Of Waltham, passed away unexpectedly at her residence at Waltham Crossings on Saturday, March 11th, 2017. She was nearing her 102nd birthday.
Born on March 30, 1915 in the Roxbury section of Boston; daughter of the late Gaetano and Caterina (LoSchiavo) Cafarella, Mary was a lifelong resident of Waltham.
Mary attended Waltham schools, and had been employed throughout her life as a Quality Assurance Specialist with the Raytheon Corporation in Waltham.
Though Mary had no children of her own, she adored her nieces and nephews, their children and their children. Family was always a very important aspect of her life. Mary was ahead of her time when it came to fashion, and took special pride in her appearance. She loved to travel and, in later years when travel became more difficult, she enjoyed dancing, playing Bingo, and taking trips to Foxwoods.
Mary is survived by her devoted and loving sister Nancy Ruggelo of Waltham and was the dear sister of the late Jennie Caruso, Lawrence and John Cafarella. She was the loving aunt of Diana Ladd-Martin and her husband Harry of Manchester, NH, Thomas Cafarella and his wife Barbara of Westwood, Lorraine Parisella and her husband Jerry of Waltham, Patricia Holbling and her husband Erich of Framingham, Joseph Caruso of Charlestown and Sandra Caruso of Waltham. In addition, Mary is survived by many great nieces and great nephews, great-great nieces and great-great nephews, her devoted friend Sylvia Wardenaar, and many friends and workers at Waltham Crossings.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Funeral Service in Celebration of Mary’s Life in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM on Saturday morning, March 18th at 10:30 a.m. Visitation will be held in the Mary Catherine Chapel prior to the Funeral Service on Saturday morning from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Parking attendants on duty.
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