Palma (Pam) Rita Gravel

Palma (Pam) Rita Gravel (Descheneaux), age 90, died peacefully at home on Friday, January 27th, 2023 surrounded by her loving family.  She was born on May 18, 1932 in Rochester NH, the daughter of Flora (Boivin) Deschneaux and Arthur Descheneaux. Pam attended Holy Rosary Elementary School until the 7th grade and then she went to the Presentation of Mary Academy, an all-girls Catholic boarding school, grades 8-12.  She enjoyed being the lead actress in many of the school plays. In 1951, she attended Rivier College as a freshman in Nashua, NH.  She then transferred to Mount Saint Mary College in Hooksett, NH graduating in 1954 with a B.S. degree in Commerce and Economics.  Pam's first business teaching job was at Holland Central High School in Holland, NY.  The following year she taught at Rockland High School in Rockland, MA.  In 1957 she taught locally for three years at Somersworth High School. Pam married the love of her life, Gerard R. Gravel in 1959 at the original Holy Rosary Church on River Street in Rochester.  They were married for 60 years.  The year 1960 brought a change of venue and opportunity to the newly married couple.  Job opportunities led them to move to Boston, Massachusetts.  Gerry worked for an accounting firm and Palma taught business classes at Braintree High School.  Pam also attended Boston University for a period of time in pursuit of a Master's Degree in Business Education. In 1962, the couple moved back to Rochester, NH where Gerry established a local accounting business which was successful for over 50 years.  Pam was his assistant in many of his business endeavors, helping him with various secretarial and administrative duties, etc. Pam and Gerry had very active lives which included raising two daughters Denise and Diane.  Pam was a faithful volunteer for the American Heart Association for 20 years and became Chairman of Ward 4 in Rochester for the Heart Fund.  She also worked for more than 30 years at the Ward 4 polls in Rochester.  She loved to attend events and conventions for the Rochester Elks of which Gerry was very involved for 55 years. Pam loved theater performances, socializing, traveling and dining out.  The Gravel's visited 36 foreign countries and 40 of the 50 states during their lifetimes.  They were huge fans of Valley's Steak House in Kittery, Maine and went there every weekend for decades.  She enjoyed her summers at their lake house in Milton, NH and frequent trips to her favorite beaches, Ogunquit and Wells in Maine. Pam was predeceased by her husband Gerry, who passed away in 2019.  She is survived by her 2 daughters Denise J. Gravel and Christopher A. Roffe of Hampton Bays, NY and Diane Gravel Verdelli and her husband Angelo Paul Verdelli, Jr. of Milton, NH. Family and friends may visit from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Friday, February 10th, 2023 at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, located at 86 South Main St., Rochester, NH.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, February 11th, 2023 at Holy Rosary Church, 189 North Main St., Rochester, NH.  Burial will be in the spring at the Holy Rosary Cemetery on Brock Street in Rochester, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations in Pam's memory may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692 and /or the Elks National Foundation, mailed to the Elks Lodge #1393 of Rochester, P.O. Box 1393, Rochester, NH 03866-1393, in care of Lodge Secretary, Norman Gervais.