Gail (Limberg) Reitzel

                Gail (Limberg) Reitzel, 89, passed away peacefully after living with Alzheimer’s Disease for many years on Monday, May 16, 2022. Gail was born to Wayne and Inez (Anderson) Limberg in Green Bay, Wisconsin in 1932. She and her family moved to Medford, Massachusetts when she was 15, where she graduated from Medford High School. While attending the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Gail met and married John Sebastian Reitzel, with whom she enjoyed more than 45 years of marriage until his passing in 1999. John’s career as a scientist, their shared design business, and later, their pursuit of organic farming, brought Gail and her family to many locations. In the process, Gail and John together restored houses from the San Fernando Valley in California to rural Pennsylvania and Vermont. 

                 An adventurous couple who loved the outdoors and discovering new places, Gail and John were both avid history buffs, and active participants in the Democratic Party and whatever local government they lived within. Both a devoted mother and civically minded, Gail never missed voting and made sure her descendents were registered to vote as part of their 18th birthday celebrations. Gail always welcomed stray animals anyone brought to the house. When one of the family dogs started bringing home sickly dog-friends, she would nurse them to health, too, with the same vigorous and loving attention she would give to a child. 

                 Gail is survived by their three children, Susanna (Reitzel) Chandler of Watertown, MA; Charles Reitzel of Arlington, MA; Isabella (Reitzel) Justin and her husband Gerald Justin of Watertown, MA. Gail is also remembered with love by her three beloved grandchildren, Ariel Chandler, Elysia Chandler, and Jasper Justin; and leaves many nieces and nephews and their children. Gail was predeceased by her sister Frances (Limberg) Stearns and her husband, Perry Stearns. 

                 Gail was an outstanding landscaper and gardened into her 80s, when her doctor made her stop after a weeding injury. She left every home she restored with a uniquely beautiful landscape and garden to be enjoyed by future inhabitants, especially the birds that those gardens were built to attract. 

                 Gail is with the Nardone Funeral Home in Watertown, MA. There will be a private family ceremony. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the National Audubon Society, or planting something to enjoy.

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