, who she remained close to throughout her life. She treasured every moment spent at craft nights, ladies’ dinners, or cajoling to old country music down at Post 191, where, in her presence, you were always guaranteed fun, love, and laughter.

Gretchen was always the one you wanted in your corner, championing your cause with affection, strength, and an unshakable commitment to those she loved. She was a woman of strong beliefs who stood proudly by her friends, her religion, and her strong moral compass. Her faith was a comfort and strength. Her ability to make things happen for her family, friends, or community was nothing short of remarkable.

Professionally and personally, one of Gretchen’s great passions was cooking. She dedicated her career to nurturing others as a cook at Next Generation Children’s Center. There she brought not only nourishment but also joy to countless children and staff. At home, she expressed her cooking talents in creative ways.

There, it took on a special form, like her festive holiday-shaped loaves of homemade sourdough bread and her legendary strombolis. Every meal she prepared was an act of love and care, and those lucky enough to share her table knew they were being embraced through her food.

Her greatest passion, though, was her family. Gretchen was the devoted wife and soulmate of Mark Gainer Jr. and the proud and caring mother of Lillian “Lily” Gainer, Shannon Gainer, and Jake Gainer.

Together, they built a home full of laughter, love, and shared adventure. It is here that the evidence for her incredible influence of good can be shown by the family she built with Mark by her side. Gretchen is also lovingly remembered by her brother, Erich Waible, and his girlfriend, Stephanie Gould, of Southbridge, Massachusetts. It was a closeness forged not only in love, but in mutual respect, humor, and unwavering trust, a bond Erich returned to her with undying loyalty. Among her most cherished places was the family cabin in Hart’s Location, New Hampshire. From childhood through motherhood, Gretchen found real joy in the White Mountains. Whether she was cleaning the cabin, burning brush, or simply relaxing on the porch, she filled those weekends with fun and happy times. She had a magical way of making everyone feel at ease and welcome, no matter the task or the weather.

Among her many morals was a strong respect for American veterans. Gretchen was proud to serve them as both a volunteer and a bartender at her home post, VFW Post 191 in Sudbury, Massachusetts. There, she helped organize and lovingly create care packages for veterans in homeless shelters: boxes filled with essential items and just enough extras to make any veteran smile and feel that their country had not forgotten them. Gretchen deeply cared for those who served and was fiercely proud of her country. Her patriotism was unwavering, and no one dared tread on her beliefs; she carried them with strength and confidence.

Gretchen lived a life full of love, care, and spirit. Her legacy lives on in every person she touched, every laugh she sparked, and every loving meal prepared and shared.

We will receive friends and family from 4 – 8pm on Wednesday, April 16th, 2025 at Duckett Funeral Home, 656 Boston Post Rd. Sudbury, MA. Services for Gretchen will be held at 11am on Thursday, April 17th, 2025 at the same location. Afterward, we invite you to come to the Wayside Inn to honor and celebrate her life.

In lieu of flowers, we ask that you cook a meal for someone you love—and remember Gretchen in that kind and caring act.