Gertrude Murial Atkinson

Gertrude "Trudy" Atkinson (de L'Etoile), of Brownfield, Maine, formerly of Westwood, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Sunday, September 27, with the love of her life and her family by her side.

Born on October 12, 1941, Trudy was the youngest daughter of Catherine and Leon de L'Etoile. She graduated from the Henry O. Peabody School for Girls.

Trudy was a woman of deep faith, which she practiced daily. She was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church of Westwood, where she could be found singing in the choir every Sunday. After retiring to her cabin in Maine, she became a member of the First Congregational Church of Fryeburg. She enjoyed serving on various committees and, for more than 20 years, scooping ice cream at the church's booth at the Fryeburg Fair. A fellow parishioner or neighbor in need could always count on Trudy to deliver a meal, run an errand, or lend a helping hand.

While raising her family in Westwood, Trudy drove a school bus for the Westwood Public Schools for more than 20 years. She was known for creating the longest lines of traffic on the first day of school because she stopped at each house to give parents time to take pictures and celebrate the momentous occasion. Her smiling face can be seen in countless first-day-of-school photographs tucked into family albums throughout Westwood.

Trudy is survived by the love of her life, Joseph Todaro of Brownfield, Maine, formerly of Weymouth, Massachusetts; her four children, Joanne Burton (Atkinson) of Hampstead, New Hampshire, Roxanne Allen (Macari) and her husband, Bill, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, James Macari of San Diego, California, and Michelle Mucciaccio (Macari) and her husband, Tom, of Attleboro, Massachusetts; and her sisters, Nancy Baldwin of Rochester, New York, and Diana Bennett of Edison, New Jersey. She was predeceased by her sisters Georgian Lowenstein, Yvonne de L'Etoile, and Marguerite Conley.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Thomas Mucciaccio Jr. and his wife, Brittni, of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Jennifer Melton and her husband, Jason, of Elizabeth City, North Carolina, Jason Burton of Derry, New Hampshire, Laura Mucciaccio of Walpole, Massachusetts, and Lindsay Barger of Tiverton, Rhode Island.

Trudy adored her six great-grandchildren - Nate, Mason, Shawn, Charlotte, Charlie, and Elena. She treasured spending time with them and could often be found playing games, reading books, hiking, or swimming with one of them - or all of them at the same time. She loved being part of their lives and created countless memories that they will carry with them forever.

Trudy was loved by so many nieces and nephews, friends, neighbors, and members of the communities she called home. She had a gift for making people feel welcome, cared for, and important. Her kindness, her smile, her faith and her unwavering love for her family will be deeply missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, October 7th from 3 to 7 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Memorial Service Thursday, October 8th at 10:30 am at the First Baptist Church, 808 High Street, Westwood, MA 02090 followed by interment in the New Westwood Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers donations to the Memorial Fund of the First Baptist Church (address above) would be appreciated.