Gail
Marie Greer, 68, of Shelburne, Vt., went to sleep on Monday night and
never woke back up. She was born in Burlington, Vt., on September 9,
1956, to her father, Edward, and her incredible mother, Maryanne
Olsaver. A true Old North End girl through and through, Gail was
never afraid to speak her mind, as many friends and neighbors could
attest, having once, as a child, shouted from her fence, “Hey,
everyone, I got bugs!” while being in quarantine from a lice
infestation. Friends would recall that she was never afraid to get
into mischief and had the best laugh around.
Gail
was a graduate of Burlington High School in 1974, and it was only a
few years later, in 1978, that she met her future husband, (Earl)
Fred Greer. One night while out at Tuts Bar, a biker (Fred) asked her
to dance, and after one night together they were never apart. The two
would spend the next almost 30 years together living a wild and
fun-filled life, including regular trips to Montréal, bailing Fred
out of trouble, and raising their two children, Matthew and Hannah.
Fred and Gail parted ways in 2007 but remained close friends.
To
those who knew her, she was caring, fun, hilarious and, for someone
who thought at a young age she didn’t want children, one hell of a
mother. She faithfully loved, cared for and embarrassed her children
regularly, constantly worrying about them. She loved telling anyone
who would listen about her infamous Joe Pesci sex dream, regularly
texting Hannah very obvious weather updates with reminders to dress
appropriately, and always offering to cook something for any of their
friends. Gail worried about her children anytime they were out of her
sight. Her worry was so intense that it garnered a family-famous
drawing of two big arms with blemishes on them captioned “MY MOM
BIG WORRY WART.” At times it was hard for them to see because she
loved so hard (and was equally as stubborn), but if you asked anyone
who knew her, they would tell you it was obvious that her children
were the stars in her story.
She
is survived by her two children, Matthew (Colchester) and Hannah
(Burlington); her partner of 18 years, Brian Hanson (Shelburne);
ex-husband, Fred Greer (South Burlington); younger sister Jeana
“Jippy” Lavallee (Lincoln); many nieces and nephews; and one
granddaughter. She was predeceased by her parents, Edward and
Maryanne Olsaver, and sisters Laurie Olsaver and Susie Olsaver.
It
was a privilege to know her, and anyone who didn’t should have been
so lucky. Earth’s song is a few notes shy of a full melody without
her laugh and a little colder without her smile.
Sleep
easy, mom. We love you.
This article appears in Apr 30 – May 6, 2025.