Gretchen Guenther of Salisbury MA, formerly of Reading MA, died January 10, 2016 at the age of 44. Gretchen was born in Portsmouth VA and raised in Reading MA. Gretchen later made her home in Salisbury, MA.

She was the devoted mother to six wonderful and beautiful children; Hannah her hard working oldest and mother to Jackson; Michael, her son in the Navy; Mark, her Dean's list college boy; Abi, her quiet student athlete; Cody, the thoughtful one who plays trumpet and her carbon copy and dog whisperer, Izzy. She was also Nonn to her bright and energetic Jackson.

Gretchen believed in standing on her own two feet and was raised with a strong work ethic. She was most recently employed by Panera Bread in Seabrook NH. It was a job she truly enjoyed even if it sometimes left her exhausted at the end of the day. Gretchen liked to spend time with her friends either out or by an outside fire, and take walks with her devoted dog, Sophie. Gretchen loved her music and she loved it loud. Out at a show or home in the kitchen singing as she danced, all the while with a smile. Her strongest love, however, was for the time spent with her kids. Whether it was cuddled up watching a movie with her youngest ones or playing board games even if she secretly didn't like them. Her children were the reason she got up every day even those days that hurt the most. It was all for them.

Gretchen was the devoted mother of Hannah P. Theberge and her significant other Bill Blaney of Danville NH, Michael W.E. Theberge, US Navy Submarine Service, Charleston SC, Mark E. Theberge, Abi Theberge, Cody J. Merrill and Izzy F. Merrill all of Salisbury. Loving grandmother of Jackson Blaney. Cherished daughter of Michael M. and Janet (Carroll) Guenther of Naples FL, sister of Dr. Christine Guenther and her husband Bill Taylor of Pittsburgh PA and Victoria Watts of Naples, FL. Granddaughter of Bill and Dolores Winder of Shreveport LA and aunt of Alex, Eathan and Grace Watts.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 16 at the Messiah Lutheran Church 708 Lowell St. Lynnfield at 11:00am. A visitation will be held at the church prior to the service from 8:30am-10:30am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. For directions and on line guest book visit johnbdouglassfuneralhome.com. Arrangements under the direction of the Douglass, Edgerley and Bessom Funeral Home, Reading