2 min read

Zerilla M. Staples

RANDOLPH – Zerilla M. Staples, 81, passed peacefully on Oct. 9, 2024, with her nieces, Tammy and Zerl by her side.

She was born Nov. 10, 1942, the daughter of Erwin and Dorothy (Dill) Lambert.

Her greatest blessing was when she met the love of her life, William F. Staples, and married him Dec. 20, 1977. They lived in the Portland area before moving back to her hometown of Randolph. They moved back into her family home where she was raised, and she lived until November 2023 when she moved to an assisted living home.

She loved sitting outside and listening to the wind and the ocean on her visits to the beach house in Rhode Island. It didn’t matter if you had just met her or you had known her for years, everybody loved her, she just had that kind heart and spirit.

We were blessed to have had her as a second mom and for her love and care for us and I was blessed to have been there for her, take care of her and love her up until she went to be with her soulmate and love of her life once again.

Zerilla was predeceased by her parents; and her soulmate and husband, William F. Staples.

She is survived by a sister, Susan Giandrea and husband Colin; nieces Tammy Plourde and husband Nelson, and Zerilla Grover and husband David, nephews Todd and Tony Giandrea; great-nephew, Christopher Bilodeau, great-niece, Courtney Tibbetts and husband Sam, great-nephew, Kyle Tibbetts; and a great-great-niece, Ellie Mae Marie Pierce. She is also survived by Carol Goodman and husband Lane, William F. Staples Jr., Julianne Cabral and husband Joe, Jay Staples and wife Regina; two granddaughters, Jacquelyn Taylor and husband Cliff, and Lauren Staples; one great-great-grandson, Judah Taylor. She was also blessed with a second family, Ron and Jamie Russell and grandchildren, Isa and Zander Russell.

A service will be held on Oct. 25, at 9 a.m., at Maine Veterans Cemetery, Mount Vernon Road, Augusta. Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page of Staples Funeral Home website http://www.StaplesFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers please make donations to:

Alzheimer’s Association Maine Chapter

at alz.org; or

800-272-3900

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