Zerilla Greenleaf Obituary (1927 - 2018)

Zerilla "Zerl" Greenleaf passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at Mainegeneral Medical Center with her family by her side, following a brief illness. Zerl, as she was known to most, was born in Gardiner, Maine to Guy and Lucy (Gagnon) Dill on October 2, 1927. Zerl graduated from Gardiner High School in 1945 and went to work at the Commonwealth Shoe Factory. On January 4th, 1947 she married Richard M. Greenleaf, Sr. and they began their life together. In 1948 they welcomed their first son Dennis, followed by their second son Rick in 1950. Over the years she enjoyed watching the boys play numerous sports, which continued with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Upon retirement from the shoe factory, she and Dick enjoyed many years working at the Montsweag Flea Market and visiting thousands of yard sales. Zerl enjoyed the sport of snowmobiling, which she didn't take up until her mid 50s and continued to enjoy until her early 80s. In 1969, alongside Dick, they built their second home, a family camp, in The Forks, Maine. “Camp” is now where four generations continue to make memories. Over the past 49 years, many friends and family have enjoyed spending time at camp. Zerl was an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and loved to play bingo and cribbage. She also never missed an opportunity to take a trip to the casino, most recently two weeks ago. Zerl was predeceased by her husband, Richard "Dick" Greenleaf, her parents Guy and Lucy (Gagnon) Dill, two brothers, Richard and Roland Dill, a sister Dorothy (Dill) Lambert, a grandson Ryan and her beloved Weimaraners Lucy and Lily. She is survived by her two sons Dennis (Kim) Greenleaf and Richard (Patricia) Greenleaf; six grandchildren, Michele (Richard) Crawford, Russell (Paula) Greenleaf, Heather Dunn, Kathie (Eric) Jermyn, Miles (Heather) Greenleaf and Brittnee Greenleaf , as well as eleven great-grandchildren, Chelsea, Michael, Lee-Anne, Lindsey, Lauren, Abby, Brian, Peri, Sam, Hudson and Grayson. She is also survived by her daughter-in-law Connie Greenleaf. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph's Church in Gardiner at 10am on Monday, April 2. A burial will follow on Tuesday, April 3 at 10am at the Maine Veteran's Memorial Cemetery on Mount Vernon Road in Augusta. At Zerl's request, there will be no visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Cobbosseecontee Snowmobile Club, 314 Spears Corner Road, West Gardiner, Maine 04345 or the Kennebec Valley Humane Society. The family would like to thank the staff at MaineGeneral Medical Center, Critical Care Unit, for their incredibly kind care to Gram and her family.