Gertrude C. Boulais

Gertrude Cecelia (Murray) Boulais, beloved wife of 65 years of Charles L. Boulais who predeceased her in 2005, passed away peacefully on Saturday April 27th, 2024, at CareOne at Redstone in East Longmeadow with her loving daughters at her side.
Gertrude was born on July 20, 1920, in Holyoke, MA, a daughter of Jospeh Patrick and Roseanna (Grenier) Murray. She was the second oldest of 14 siblings.
Gertrude attended Holyoke schools, but her education was shortened by several years due to the needs of her mom and the many siblings in her household. She was a Communicate of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. She had a strong devotion to St. Jude that she shared with all of her children and those that knew her.
She enjoyed singing and was a fan of Big Band music of the 40’s. She also enjoyed babysitting and taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She worked as a ‘popcorn girl’ for many years at the Majestic Theater in Holyoke, where she met her husband, Charles. While he was serving our country in combat duty in Germany during WWII, Gertrude worked full time as a factory worker while raising their first child, Charlotte.
Gertrude leaves behind her loving daughters, Anne Marie Petit and her husband, Paul of Southwick, and Theresa Trombley and her husband, Robert of Chicopee; siblings, Richard, William, John, Mildred, and Jeanne. Seven cherished grandchildren, Lynn Chasse and her husband Joseph, Robert Trombley, Jr., Katherine Trombley, Sarah Auclair and her husband, Jason, David Petit and his wife, Allison, Mary Letellier and her husband Justin, and Stephen Petit, seventeen great grandchildren; one great great grandson expected in June, Caleb Lamparelli as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was also predeceased by her beloved daughter, Chalotte Boulais in 1953 and by seven siblings.
Family and friends are invited to meet directly on Thursday, May 2, at 9:15 AM at Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut St., Springfield, for a brief visitation prior to Gertrude’s Mass of Christian Burial at 9:45 AM. Burial will follow immediately after the Mass at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main St., Agawam.
Memorial donations may be made in Gertrude’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To leave an online expression of sympathy for the family, please visit www.messierfuneralhome.com