Isabelle M. Grillone, 91
ADAMS, Mass. — Isabelle Mary Grillone, 91, formerly of 75 Commercial St., died peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, at Williamstown Commons after a long, full life.
Born in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland, on Sept. 3, 1923, daughter of James and Agnes Reynolds Dwyer, she attended schools there. She emigrated to the United States in 1946 to live New York State with her sister, Alice Shea Saulnier.
Mrs. Grillone was employed in the area by a number of prominent families as a housekeeper and on occasion as a hostess for parties for the director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival. She had first worked at her sister's auto repair and gas station and helping with her children.
She also worked as a waitress in New York restaurants, meeting her husband, Leo Grillone, at the Casa Villa Rosa, where she was head waitress and he was the chef.
They married in 1964 and drove cross country to settle in San Jose, Calif., where their daughter was born in 1965. They returned to North Adams in 1970 to be near her husband's family.
Mr. Grillone died in February 1985.
Affectionately known as Gramma Bea, she was known for her excellent cooking and baking, especially her Christmas fruitcakes. She enjoyed bingo and was proud of her Irish heritage. In her youth, she enjoyed attending dances with soldiers during the World War II era. She spent immeasurable amounts of time loving and spoiling her grandchildren, who were her best friends. She enjoyed lunches with her grandson, David, and shopping and boat rides with her granddaughter,Calli. She was generous with her time in other ways as well, helping her friends and neighbors in times of need.
After retiring, Mrs. Grillone volunteered at the Adams meal site for Elder Services for 11 years. She was also nominated for the Horizon first annual Caregiver Award.
She was fortunate enough to be able to enjoy traveling from coast to coast in the United States, as well as several times to Florida, New Jersey, and to the Connecticut casinos. She will miss her evening chats, bingo and coffee hour with the ladies at the Millhouses.
She leaves a daughter and son-in-law, Natalie Connie Grillone Yorke and her husband,David of Stamford, Vt.; two grandchildren, David W. Yorke Jr. and his wife, Amanda, of North Adams, Calli Yorke Bacon and her husband Jeremy of Cape Coral, Fla.; five great-grandchildren, PJ, Kolby, Ariana and Lucian Yorke of North Adams and Hayli Bacon of Cape Coral; nieces and nephews throughout the United States and Canada; extended family and friends including Agnes Yorke and her "favorite" nephew Melvin Accetta, all of North Adams.
Besides her sister, she was predeceased by her brothers George, Frank, Edward, James, William, Gerald and Joseph Dwyer; her other sisters, Gertrude Power and Agnes Morris, and sisters- and brothers-in-law. She is believed to be the last of her immediate family.
FUNERAL NOTICE — The funeral for Mrs. Grillone will be Thursday, Feb. 19, at 11 a.m. from Flynn & Dagnoli-Montagna Home for Funerals, Central Chapels, 74 Marshall St., North Adams. Burial will follow in Southview Cemetery.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, Feb. 18, from 4 to 6 at the funeral home. Donations in her memory are suggested for the felines at the Berkshire Humane Society or the Stray Fund at Greylock Animal Hospital, or HospiceCare of the Berkshires, through the funeral home. In honor of Mrs. Grillone, please do something nice for someone today.
The family gives special thanks to the caring staff of Williamstown Commons Unit 1 for their affection for and care of Bea in the last six months of her life, as well as the ladies from HospiceCare in the Berkshires.