It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rayleen Ann (Gaudet) Nuñez, who left us on April 19, 2025. Rayleen was a beloved wife, mother, sister, daughter, and friend, known for her love of animals, her brilliance, and her joyful laughter.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, on August 11, 1941, Rayleen was the only daughter of Edith Monette (Morissette) and Raymond Gaudet. She grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, where she enjoyed singing at church, attending school, working at the library, and spending time with her many cousins.

Inspired to devote her life to God, Rayleen entered the convent after high school and traveled to Spain, where she served for a year. After deep reflection and prayer, she realized her calling to serve her community would be best fulfilled through higher education and social work.
Determined to make a difference, she vowed that if she could attend college, she would dedicate her life to giving and helping others—and she did just that. She earned a full scholarship to Boston University, where she obtained a B.A. in Sociology, and later completed a Master’s degree in Planning and Social Policy from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Rayleen was a founding member of the Boston Indian Council, where she helped organize the first National Day of Mourning for Native Americans.
She was a tireless advocate for educational equality for Boston’s children of color, fighting racism and pushing for legislative changes that led to the landmark busing movement of the 1970s. Her passion for justice extended into legal advocacy, where she championed the rights of marginalized communities. She also devoted time to teaching English as a Second Language to immigrants, helping them build new lives in the U.S.

Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, Rayleen used her linguistic skills to connect with people from all walks of life. Her ability to communicate across cultures was one of her many gifts, allowing her to bridge
communities and create meaningful change.

Beyond her advocacy, Rayleen was a devoted mother to her six children and a loving caretaker to many cherished cats over the years. She embraced motherhood with warmth and dedication, balancing her commitment to social justice with the needs of her family. She was also a loving wife and constant companion to Jesús Nuñez, with whom she shared 30 years of marriage.

A lifelong seeker of spiritual understanding, Rayleen explored various religions and churches, always striving to align her faith with her personal convictions. She ultimately found her spiritual home at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, where she served on the Executive Committee for many years and developed deep and meaningful friendships.

Rayleen is survived by her husband, Jesús Nuñez of Boston; her children, Monette (Bay/Craig) Fastuca, Francine (Bay/Craig) and Craig Pappas, Lujean (Craig) and Edward Johnson, Amziah O. Craig, Kyeisha (Craig) and Jerome Evans, and Natanja (Craig) and Jason Oquendo; as well as her stepdaughters, Shannon (Libby) Curry, Lisa (Libby) Cirino and Victor Cirino. She took immense pride in her many grandchildren, great- grandchildren, and her large extended family. She was preceded in death by her grandsons, Louis Fastuca and David Aquil Benskin, as well as her son- in-law, Robert Fastuca.

Family and friends are invited to attend services for Rayleen at Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church at 419 Shawmut Ave, Boston, on Monday, April 28. A viewing will be held at 9 a.m., followed by a Christian service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Boston Women’s Fund"https://www.bostonwomensfund.org" or Rosie’s Place "https://www.rosiesplace.org ".