Gertrude Arsenault

Mrs. Gertrude (Coyle) Arsenault, of Waltham, died Tuesday, July 26, 2011 in Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge. She was 90.

A lifelong resident she was born in Waltham on January 13, 1921 a daughter of the late Elias B. and Catherine (Sullivan) Coyle. She graduated from Waltham High School, class of 1940.

Gertrude worked for over 30 years as a switchboard operator for New England Telephone in Newton and Wellesley before retiring in 1985.

Her life was centered around her family. Widowed at age 53 she travelled often with her family and friends on many cruises and trips to Wells and York Maine. An avid Red Sox fan she also kept her mind active with daily word puzzles. Her family reminisced about today’s technology verses when she began her employment with New England Telephone as a cord operator on the switchboard. She maintained her membership with the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Her husband, Clarence J. “Chick” Arsenault died in April 1972 and she is predeceased by her brother, Bernard Coyle.

She leaves her children, Robert P. Arsenault and his wife, Lois, of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, Janet M. Lombardi and her late husband, Thomas, of Waltham, Thomas J. Arsenault and his wife, Barbara, of Waltham, Patricia A. McAndrews and her husband, Robert, of Marlborough and William L. Arsenault and his wife, Joanne, of Waltham; her siblings, Paul Coyle of Eldridge, Iowa and Carolyn Looney of Burlington; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor and remember Gertrude’s life by gathering for calling hours in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Friday before leaving in procession to Our Lady Comforter of Afflicted Church, 880 Trapelo Road, Waltham, where her Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 am. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Waltham.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.