Gretchen Squires Best

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” Matthew 25:23

Gretchen Squires Best passed away peacefully on May 21, 2025, in Cary, North Carolina. She was born on August 16, 1938, in Lackawana, Pennsylvania to Frederick (Ted) and Virginia (Ginie) Squires. As a young girl, she spent cherished days at the cottage her grandfather built on Lake Sheridan in Nicholson, PA. Following World War II, her family lived in Hinsdale, Illinois and Berea, Ohio, before settling in Northampton, Massachusetts, one of Gretchen’s favorite places, and the home of her parents for most of the rest of their lives.
Gretchen attended Bucknell University and graduated from Mary Washington College. A dedicated teacher and tutor, she quietly transformed the lives of her students through steady encouragement, and genuine kindness. Her adult years were devoted primarily to raising her children in Hinsdale, IL, Wyckoff, NJ, and Cary, NC, but her heart was never far from New England, where she spent many summers and hosted large family gatherings at Lake Raponda in Wilmington, Vermont
Gretchen’s deep and abiding faith was the foundation of her life. At West Side Presbyterian Church in Ridgewood, NJ, First Presbyterian Church in Raleigh, NC, and Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Cary, NC, where she was a charter member, Gretchen remained a steady and devoted presence, lifting others with kindness, wisdom, and service.
Gretchen was a gifted artist with a particular love for watercolor, and her beautiful paintings, much like her elegant handwriting, reflected her thoughtfulness, care, and appreciation for beauty. She had a green thumb that brought life to every plant she touched, and a quiet generosity that nurtured friendships across generations and geographies. Gretchen loved anything funny and was known for her sudden, distinctive laugh; loud, joyful, and unmistakable. A lifelong passion for chocolate was one of her sweet trademarks. Family and friends will forever remember the rich chocolate cakes she baked, made with love and shared with delight.
Gretchen was the heart of her family, modeling integrity, empathy, and humor. She was enormously proud of her children Todd (Kathy), Laurie (Tom), Jim (Landis), and Heather (Eddie), celebrating each of their triumphs and offering prayers and encouragement through every challenge. Her thirteen grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, who lovingly called her “Nona” as she called her own grandmother, were adored endlessly. She is also remembered with love by her sister Wendy, and joins in heaven her beloved parents and her cherished sister, Pam, with whom she shared a deep and lifelong bond. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Graham Best.

While a private family celebration of Gretchen’s life will take place at a later date, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Cary, NC will host a service to honor her memory on Saturday, November 1, at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to:
Cornerstone Presbyterian Church 2200 High House Road, Cary NC 27519
Raleigh Rescue Mission PO BOX 58634, Raleigh NC 27658 give.raleighrescue.org
Wake County Public Library Trust Fund 4020 Carya Drive, Raleigh NC, 27610