Gale Stachelek

On December 2, Gale Galati Stachelek, 80, resident of Wilmington, VT and New London, died. She is predeceased by her husband, Bob, the love of her life, with whom she is reunited in spirit forever.

Gale touched so many lives as a third grade teacher at Griswold School, Berlin, where she taught for 35 years. She loved her students and created her “Super Citizen” program that spotlighted each child for a week of special events. Gale would give a bag full of candy and treats, have the class write compliments and positive messages, and invite the parents in to view the wonderful tribute to their child. Certainly many of her children will fondly remember those great days with “Mrs. Stack.”

Gale was 80, but no one believed it; she was a dynamo who loved snow and water skiing, golf and playing games. She and her husband had many adventures: renting a vacation house full of mice, launching their boat without the plug engaged, wearing huge sleigh bells around their necks to keep bears away on walks, getting lost on the cross-country ski trail for four hours in a snowstorm, pitching their tent on a railroad track, feeding the foxes and hummingbirds in their backyard, and that fateful day when Gale hit a hole in one on a major South Carolina golf course. (She loved that trophy.)

If she met you, you were “beautiful,” “a doll,” and a “new part of her family.” She had a heart of gold, loved everyone and they loved her back. She was tremendously generous - no repairman ever left her house without a huge tip and handfuls of candy. She loved the Chimney Hill snowplow crew, the office staff, her grass mower, her house caretaker, and other workers like family. She had so many friends that she loved: Maryann, Linda, Carol, and more that she credited for keeping her alive after Bob’s death.

She loved her husband Bob; goofy hats; writing funny roasts for birthdays; going to Mass; and being together. Her family is devastated by her loss. Gale would always say, “You are a gift to my life,” but really she was a gift to ours.

She is predeceased by her loving husband Robert Stachelek and leaves behind her sister, Joan Ruitto, (who graciously opened her doors to her and with whom she lived for two years after Bob’s death); her sister- and brother-in-law Lynn and John Williams; her niece and nephew Deb and Jim Scully; and many, many friends.

A memorial donation in Gale Stachelek’s honor can be made to Deerfield Valley Rescue, PO Box 854, Wilmington, VT 05363 or by going to www.dvrescue.org. She was forever grateful to them for the beautiful way they handled the tragic death of her husband when they were involved in that terrible car crash two years ago.

There will be a celebration of her life in the spring.