Phillip Gradie

Phillip Gradie, 85, passed away at home on Aug. 28, 2024, surrounded by his wife and daughters. He was the husband of Grace (Giardana) Gradie, to whom he was married for 61 years.

Phillip was born on Nov. 5, 1938, to Joseph V. and Lois (O’Hanlon) Gradie in Arlington. He grew up with four siblings. After graduating from Arlington High School, Phillip enlisted in the United States Air Force.

In 1962, Phillip met Grace Giardina, whom he married in 1963. Together they had four daughters. They moved in 1967 to Hopkinton, where he was a Little League coach for many years. Phillip also was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was proudly a friend of Bill W for 44 years.

He worked for the United States Postal Service until his retirement, after which he started Gradie Trucking and enjoyed that business for 12 years.

Phillip loved the beach and enjoyed spending summers in Wells, Maine, with many extended family members. He escaped the cold New England winters to his home in Hollywood, Florida.

Phillip’s greatest joy was to spend time with his family. He fostered a loving and welcoming home for all of his family members, immediate and extended.

In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his four daughters, Karen Roach, Nancy Gauthier and husband Michael, Christine McCormick, and Allison Cafarella and husband John. He also leaves his grandchildren, Kevin Dodd, Ryan Aitken and wife Michaela, Michael Dodd, Kyle Aitken, Thomas Aitken, Christopher Roach, Joseph Cafarella, Kristen McCormick, Juliana Cafarella, Aiden McCormick and Jace McCormick, and his great-grandsons, Luke and Logan Aitken. He also is survived by many nieces and nephews who he loved very much and with whom he cherished spending time.

Phillip was predeceased by his parents, siblings Joseph Gradie, Maureen Gradie Sanford, Nancy Gradie and Stephen Gradie, nephews Stephen Gradie and Joseph Sanford, granddaughter Faith McCormick, and son-in-law Steven Aitken.

A funeral will be held Wednesday, Sept. 4, at 9 a.m. from the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church Street, Hopkinton. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. John the Evangelist Church in Hopkinton. Visiting hours at the funeral home are Tuesday, Sept. 3, from 3-7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Phillip’s name to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Wounded Warriors.

Obituaries are submissions, typically from funeral homes, that are not subject to the same level of editorial oversight as the rest of the Hopkinton Independent. Obituaries may be edited for grammatical and factual mistakes and clarifications and shortened for space considerations.