Gail Reda Shepherd

Gail Reda (Silver) Shepherd, age 80, passed away peacefully on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at Lifecare Centers of Attleboro in Attleboro, Massachusetts. Born in Larchmont, New York, on September 15, 1946, Gail was the daughter of Hyman Schapiro and Elaine (Leibowitz) Schapiro. After the untimely passing of her father when Gail was just three years old, her mother married Milton Silver, who later adopted Gail. She was raised in Larchmont and Harrison, New York, where she attended the local public schools.

Gail had a sense of adventure from an early age. As a child, she traveled extensively with her Fraulein, visiting Iceland, Germany, and France. At sixteen, she traveled to Israel, where she worked in the fields and tarred roofs on a kibbutz while reconnecting with her Jewish heritage and culture. She returned home to continue her studies and graduated from Harrison High School in 1964. Gail continued her education at the University of North Carolina before transferring during her junior year to Hofstra University on Long Island, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in French Literature.

Her education and love of literature led Gail to a career in publishing. She began at Harcourt Brace Jovanovich as a cover editor and later accepted a similar position at Bantam Books, where she took on increasing responsibilities throughout her career. Later in life, Gail embraced a more relaxed pace, working for Hallmark in the 1990s and Cardsmart in the 2000s before her well-deserved retirement in 2012.

In the early 1970s, Gail was visiting a friend at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, when she met a charming hippie from the Rhode Island School of Design who bought her a cup of hot chocolate. It was love at first sight. Gail moved to Providence a few months later, and on Valentine's Day in 1972, she and William Gerald Shepherd were married at the RISD President's House.After William's graduation, the young couple spent a year in Denver, Colorado, before returning to Massachusetts. They first made their home in Mansfield and later settled in Wrentham, where they welcomed their three sons, Justin, Cory, and Toby. As their family grew, so did their need for space, and in 1984 they moved to a larger home in Plainville. In the 2000s, Gail and William moved once more, settling into another home just down the road, where they would enjoy many years of retirement together.

During this same period, Gail experienced another profound change in her life. After attending a service at Blackstone Valley Baptist Church with a colleague, she found herself drawn back week after week. One visit became two, then three, and after much thought and soul-searching, Gail embraced her new faith and was baptized. She remained a faithful member of the congregation, finding comfort and strength in the teachings shared by her pastor throughout the remainder of her life.

Gail was outgoing, warm, and genuinely interested in the people around her. She loved spending time with family and friends and maintained a large and diverse circle of friends throughout her life. An only child herself, she treasured having a large family and was especially delighted to become a grandmother.

She had a wonderful way of showing people she cared. Gail loved sending cards, often one—or two—for every occasion, and she carefully saved the cards she received in a special box to revisit later. Her love extended to animals as well, especially her beloved cats, Cinnamon and Smokey, along with the many pets and animals her family cared for over the years.

Gail loved the holidays and the changing of the seasons, with autumn holding a special place in her heart. She looked forward to the brilliant colors of the changing leaves and cherished the crisp New England fall weather. Her love of travel took her to England, Ireland, Colombia, Bermuda, and South Korea with friends and family, in addition to the places she visited during her childhood. Closer to home, Gail enjoyed exploring the New England coast—boating in Rockport, walking along the cliffs and visiting the mansions of Newport, and taking in the sights and scenery of Cape Cod.

Gail will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was the beloved wife of William Gerald Shepherd of Plainville.

She was the loving mother of Justin Christopher Shepherd and his wife, Shannon, of Litchfield, New Hampshire; Cory Blake Shepherd and his wife, Julie Hwayoung Shepherd, of Worcester, Massachusetts; and Toby Milton Glenn Shepherd and his wife, Kristina, of Providence, Rhode Island.

She was the cherished grandmother of Sofia, Libby, Kaiym, Elijah, Judah, Avital, and Laszlo Shepherd, as well as Jillian, Caitlyn, and Brayden Ferris.

She is also survived by many extended relatives, friends, and colleagues, whose lives she touched throughout her years.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Gail's visitation on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A funeral home service will be held at 11:30 a.m., with interment to follow at Saint Francis Cemetery in Walpole.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Gail's name may be made to Angelcat Haven Feline Rescue, PO Box 2261, Plainville, MA 02762 or by visiting https://www.angelcathaven.com, Motley Mutts Rescue, 114 Londonderry Turnpike #4, Hooksett NH 03106 or by visiting https://motleymuttsrescue.org, or Second Chance Animal Services Adoption Center, 111 Young Road, East Brookfield, MA, 01515 or by visiting https://www.secondchanceanimals.org