Brewster – Ghislaine “Gigi” Casella, 95, of Brewster and a former long-time Northborough resident, passed away on Jan. 29, 2021.
A native of Belgium, Gigi was a survivor of the German occupation of her homeland during World War II. After working for the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe, Gigi immigrated to the United States in 1956, where she met her husband Jim and was married 2 years later. They were married for over 60 years. Gigi also became a proud citizen of the United States and never missed an opportunity to exercise her right to vote.
After arriving in the U.S., Gigi graduated magna cum laude from Framingham Teachers College. She was fluent in five languages and taught foreign languages at St. John’s H.S., Algonquin Regional H.S., and Framingham South H.S. Gigi also served as a court-appointed special advocate for disadvantaged children.
Despite her personal experiences suffering the ugliness of war, Gigi never failed to see the beauty in life. She shared that vision as a very accomplished artist. Gigi studied art at the Worcester Art Museum, and she took workshop trips with artist groups to locations around the country and world including Provence, France. Several of her paintings have been on display in Northborough government buildings and organizations.
Family and friends were Gigi’s passion and delight. She loved to host friends for gourmet meals and frequently had garden tours at her house. Gigi was also very skilled at knitting and crochet. She made hundreds of blankets, shawls, scarfs, hats, and other items that she proudly donated to local citizens, churches, and other community groups.
Gigi was an active member of the community, volunteering at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens, Worcester County Horticultural Society, Shrewsbury Schoolhouse Quilters, and Northborough’s Art Guild, Garden Club, and Senior Center, where she taught art to seniors. She was an active participant in raising the funds needed to build the new Northborough Senior Center, and she served as Grand Marshall, along with her husband Jim, of the 2007 Northborough Applefest Parade.
Gigi lived with her husband James Casella II in Northborough for over 45 years before relocating to Cape Cod. Gigi and Jim, who passed in 2018, are survived by three children, James Casella III, of Framingham, Caroline Geishecker, of Harwich, and John Casella, of McLean, VA. They are also survived by 6 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10am on Wednesday, February 10, 2021, at St. Pius X Parish, 5 Barbara St, South Yarmouth. Gigi will then be laid to rest in the Chandler Gray Cemetery, West Yarmouth. Social gathering restrictions and current Massachusetts covid19 guidelines and protocols will be in place.
In lieu of flowers Gigi’s family respectfully request memorial donations be made to the Friends of the Northborough Senior Center, 119 Bearfoot Road, Northborough, MA 01532 or Northborough Garden Club, PO Box 923, Northborough, MA 01532.
Services are under the care of Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough. To leave a condolence, please visit www.HaysFuneralHome.
