Jerril F. Walsh

Jerril F. (Gaudreau) Walsh, age 93 of Weymouth, passed away on April 24, 2020. Jerri was born in Boston and raised in Dorchester, but spent much of her life in Weymouth, the town she considered home. She graduated from Dorchester High School for Girls in 1944 and St. Margaret’s School of Nursing in 1947 as part of the Cadet Nursing Corps.

She was very active in the Saint Francis Xavier Parish in South Weymouth. She worked as a nurse and substitute teacher in the school, organized activities for the church bazaar, taught CCD, became a Eucharistic minister, and for many years was an active member of Sodality of Our Lady and Genesians. She was also a long-time member of the Third Order of Saint Francis. Her faith was her foundation.

Her nursing career spanned more than 58 years. During that time, she worked at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston City Hospital, South Shore Hospital, Norfolk County Hospital, Quincy City Hospital, and several nursing homes on the South Shore. She also worked in a methadone clinic, a job she felt called to do. Her empathy and generosity made her a valued asset wherever she was working.

Jerri was active in politics and was a founding member of Massachusetts Citizens for Life. She had met Popes and Presidents. She stood as an example of all that she believed, which led to a beautiful tribute to her faith.

She loved dancing, singing, art, and travel. She was an avid reader – recently, reading twenty-two books in just two months. She was well-versed in almost every topic put before her and unbeatable at Jeopardy. 

She instilled in her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren a passion for righteousness, a need to defend the defenseless, and the will to stand firm in our beliefs, even if she didn’t agree with them.

Jerri is survived by her loving children, Barbara Eaton of Weymouth, Mel Jones and her partner John Harris of Powhatan, Virginia, and Daniel Walsh of Weymouth. She is also survived by her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. She was preceded in death by her parents Charles Gaudreau, Gladys (Anderson) Brackett; her husband Walter F. Walsh; her brothers Charles Gaudreau of Virginia and Edward Gaudreau of Maine; and she departed this life following her oldest daughter Janet Walsh.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Saint Francis Xavier Parish or to the International Rescue Committee COVID Response.