Obituary of Dorothy Martignetti

Dorothy 'Dolly' Jean Martignetti, a loving and beloved mother, passed away with her daughter at her bedside on Tuesday morning, February 23, 2016. She was surrounded by her family and friends for days prior. Her son-in-law and four grandchildren sat with her for hours and days reminiscing all the wonderful times they shared, holding her hand and comforting her with words, kisses and affection while keeping her safe and helping to make her journey peaceful. She will be lovingly remembered and forever cherished by her family who were the center of her life. She was 89 years old. She lived a busy and fulfilled life always working hard and caring for others. Dorothy was born in Everett, the daughter of the Italian immigrants, the late Emilio and Erminia Covino. She grew up in a small section of Everett, “the village”, surrounded by relatives and other Italian immigrant families. She graduated from Everett High School and immediately went to work at John Hancock in Boston leaving her position when she had her first and only child, Pam. After staying home for 2 years with her new baby she needed to return to work. At the age of 32 her career became significant, when her husband Freddie was tragically injured in an automobile accident and he was no longer able to work or care for his family. Dorothy, with the help of her sister Mary and brother-in-law Al, managed to become the sole supporter of her daughter, then 3 years old. She spent forty years with John Hancock, constantly striving to do her best and move up the company ladder. Within the 40 years with John Hancock, she had rose to the position of Systems Analyst in the Insurance Division. She had made many special friends and colleagues over her years of service there. Her self-sacrifice and devotion to her family helped her persevere during those difficult years. That devotion and perseverance carried on throughout her life, always doing and teaching the right thing. Dorothy moved to Burlington in 1960 and shared a home with her sister Mary, brother-in-law Al and daughter Joanne. Her sister Lucy, brother-in–law Terry and their 3 sons Richard, Bobby and Dennis also moved to Burlington at the same time. Family bonds were very strong amongst her family. Burlington was a small town at that time and just beginning to develop. Her youngest sister Lorraine and brother-in-law Walter “Fay” and their family, Kevin, Linda, Mark and Paul did not join the families in Burlington but visited often and they all got together every Sunday at their mother and father’s home “the camp” in Wellesley for Sunday dinner that lasted all day. Everyone looked forward to being together once the families started to move out of the village in Everett. Also, Dolly’s cousin Joe started up an auction that he ran in Burlington every Saturday night and the four sisters and brother-in-laws, and the older nieces and nephews, worked the concession stand making pizza and coffee. Everything was a family event and her Italian heritage was very important to her. Dolly had a number of activities and interests over the years. She was a long time member of the Burlington Sons of Italy, Lodge 2223, where she served as Secretary for many years. She was even recognized as “Member of the Year” for her contribution to the Lodge and community. She was a member of several bowling leagues in Burlington. She was a member of the Quarter Century Club at John Hancock. She enjoyed ceramics and loved to cook and shop. Dorothy had an incredibly close bond with her daughter Pam, her son-in-law Barry, and all of her four grandchildren. She worried about everything and everyone constantly. She was always there to lend a helping hand, care for the kids, and support them in all their activities. She loved all their friends and their friends’ families. They all thought of her as their own and called her “Nan”. That was so special to her. She joined in with every celebration and loved sitting at the counter with everyone. Always giving her opinion and advise on every subject. She had many healthy political conversations. She always stood up for the underdog and had strong concrete beliefs. She was also a huge fan of all her grand kids and their sports. She was always rooting for her grandkids and their teammates, praying to St Anthony for a goal or a victory and loved attending a game or competition when she could. It was so much fun to watch a Red Sox, Patriots, or Bruins game with Dorothy. She was passionate and well versed in the players and how the teams were performing. She had her favorite players, and her pronunciation of their names had us laughing and teasing her all the time. She loved to pass the time away watching the games on tv. Family vacations were a very important part of Dorothy’s life. She never missed a family cruise or trip with those she loved. While they sat in the sun, she would slip away and try her luck at one of those games of chance with a big handle. She loved dressing up, having a nice dinner and going to the Broadway shows. Her vacation was not complete unless she had the photographer snap a family photograph to add to her collection. Dorothy embraced life, loved her family completely, and has left a heart print on all those she has loved and cared for. She leaves behind a legacy of love, caring, protection and concern, with many, many wonderful memories to be cherished forever. Dorothy was the beloved wife of the late Alfred A. Martignetti “Freddie”. She was the loving mother of Pamela Yeadon & her husband Barry of Burlington. She was the proud grandmother of Jay, Jason, Gina, and Joey Yeadon. She was the dear sister of the late Mary Rampon & her husband John, Lucy DiGloria & her husband Terry, and Lorraine Clifford& her husband Walter. She was the sister-in-law of Natalie & Chicky Ciarcia of Dennis Mass., the late Evelyn & Arthur Lepore, Ann & Al Martins, Margaret & Angelo Carrabes, & Ralph Martignetti. She was the special aunt to JoAnne Obrien, her husband Paul, Lauren Ares and Steven O’Brien of Norton and cousin to Mary DiBennedetto of Everett. She was the aunt of