Julia M. "Jill" Cefalo

Julia Grace (Martensen) "Jill" Cefalo, passed away at Kaplan Family House in Danvers on January 2nd, 2025 after a long illness. She was 72.

She is survived by her husband, Frederick Cefalo "Fred" of Gloucester, MA, her daughter, Ariel Cefalo and her partner, James Fitzpatrick of Melrose, MA, her daughter Jill "Jilly" Cefalo of Prague, Czechia, her grandrabbit, Petr Rupaul Rabbit Cefalo, also of Prague, her brother Murdock "Doc" Martensen of Washington state and a large extended family including many nieces, nephews, first and second cousins. She is predeceased by both her parents, Arthur Otto Martensen and Julia Grace (Murdock) Martensen, and her sister, Christine Meuse of Florida.

Jill believed in kindness. As a little girl, she attended "Golden Rule" nursery school. The "golden rule," with its reminder to "treat others as how you would want to be treated" became her north star for the rest of her life, guiding her and shedding its warm light on her every relationship and interaction.

Wife, mother, sister, teacher, friend. Jill was married to Frederick Cefalo for nearly 43 years. Theirs was a partnership characterized by mutual respect, trust, understanding, and a willingness to listen to each other, no matter how difficult the conversation. Jill was the mother to two daughters, Ariel and Jilly (Jill), "her girls." As a mother, she gave them the gifts of creativity and kindness, accountability and respect, and always allowed them enough room to be themselves. She was a sister, the youngest of three children born to Arthur Otto Martensen and Julia Grace (Murdock) Martensen on April 6th,1952.

Jill was a lifelong teacher, beginning her career in Early Childhood education and eventually transitioning to the role of classroom paraprofessional in the Melrose public schools, serving as a support for children with unique learning needs. Her ability to meet every child where they were at academically and emotionally had an incredible impact on her students, many of whom she still kept in touch with.

Jill was a dear friend to many and nurtured many friendships from many phases of her life, from her girlhood to her college years and beyond. She loved to discover old friends on Facebook and delighted in this ability to reconnect and keep in contact with them.

Jill enjoyed traveling, reading, a good reality tv show, crossword puzzles on her phone, and sharing baby animal videos on Instagram and Facebook. She loved to laugh and had a wicked sense of humor. She was creative and artistic and over the years had participated in projects like sewing, photography, and watercolor painting. She was an incredible cook and grill master. She made Christmases and birthdays feel magical and hosted large gatherings of extended family and friends on holidays. She enjoyed her homes in Gloucester, sitting in the sun, reading a book or watching the light change on the marsh.

She would often remind her family that "we are so blessed."

Jill left a legacy of kindness. There is no greater gift than that.

Relatives and friends are warmly invited to gather in honor of Jill’s life during Visiting Hours at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose, on Tuesday, January 7 from 4-7pm, and for her Graveside Service at Wyoming Cemetery, 205 Sylvan St., Melrose on Thursday, January 9 at 12:30pm.