Loving surrogate mother to grandnieces and nephew
Published June 30, 2021
LYNNFIELD — Vita A. (Radway) Marotta, 93, formerly of Revere, passed away in Lynnfield on Friday, June 25, 2021 following a lengthy illness.
Vita was born in Revere and was the daughter of the late Leonard and Catherine (Darone) Radway. She was second oldest of five children. Vita was a longtime resident of Lynnfield, and she shared her home with her brother Arnold and her nieces and nephew. Vita and Arnold raised their six great-nieces and nephew after a tragic accident claimed the life of their mother and their niece, Cynthia Flint.
Vita very much enjoyed having all of her family around her, and treated everyone she knew as family. Following the family tradition, she always cooked Sunday dinners, and everyone looked forward to her famous meatballs. To everyone that knew and loved her, she was known as ‘Aunty.’ Vita was a loving and caring woman who truly enjoyed helping others.
During the early parts of her life, Vita enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, a place where she would visit often and formed life-long friendships. Vita worked most her life at the Department of Employment and Training in Boston, a career that spanned 20 years. She lived in Revere during the early years of her life when her parents came from Italy. The family later moved to Lynnfield in 1945.
She was the wife of the late William A. Marotta. She was the devoted sister to Arnold P. Radway of Lynnfield; and the late Anthony G. “Tony” Radway, Vivian “Millie” Radway-Flint and Phyllis LeTourneau. She was the dear daughter of the late Leonard and Catherine (Darone) Radway. She was the cherished grandaunt and surrogate mother to Jennifer Connell, Rian Connell, Sharane Connell-Anderson and Brian Anderson, all of Lynnfield. She was the loving grandaunt to Christina Passanisi of Saugus, Danielle Passanisi of Lynnfield, and Bianca Passanisi of Lynnfield. She is also lovingly survived by her great grandnieces and nephews, Hunter and Poppy, both of Lynnfield; and Angelo, Briella and Janessa-May, all of Saugus.
Family and friends were invited to attend Vita’s visitation on Wednesday, June 30 at the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway, Revere. Vita’s funeral service was conducted in the funeral home after visiting hours, which immediately followed with interment in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals.
