Edith M. D’Ambrosio (Cafarella) of Watertown, died on Oct. 2, 2015, at the age of 97.
Beloved wife of the late Domenic “Dick” D’Ambrosio. Devoted mother of Gay-Ann Draper and her husband Kenneth of Clermont, Fla. and Charles D’Ambrosio and his wife Marisa Serafini of Wayland. Loving “Nonni” of Christine Draper Camargo, Denise Draper Trant, Alex and Lia D’Ambrosio. Great-grandmother of Carlos Andrew and Isabella Camargo and Hannah Draper. Dear sister of Marion Zanco of Watertown, the late Mary Valenti and Thomas Cafarella.
Funeral from the MacDonald Rockwell & MacDonald Funeral Home at 270 Main
Street, Watertown on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 8 a.m. followed by Funeral Mass in the Church of St. Patrick, 212 Main Street, Watertown at 9 a.m. Interment will be at St. Patrick Cemetery. Visiting hours are Tuesday, Oct. 6 from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at (www.stjude.org).
Edith was born to Italian immigrants Marianna Bongiorno and Domenico Cafarella in Somerville. After traveling to the family home on the island of Salina off the northeast coast of Sicily, the family of six re-settled in Brooklyn, New York where Edith attended grammar and middle school.
Upon relocation back to the greater Boston area, Edith graduated from Waltham High School and went on to work for many years as a bookkeeper for Lewandos Dry Cleaning and Laundry. Edith married Dick and settled on Edenfield Avenue in Watertown among her siblings and parents and gave birth to her daughter Gay-Ann and son Charlie.
Edith loved to dance with Dick at the American Legion Post 156 in Waltham. She was an avid Bingo player, reader of mystery and romance novels, and completed the Sunday newspaper crossword puzzles and crypto-grams with ease. She loved her grandchildren and was the ‘go to’ babysitter. Edith was happiest spending time with her family playing penny poker, Rummikub, and all sorts of card games.
As age and time caught up with Edith in her widowed years, and she could no longer live alone, her sister Marion generously welcomed her into her home to live together in their late years.
Accompanied by Valerie Fuchu their devoted and loving caregiver for 3 years, the sisters lived together harmoniously until health and frailty prompted them to become residents of the Meadow Green nursing home in Waltham where Edith ultimately passed peacefully with her sister and best friend Valerie by her side. We will all miss Edith’s smile, wit and kisses.