Kevin, Linda, Paul, and Mark Clifford, Richard, Robert, & Dennis DiGloria, Debbie Govostes, Gerard Ciarcia, Diane Pieciak, Arthur LePore, Carolyn Giannino, Paul & Richard Martins, and Robert & Paul Carrabas. Funeral from the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., BURLINGTON (exit 34 off Rt 128/95, Woburn side) on Monday, February 29 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10 a.m. Visiting hours Sunday from 3-7 p.m. Interment in Pine Haven Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Dorothy’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 510 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org. Good Morning… I’d like to welcome you all to the celebration of my mom’s life and her unity with God and all her relatives and friends in heaven. Mom was my world, and I was hers and I’m going to miss her dearly! Mom was known to many by many names…Dorothy, Dolly, Dot, Dottie, Auntie, Ma and most of all Nan. Becoming a grandmother was the happiness time in her life. Her world grew at that point. For those of you who read her obituary on the Sullivan’s Funeral home website got a small look into Mom’s world but I’d like to elaborate on it a little bit more because when we look back on it, it is quite an amazing and beautiful life. Mom grew up in Everett, in what they referred to as “the Village”. All of her family was there along with other Italian immigrant families. They were all one happy family… La famiglia. Very often the kids and I talk about how we wish we grew up in that generation. As many of you know we do everything as a family. Listening to the stories of how life was back then sounds wonderful! Family is very important to us and it was my mother’s whole world. She taught us well  My grandparents came here from Italy when they were 16 and started their family. Mom had 3 sisters, Mary, Lucy and Lorraine. Mary, being the oldest cared for the family quite often. My grandfather took a stroke at an early age and my grandmother had to go out to work so Mary cared for the house and the girls and her father. Mom met and married my father Freddie, Alfred “Ace” Martignetti who was also from Everett. They loved going out, they dressed to the nines, both of them. Mom’s father called her “Snappo” because she was always so stylish. She loved that name and always told us the story. Dolly and Freddie made a stunning couple! They loved to dance and have good time. My dad was a really good baseball pitcher and mom would go watch him all the time. They were married and remained in Everett. It was 7 years later that I was born and from what they tell me the happiest day of their lives. My Dad called me “Miss Hollywood”. They were so happy to have me! Unfortunately 2 years later my dad had a tragic automobile accident and their lives changed forever… my Mom at the age of 32, and with a 2 year old baby. But Mom stood by my Dad for 20 years, until he passed away February 26, 1979, although they were never able to live together as husband and wife. Because of the accident, Mom had to return to work at the John Hancock. Her sister Mary and brother-in law Al demanded that we come live with them, which we did, in Everett of course, just down the street. Joanne was young at that time and grew especially close to Mom and me starting at that point. All of our family was close but this was different…this was the beginning of what life held in store for Mom and I, and this was our new family…not your typical family but it was so special and we were very fortunate to have this. When Mary and Al decided to leave the city life of Everett and move to Burlington, they insisted on bringing Mom and me with them. I was 3 years old and Uncle Al let me pick the lot that became “home” to us for 56 years. The house started with the five of us but a year later Uncle Al passed away suddenly and we were four. Mom and Auntie needed to take on all the responsibilities of the household. Auntie Lucy and Uncle Terry were right down the street so they had Terry to rely on but I remember them mowing the lawn and wallpapering along with all the other chores of maintaining the house. Mom and Joanne would take time away from cleaning and sunbath in the back yard with their tube tops on. They were like sisters rather than aunt and niece. They shared a lot of special times together. Joanne left for nursing school and then once graduated got married and we were now 3 at home. Auntie Mary had helped Mom and now it was time for Mom to help Auntie. Of the four sisters only Mary drove, and luckily she did. So since Auntie drove, Mom bought the car, a black rambler. To this day I have no idea how they got to where they were going. I remember they would call the police station of whatever town they were traveling to and write down the directions. Mom would read the directions and auntie drove, and I sat in the back seat while they smoked their cigarettes with the windows all rolled up. They were a great team but they could never find Auntie Lorraine and Uncle Fay’s house. No matter how many times we went there they always took the got lost. Every single time. Then Auntie decided to get married to John so we were now 4. Then my grandmother took a stroke and my grandmother and grandfather came to live with us and we took care of them. We were now a household of 6. Someone was always caring for someone. They all helped each other until Auntie and Uncle John needed to be cared for and Mom tried to care for them at home until they needed to live with Joanne. Now the house had one, just my Mom, but the Joanne was always looking out for us all not just because she’s a nurse but because she is a very caring and giving person. She and Paul were there for mom right to very end. Joanne was the one I would turn to and she would come to every appointment. Whenever there was a question, Mom would say “call Joanne”. She only trusted Joanne. Joanne and Paul were with us during the last days at home and were a comfort to me and I know to Mom. Mom and I appreciated all they both did. When I was now in high school I started dating Barry. Mom loved him