Geraldine Marie Niland

Born in Boston on August 29, 1937, daughter of the late Mary (O’Handley) and William Brady. Gerry was raised in Mission Hill (and very proud of it) with her brothers Francis “Sonny” and Daniel “Joe”. She was a 1955 graduate of Mission High School. Gerry married Ralph Niland on February 24, 1959, staying in Mission Hill, they began raising their family; Ralph Jr., Thomas, and Nancy. Gerry and Ralph then moved to Roslindale buying a house with Ralph’s parents, Bill and Nora Niland. They added to their family one more time, a daughter Kathleen. Their house in Roslindale became the gathering place for family events and celebrations. On any given weekend you could find many aunts, uncles, and cousins gathered there and hear the laughter and usually singing from the windows.

Gerry went to work at the MSPCA-Angell in Jamaica Plain at age 37 retiring from there 27 years later. Gerry lost her husband at the age of 42 and continued raising their four children, working tirelessly, and setting the example of “you never give up.”

She moved to Walpole in 1995 with her daughter Kathleen Mortali and her husband Andrew. Eventually her son Ralph Niland with wife Anita, her son Tommy Niland with fiancée Mary “Pat” Driscoll, and her daughter Nancy Rice followed, all moving within a mile of her home. Gerry was so proud to be the grandmother of Elicia Niland and her wife Kelly, Lynda Niland and her fiancée Tommy Dietzel, Joseph Niland, Tommy Niland Jr., Kyle Rice, Nora Mortali; and great-grandmother of Julia Dietzel, Everly Niland, and Mason Niland. Being surrounded by her family was her greatest joy.

Gerry was an avid Red Sox fan, faithfully watched every game and loved talking all things Red Sox. She was a dedicated supporter of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. She loved playing cards, games, doing crossword puzzles, and shopping. Her door was always open and she often had a family member or friend visiting.

Gerry was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010. She took on the cancer with that “never give up” attitude. Because of her strength and determination to keep going, she saw grandchildren get married, great-grandchildren born, and many monumental events of her family and friends. She was the heart of our family and she will be incredibly missed.

Services from the Gillooly Funeral Home, 126 Walpole St. (Rt. 1A) NORWOOD on Wednesday September 7, 2022 at 9:30 AM. Funeral Mass in St. Timothy’s Church, 650 Nichols St. Norwood at 10:30 AM. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-7 PM in the Funeral Home. Burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery West Roxbury will be private

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made in Geraldine’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis TN, 38105 or see stjude.org.