Obituary of Geraldine Marie Dinelli

Geraldine Marie Dinelli passed away peacefully on Saturday afternoon, January 21, 2017. She was 84 years old. Geraldine was born in Winthrop, the daughter of Louis and Marie Shaw. She grew up in Somerville and was a graduate of St. Clement's High School in Somerville. She would meet her future husband, Joseph Dinelli, in second grade. Who knew she would be standing next to her future husband in their second grade class picture. It was destiny! They started dating before high school, went to their proms together, and while Joe was serving in the US Navy during the Korean War, he proposed to his childhood sweetheart. It was during that time, that they married and started their life together. After the service, they settled in Somerville and then in 1957, bought a home in Burlington to raise their family which grew to 6 children. Geraldine embraced her role as wife, mother, and homemaker. Her kids would joke with her saying that they that she was just like the June Cleaver on the television show, “Leave it to Beaver”. She was the perfect wife and mother. She was always there for her family, even when they were grown. She supported her children’s interests and dreams. She had unconditional love was always there fixing scraped knees, mending broken hearts, and always prepared to defend her family against the world. Having the sense that this past Christmas might be her last, all she wanted from her 6 children was a picture with her all together one last time. She simply loved her family to the moon and back. Geraldine had many interests and hobbies over the years. She loved to crochet and constantly was producing afghans for all her family and friends. She was a volunteer at Pine Glen Elementary School. She was a huge Red Sox, Patriots, and college football fan. She loved to travel. She and Joe had taken many cruises, visited almost all the National Parks in the United States, Hawaii, Europe, West Coast, and much of the Caribbean. She loved her vacation home at Weirs Beach in Laconia, NH. She loved watching the boats parade by, the fireworks seen from her deck, and the many warm summer days spent with her family in Lake Winnipesaukee. She embraced life, loved her family immensely, and will hold a special place in the hearts of all her family. Geraldine was the beloved wife for 62 years to Joseph E. Dinelli. She was the loving mother of Linda Tsantoulis & her husband Richard of Auburn, NH, Robert Dinelli & his husband Andy Li of San Francisco, CA, Janice Taylor & her husband Robert of Natick, Stephen Dinelli & his wife Nancy of Reading, Joseph Dinelli, Jr. of Tampa, FL and David Dinelli & his wife Patricia of Billerica. She was the proud grandmother of Joseph Gangestad, Sean Taylor, Benjamin & Allison Dinelli. She was the cherished sister of Louis Shaw of Oceanside, CA and the late Richard Shaw and Rosemary Sullivan. Funeral from the Edward V Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (Exit 34 off Rt. 128, Woburn side) on Friday, Jan. 27 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Thursday 4-8 p.m. Interment in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington.