Nurse
BOSTON — Mary C. (Bistany) Tortora, 54, passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital on Feb. 12.
Mary was born to Marjorie and the late Donald Bistany in Winchester on Feb. 21, 1960. She was raised in Woburn and attended Woburn schools. Mary furthered her education by receiving a bachelor’s degree in nursing from St. Elizabeth School of Nursing. She soon married the love of her life, Michael, and they spent 34 years by each other’s side. Nursing was Mary’s passion. Her career took her many places throughout the Boston area, including Mass. General and Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.
Besides nursing, Mary was a loving and passionate Nana to Hayley. She loved spending time with her, bouncing Hayley on her lap and even napping together. Mary had a lot of love to give and her own children could feel it. She was so proud of them. Her favorite way to spend time with her family was traveling. Her travels included the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and Florida. Exploring new places and having those memories with her family were what truly made her happy. Mary had another friend who was always by her side, her dog Molly. The two were always together and Molly provided great comfort to Mary. Although she has moved on, she is not forgotten.
Mary’s legacy lives on in those she left behind. She was the loving wife to Michael Tortora of Melrose. She was the devoted mother to Melissa Silva and her husband Jeffrey of Woburn and to Joseph Tortora of Melrose. She was the loving daughter of Marjorie and the Late Donald Bistany. She was the caring sister to Deborah Scrocca and her husband Kenneth of Burlington and Donald Bistany and his wife Rhonda of Maynard. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition at https://mbcc.org/breast-cancer-prevention. Visitation took place at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 West Foster St., Melrose, on Thursday, Feb. 19, followed by a funeral Mass at St. Mary Church, 55 Herbert St., Melrose. Burial will take place at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com.
