Gail Marie Shovlin, 44, of Mattapoisett died at home Friday January 9, 2015 after fiercely enduring breast cancer over the past five years. Gail was an eternal optimist who enjoyed life fully and spread her joy widely until just a few weeks before her death.
She was the mother of Sophie Kathleen Bozzo, 6, and wife of Thomas Evron Bozzo.
Born in south Jersey, the daughter of John Shovlin and the late Kathleen (Dunn) Shovlin, she was raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
She attended Western New England College and finished her college work at Rider University.
She worked for over ten years at Manulife / John Hancock in financial services as a manager and regional marketing director.
She enjoyed politics, was a rabid Philadelphia sports fan, loved being active outdoors, and had a thirst for travel, adventure, and new experiences. She was a big believer in non-profit organizations and dedicated herself to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer cause over the past several years – as both a speaker and impressive fundraiser.
Her greatest love and natural gift, however, was being a mother. She shared that enthusiasm with her daughter’s friends as a “room mom” at the Center School over the past two years.
Survivors include her daughter; husband; father; brother Brian Shovlin; and five nieces.
Visiting hours will be Saturday January 17, 2015 from 3 PM to 7 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 50 County Road, Route 6, Mattapoisett. Her Funeral Mass will be at St. Anthony’s Church on Sunday January 18, 2015 at noon.
In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Commonweal Cancer Help Program, P.O. Box 316, Bolinas, CA 94924 (415-868-0970; www.commonweal.org).