from the first day he came to pick me up to go apple picking. Six years later he became her son-in-law, but she didn’t like that term. To her he was a “son”. Mom appreciated all that Barry did for her. He drove her everywhere, the hairdresser on Saturday, Market Basket, appointments, anywhere she needed to go he was “No problem Ma I’ll take you. And in return she would take him to Burlington coldcut and buy him a sub. Every chance she got she would brag about him, using the term she did not like but she would say, “my son-in-law this and my son-in-law that. She was very proud of him and loved him dearly. Seven years after I got married, just like Mom, I became pregnant and had twins as you all know. Jay and Jason were the apples of her eye. Fortunately she had retired from the John Hancock at that point and she was able to help me. She would be with me almost every single day. When the twins were 2 and a half I had a job opportunity at IVF and she said, Pam go for it. I’m here so you can work a few days so I did that and from that point on she helped me take care of my family. I only worked a few days a week but even on the days that I was home she would call me first thing in the morning, “so I was thinking we could go here and do this and go here and do that.” She always had me going. Everyone in the stores knew us as we wheeled the big double stroller around. Once the twins could walk, or should I say run, we still chanced going shopping and they would just take off. Mom would be yelling and I would be chasing. We must have always made a scene. Once Jay was chasing Jason in Marshalls and he ran into a clothes rack and had to get stitches. Five years later Gina arrived and obviously Mom was beyond happy! Everything was pink and frilly and embellished. Mom loved curling Gina’s hair and dressing her for pre-school. Mom enjoyed Gina through the years and as Gina got older she would confide in her telling her stories about her lovelife and giving her advise about her own life ahead. Gina had a very special bond with Nan. Then very quickly after Gina’s arrival along came Joey. Nan’s “thunder buddy”. Their birthdays were 3 days apart, they were both Cancer zodiacs and they shared something special together. Joey would give Nan a run for her money but she did a great job keeping him safe and teaching him to behave. She would always pray to St Anthony for Joey to get a goal… she was constantly praying to him for something and her prayers were usually always answered. And if Joey didn’t get a goal we would tell her that she needed to pray harder. We always put a lot of responsibility on her. Now Joey can just put Nan’s prayer card in his hockey bag and she’ll be watching over you always. One very important thing about Mom was that she taught us all to “do the right thing”. She worried about everything and everyone. I credit her for so much of what has made my family who they are and I know they do too! Mom was always a part of whatever was going on in life through the years. We knew we did a lot of things but going through the pictures to make the collages only reinforced how much we did together as a family. Mom did things that I’m sure she never imaged she would do. She hated to drive, fly, the ocean and adventure. She was very conservative in her lifestyle. Well once she became part of the Yeadon clan all that changed. Mom came on every vacation with us whether it be for pleasure or a sporting event. She attended baseball tournaments in Sarasota and Myrtle Beach and hockey tournaments and cheer competitions in various places. We vacationed in Aruba, Las Vegas and Falmouth every 4th of July and so many other excursions over the years. She loved when the DiGloria girls or Cliffords in Florida got married and we spent time down there with them all. And of course our many cruises. Those were her favorites. She loved getting dressed up, formal dinner in the ships diningroom and attending the shows. She put up with all our antics in the staterooms and on the deck poolside. And getting off the ship at the many islands was always an adventure. We are so fortunate to have all these wonderful memories. When Barry was not able to attend certain things she would venture out with just me and boy she was a nervous wreck but she did it. She was my buddy. She would never want me going alone. She drove with me to, Springfield, New Hampshire and New Jersey, straight through Manhattan, for hockey playoffs and we spent the night. She came with me to Maryland and Quinnipiac for acro and tumbling competitions. She came to Syracuse, Merrimack, Quinnipiac and Salve Regina. She met and loved all of the kids’ friends. My friends became her friends and the kids’ friends became her kids. Everyone called her Nan and she loved it. So many of my family members have given their love and comfort! Thank you and I love you all! Beyond Mom’s family she had very special close friends…Her hairdresser Paul was very special to her and everyone at the shop. She saw them every Saturday without fail. Her Son’s of Italy friends she adored. She was so proud to be a member. All of Barry and my friends became her friends. Many laughs she shared with them. Mom was close to all my neighbors and their kids. She was one of the neighborhood gang. There are many others who held an extra special place in Mom’s heart, you know who you are! Mom would have been very proud to see the outpouring of love and sympathy that has been shown by everyone. My family and I are so grateful to everyone who has touched our hearts throughout this time. It means so much and we love you all! Mom did not want to leave us. She had such a strong will to live but I guess it was her time. She slipped away quietly and peacefully while I held her hand. As my wonderful boss Kathy put it, because Kathy has given me such comfort and support through these last months… “See my Dear? You walked her right up to heaven’s gate.” I so want to believe that and I do think it is true. We had a wonderful journey Mom! Thank you for everything! We are all going to miss you dearly! Stay safe and warm! Love you Mom!