Published in the April 21, 2017 edition
MELROSE — Raffaella “Lina” (Bianco) Penta, 90, of Melrose died peacefully surrounded by family on April 17, 2017.
Lina was born on May 30, 1926 in Fontanarosa (Avellino), Italy to Carlo and Antonietta (Vernillo) Bianco. She was raised in Italy and met her future husband, Edward Penta of Everett, there while Edward was on an Italian family vacation in 1958. They were wed in Italy in 1959, and in 1960, Lina moved to the United States to be united with her husband and was proud to become an American citizen in 1967.
Lina raised her five children in Everett and in 1972, moved with her family to Melrose, where she remained a proud resident for 44 years. She was a loving, supportive, and devoted mother and wife and her family meant the world to her. She loved to entertain no matter the occasion, and was a wonderful cook and baker. In her spare time, she enjoyed antiquing; listening to classical music; had a great appreciation for fine art; and enjoyed many trips back to her hometown in Italy to visit her family, with whom she remained close until her passing.
Lina will be greatly missed by her entire family. She was the beloved wife of the late Edward Penta. She was the devoted mother of Adele Iannaco and her husband Angelo Jr. of Melrose; Carl Penta and his wife Nellie of Boxford; Edward Penta Jr. and his wife Paula of Middleton; Marina Adly and her husband Bahram of Andover; and Joanne Penta of Melrose. She was the loving grandmother of Marina, Peter, Phillip, Carla, Rafaella, Edward, Nicholas, Christopher, Alexandra, Matthew, Sylvana, Tinamarie and David. She was great-grandmother of Christian. She was the sister of Wanda Bianco of Fontanarosa (Avellino), Italy. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Visiting Hours will be held on Mon. April 24, 2017 from 4-9 p.m. at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 West Foster St., Melrose. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at 9 a.m., followed by a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass at Incarnation Church, 425 Upham St., Melrose. Interment will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. For the obituary and directions, please visit gatelyfh.com.
