Maria Di Vasta
She Will Be Greatly Missed by All Who Loved Her
Maria (Colaruotolo) Di Vasta entered eternal rest Sunday morning, February 12 at the Kaplan Family Hospice Home in Danvers, surrounded by the love and comfort of her family. She was 76 years of age.
Born in Castelonorato, Italy, she was the daughter of the late Agostino and Annina (Albano) Colaruotolo. Maria grew up in Gaeta, Italy where she attended grade school and then attended seamstress school. She married her beloved husband, Mario Di Vasta in 1970 and together the couple moved to the United States to raise their family.
As a homemaker and mother of four children, Maria also worked outside of the home as a seamstress. She worked in various factories and businesses in Chelsea throughout the years — a few of which were Louis A. Green Corp., Forbes Lithograph and Jean Roberts Co. Maria retired at an early age in 2006. During her retirement, she enjoyed cooking for her family (especially Sunday lunch), gardening and watching some of her favorite game shows, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy. As a seamstress, Maria enjoyed knitting and sewing and would make clothes for her children. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
The beloved wife of Mario Di Vasta of Peabody with whom she shared 52 years of marriage, she was the devoted mother of Lynda C. Di Vasta of Chelsea, Sylvia C. DiVasta of Chelsea and her sweetheart, Anthony Norman, Anna B. Tejada and her husband, Steven of Maryland and Mario Vincent DiVasta and his wife, Jodi of Dedham; dear sister of Salvatore Colaruotolo of Italy and the late Erasmo Colaruotolo and Assunta Albano; cherished grandmother of Anthony V. Norman and his wife, Elyse of Virginia, Malcolm A. Norman of Chelsea, Yameli E. Tejada, Cristian S. Tejada, both of Maryland, Ava J. DiVasta of Dedham and the late Savannah-Maria C. O’Neill. She is also lovingly survived by one great grandson, Alexander J. Norman and several nieces, nephews and other family in Italy.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours in the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., Chelsea on Friday, February 17 from 4 to 8 p.m. Her Funeral will be from the funeral home on Saturday at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish, Our Lady of Grace, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.
Donations in Maria’s memory may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St. Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, on-line at www.caredimensions.org, or to a Charity of one’s choice.
We encourage family and friends to visit carafafuneralhome.com to offer condolences by means of the online guest book or to send a personalized sympathy card.
Catherine Lanzillo
Longtime Chelsea Schools Cafeteria Manager
Catherine E. (McNeil) Lanzillo of Saugus, formerly of Chelsea, died on February 10.
Born in Chelsea and a resident here for most of her life, Catherine passed away at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston where she was receiving supportive care for illness.
A graduate of Chelsea High School, Class of 1972, she worked for over 30 years as Cafeteria Manager for the Chelsea Public Schools.
The devoted wife of Robert L. Lanzillo, she was the beloved mother of Kimberly Lanzillo and her partner, Nebyou of Saugus, Kelly Martin and her husband, Felipe of Saugus and Kristen Hayward and her husband, Bill of Weymouth; loving daughter of the late David and Mary (Enos) McNeil, dear sister of Mary Olson and her husband, James, Barbara DeSimone and Ruth McNeil, all of Chelsea, John McNeil and his wife, Nadine of Marlborough and the late David McNeil and his surviving wife, Sandra of Malden; cherished grandmother of Aundraya Martin, Nevaeh Jean Baptiste, Amaya Martin, William Hayward, Jr. and the late Arianna Martin. She is also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend Visiting Hours in the Smith-Carroll Funeral Home, 721 Salem Street, (Maplewood Square) Malden on Saturday, February 18 from 2 to 5 p.m. Committal Services will be private.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in her name be made to the American Cancer Society at the link listed below.
To send a message of condolence, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com or www.carrollfh.com.