Josephine "Joan" Gilda (Micciche) Vasapolli of Brooksby Village Peabody, formerly of Melrose, died suddenly & peacefully surrounded by her loving family, on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington. She was 84 years old. Born in East Boston on May 31, 1927, a daughter to the late Michael & Giovanna (Rizzo) Micciche, she was raised East Boston and Everett. Gilda was a 1945 graduate of Everett High School and attended Business School in Boston. She worked for the John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston for a few years, as a secretary at the Lincoln School in Melrose and finally alongside her husband at Melrose Optical. She was a devote Catholic, a member of the Most Blessed Sacrament Church of Wakefield, sang in the choir, was a lector, Eucharistic minister, cantor and a member of the Women's Guild. She enjoyed traveling, reading, pilgrimages, playing the piano and was a past member of the Lynn Chapter of the Sweet Adeline's. Gilda was a Melrose resident from 1958-2005 and then moved to Brooksby Village in Peabody. She had many friends at Brooksby and sang in the Brooksby Village Quartet and choir. Gilda was a great cook and the best joke teller in the family. She was the devoted wife of the late John E. Vasapoli, with whom they shared 51 years of marriage. She was the loving mother of John V. Vasapoli & his wife Joyce of N. Reading & Paul M. Vasapoli & his wife Judy of Eliot, ME, cherished grandmother of Tyson, Max, Alex & Alana Vasapoli. Caring sister of Grace Gray & her husband Charles of Holden, Josephine Callahan & her husband Bernard of Clearwater, FL, Joanne Kelley & her husband James of Orleans, MA, Charles Cannata & his wife Susan of Hendersonville, TN & the late Estelle Panarese. Also survived by many nieces, nephews & cousins. A Funeral will be held from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Monday, December 12th at 10AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in the Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield at 11AM. Relatives & friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours Sunday 2-6PM. Interment in Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield. Arrangements by The Gately Funeral Home of Melrose. Memorial contributions in Gilda's memory may be made to American Diabetes Assoc. 330 Congress St. 5th Fl. Boston, MA 02210 or St. Vincent De Paul 46 Myrtle St. Melrose, MA 02176. For directions, flowers or to sign Gilda's guest book, please visit www.gatelyfh.com