IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Susan Evelyn (Gillespie)
Tocco
April 6, 1946 – August 4, 2025
A devote catholic Susan Evelyn Gillespie Tocco. Susan passed away peacefully in her sleep on August 4, 2025.
Susan was the daughter of the late Evelyn Marie and late Thomas Frances Gillespie. She was born on April 6, 1946. She was the eldest granddaughter of the deceased Charles and Marie Hardy. She was happily married to Vincent Tocco of Gloucester, MA for nearly thirty years.
Family was the most important thing to Susan. She loved spending time with her family and attending family gatherings. Susan also loved history, walking the Gloucester Boulevard, and decorating her home for the holidays. Family remembers her warm gatherings and how she cared for others. Family and friends will always remember holidays full of festivity, laughter, and endless outpouring of love from her home. St. Patrick's days were always extra special Susan relished all things Irish all year long. Her greeting cards were always beautiful and heartfelt. Susan was self promoted to a private health care system in Lexington a career that she truly loved then she moved closer to home when she accepted a position as a liaison for a medical agency.
Susan was a single mom and homemaker for many years and served as a crossing guard in Stoneham, MA for several years. She took child-rearing very seriously and instilled the values of hard work and kindness in her children.
Susan relished nights dancing at her favorite ballrooms. She loved sharing her love of big band music and starred in several productions during her time at Melrose High School.
Susan was the beloved grandmother of Nevan and Mateo Osorio of Orlando FL, whose summer visits brought her much joy, as did visits to Orlando.Wonderful memories were made over the years with her beloved three sisters, nieces, and nephews, and lifelong dear friends, Beverly (Troughton) Willwerth, Nancy (Dias) Butts, and Judy (Taylor) Teehan.
Susan is survived by her children Amy Gillespie of Orlando, FL, Wendy Gillespie of Chelmsford, MA, Scott Gillespie, and her stepdaughters, Corrine Tocco, Carla Budrow, and Traci Tocco. She is also survived by her grandchildren Ryan Gillespie, Mateo Osorio, Sophia Gillespie, and Nevan Osorio, and step-grandchildren, Amanda, Nadine, Rachel, Deanna, Lizzie, and Laura, and several step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Christine Baker, Diane McKinley, and Joyce Gillespie, and cousins from the Hagen, Hardy, and Sacco families. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews from the Baker, Rabbottino, and Gillespie families.
A Celebration of life will be held on Sunday, September 7, 2025 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM in the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster Street, Melrose. Family & Friend's are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West, 5th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.
Celebration of Life
Gately Funeral Home
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Visits: 1
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