Joanne N. Wile Obituary
Joanne Nathalie (Rogers) Wile, of Rockport, passed away at the age of 90 after a sudden illness. Born into a modest family, she had always wanted to be a teacher but never got the chance to obtain a college degree. Instead, she met and married James Edward Wile from Gloucester, raised a family and proved her deep commitment to the town of Rockport. Throughout her life, she wore many hats, each one a symbol of her hometown. When she was a teenager, she worked as a soda jerk at Tuck's Pharmacy and then as an assistant bookkeeper at Hodgkin's Garage.
Later she became a proof teller at the Rockport National Bank and then a payroll clerk at the Town Hall. In the last years of her working life, she was employed at Curtis News and then at the Happy Whale and the House of Glass. Widowed at the age of 54, Joanne remained strong and independent, devoting her days to the care of two of her young grandchildren. She served as a selectwoman of Rockport for six years, worked actively on the Dog Control Commission to get the leash law put into effect and served for seventeen years on the Historical Commission.
What cannot be denied is that Joanne was a true Rockporter, born on Cleaves Street and grown up in the belief that this town was the best in the world. As a consequence, she often spoke up at Town Meeting to defend its interests. Her convincing arguments led to the decision of the town to take over Thatcher's Island, which the Coast Guard planned to vacate. She also spoke up at town meeting in favor of the building of the new Police Station (a million dollar project). In addition, she was actively involved in many clubs: she served as president of the Rockport Women's Club, the Sandy Bay Historical Society and the Pigeon Cove Circle.
She acted as secretary for the Catholic Women's Guild, the Old Firehouse Trust and the Historical Commission. Not once did she hesitate to write letters to the editor of the Gloucester Daily Times to voice her opinion on town issues. Amid all of that, she was able to raise four children and dedicate a large part of her life to music as the organist at St Joachim's Church for 50 years and organist at the Christian Science Church for eight. It is plain to see that Joanne Wile lived a very full life in which she showed many acts of generosity.
For example, she played piano for the elderly at Denmar, contributed to many bake sales and once she anonymously sent pizzas to the 'boys at the Coast Guard Station' in 2019 during a government shutdown when they were not getting paid. Above and beyond all of this, Joanne Wile cared deeply for her children and her grandchildren and did the best she could to show them her love. Joanne Wile is survived by her sister Mary Louise Bodoni, her children Susan Joanne Wile, Kathleen Rosemary Wile-Vigouroux, Timothy James Wile and Karen Louise Turmenne.
She was the grandmother of Fitz, Jenna and Sarah Fuller, Tyler and Christopher Wile and Edward Turmenne as well as the great grandmother of seven children: Normann, Marileen and William Fuller, Emma-Rose, Lynn-Marie and Lillie-Jane Metaut and Mason Mas, all of whom she was very proud. Visiting hour will be on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, from 9 :30-10 :30a.m. at the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joachim Church, 56 Broadway, Rockport, at 11a.m.
Burial to follow in Beech Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to The Brain Aneurysm Foundation, 269 Hanover Street Hanover MA. 02339 or at give.bafound.org.
