Gail A. (Bellino) Gentile
A funeral mass was celebrated in November at St. Clement of Rome Church in Sun City, Arizona, for Gail A. (Bellino) Gentile, a former Revere resident, who died at the Banner Boswell Medical Center of Sun City, AZ, unexpectedly on November 13th, 2012 at 63 years. Mrs. Gentile moved there over 14 years ago with her husband, Joseph, who died in 2006. Born & raised in Revere, she was a 1967 alumna of Revere High School. For several years, Gail worked as a receptionist for a group of Everett doctors. Gail had an innate sense of style & design, especially for floral design & home decorating. When her sister, Carole A. Alexander opened Alexander’s Floral Lane on Broadway in 1973, & then reopened the shop under “Carole’s Floral Boutique” on Park Ave., Revere, Gail assumed the role of designer & manager for the shoppe for over ten years. She was a victim of the 1954 “Polio Epidemic” & subsequently, after many years of enjoying good health, became a statistic in the numbers of those who developed “post-polio syndrome.” This necessitated the move to Surprise, AZ, where the climate was dry. She leaves her devoted son, Damon Gentile of Bangor, Maine. She is the dear Sister of, Carole A. Alexander & her husband Alfred “Fred” Alexander of Point of Pines, Revere, & James R. Bellino of Sun City, AZ. She is the Cherished aunt of Dr. Scott C. Alexander, PhD., Ed. & his wife Karen L. Alexander of Chicago, Illinois, & their son, Myles S. Alexander of Chicago, IL. She was the Daughter of the late, James G. & Marie A. (Carco) Bellino. She is also lovingly survived by several cousins in Revere, Malden, East Boston & surrounding communities. Interment was in Arizona. Remembrances may be made to: The Jimmy Fund at Dana Farber, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.
So many years have passed but I still recall your beautiful brown eyes, your voice, your dazzling smile and the way you made me feel…special and loved.
I was a Revere High School classmate of Gail. No one who ever met her could forget her, that gorgeous smile, her shiny black hair, her ethereal spirit in the face of the challenges she faced. She was a true inspiration for all things possible in this world. I remember she was elected to Secretary of the class! I didn’t know she was the owner of a floral shoppe in Revere. I lived in Revere until I was 23. I vividly remember the constant threat of polio. It would be too long a story to tell now, but today, more than 50 yrs. ago, Gail came to mind. I was saddened at the thought she succumbed to that dreaded disease but heartened by the news that she led a happy, fulfilling life. You may never receive this condolence but I had to write it in memory of that well loved, beautiful high school girl that was an inspiration to us all.
Harry and I will always cherish our memories of Christmas Eve with Gail and Joe; their loving inclusion of us meant the world to us. I especially treasure the years Gail and I worked together, and I miss her tremendously.