SKOWHEGAN – Veronica Beth (Gravel) Read, 75, born Jan. 11, 1948, in Lewiston, to the late Eloise Dumais Gravel and Edward Gravel, passed from this earth to meet the Lord on Oct. 15, 2023, with her family beside her at her home in Skowhegan.Vonnie, as she was best known to most, grew up on Knapp Street in Livermore Falls in an era when kids loved being in a neighborhood filled with fun and adventure. She was very much a part of both. Vonnie attended St. Rose of Lima grammar school and Livermore Falls High School class of 1966. She went on to graduate from the Auburn School of Commerce and then went to work at Franklin Memorial Hospital as a medical receptionist. It was while working part time at “Rosie’s” pizza that she met her future husband and bowling partner, Allan Read. They were married August 17, 1968, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Jay. Vonnie and Allan raised their two boys, Christopher and Scott, in Jay where they lived until 1998. They then moved to Skowhegan where she and Allan found a new home and “neighborhood”.Soon after moving to Skowhegan, Vonnie joined Notre Dame de Lourdes church where her great uncle, Father Ludger Ouellette, had been the pastor for many years. She served the church in various capacities for many years. Vonnie also joined the Daughters of Isabella and loved being involved with this group of women. She served the Daughters as their Regent for six years and enjoyed traveling with the group to various conventions in Maine and Canada.Veronica was predeceased by her son, Christopher, in 2021. She is survived by her husband and best friend of 55 years, Allan of Skowhegan; her son, Scott and his wife Carrie of Northport; granddaughter Sybil and Carrie’s son Hunter who lovingly adopted Vonnie as his Memere; grandchildren Laura and Logan Read of Hamden; daughter-in-law Karen Read of Bowdoinham and grandson Connor and his wife Lauren of Brighton, Mass; siblings Gregory Gravel and wife Susie of Monmouth, Carol Gravel Crocker and husband Phillip of Venice, Fla.; her sister-in-law Elinore Bagley and spouse Hazen of Old Town. She is also survived by a cousin/sister, Karen Hoag Hardy and her husband William of Tenants Harbor; as well as many nieces and nephews and cousins from all over the country. Known for roasting peanuts, those peanuts became Vonnie’s signature Christmas treat to all. Always sporting a positive and cheerful outlook, Vonnie will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.A Mass of Christian burial and a celebration of Vonnie’s life will be held 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 20, at Notre Dame de Lourdes, 273 Water St., Skowhegan, Maine. Visitation will be from 12-1 p.m., at the church prior to the funeral Mass.
Vonnie requested that, in lieu of flowers, contribution may be made to:American Diabetes AssociationP.O. Box 7023Merrifield, VA 22116-7023would be most welcomed