Gail M. (Swett) Hamilton

Gail (Swett) Hamilton, 82, made her transition on the morning of May 8, 2018, as the sun shined through the mist and the birds sang their morning songs. Gail's loving daughters were by her bedside during her final days and Gail was surrounded with the love of her grandchildren, family, and dear friends as well.

Gail was born in Boston on April 25, 1936 to Charles and Bertha Swett. She graduated from Needham High School and Lasell Jr. College. She married Martin (Marty) Hamilton in 1959 and resided with him in Needham, MA, until his passing in 1989. Gail worked as a secretary for Northeastern University, Andover Newton Theological School, Newman Junior High School, and Amica.

In the early 1990s, Gail moved to Hampton, New Hampshire, and loved bringing her Golden Retrievers for walks on the beach and volunteering for the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue. Eventually she was blessed with three grandchildren and she adored them, heart and soul. From tea parties to sand castles, swing pushes and sliding, to picking pumpkins and making Christmas the best day of the year, Gail radiated love and happiness when with her family.

Gail was a devoted and loving mother to her two daughters, Suzanne Hamilton of Freeport, ME; and Tracey Fuller of Boylston. Her grandchildren were the loves of her life - Christopher Fuller of Rutland, MA; Holly Fuller of Concord, NC; and Amanda Fuller of Boylston. We're pretty sure she loved her children and grandchildren at least a little more than the Golden Retrievers she adopted from the YGRR. She had a soft spot for the senior goldens that families didn't want anymore - like Crockett, Thomas, Cody, Kayley, Apollo, Buddy, and Sandy.

Gail also leaves behind her two beloved sisters, Joan Gay of VA; and Barbara Kennedy of Andover, MA. The "Swett Sisters" (while not a surname they particularly loved) were incredibly close. They'd launch into the Needham High School song at anyone's request, dance up a storm to some Neil Diamond, and break into laughter as they shared adventures. And anyone who knows Gail can tell you her favorite adventure of all - Hawaii!

Gail also leaves behind her loving brother-in-law, Bo Kennedy, as well as several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews - all of whom Gail loved very much.

Gail's final years were incredibly challenging for her and her family as Alzheimer's slowly and steadily stole the kind, thoughtful, generous, loving mom, gramma, sister, and friend we all knew her as. But Gail's gentle, sweet spirit stayed with her even though memories and recognition of her loved ones left.

For the past 6 years, Gail lived with and was cared for by her devoted daughter Tracey and Tracey's family. Tracey and Suzanne thank Tracey's children, her fiance Jeff Stanton, her friends, and Notre Dame Hospice (especially Colleen) for supporting Tracey as she cared for Gail.

If only there were words deep enough, wide enough, strong enough to describe the love Gail had for her family, and they for her… she is so loved and so missed.

A memorial service for Gail will be held at First Congregational Church in Boylston, 10 Church Street, Boylston at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, May 15. In lieu of flowers, Gail may be honored with a donation to the Alzheimer's Association (www.alz.org) or the Yankee Golden Retriever Rescue, Inc (www.yggr.org).