MELROSE — Lola A. (Pizzotti) Fasano, longtime Melrose resident, passed away in her home surrounded by her family on July 10, 2021. She was 82 years young.

Born in Somerville, Lola was the youngest child of Adelcisa (Castignoli) and Abdon Pizzotti, both Italian immigrants. Lola’s mother died when Lola was ten, and a few years later, when she was thirteen, she and her sister Doria spent the summer learning Italian from her relatives at her father’s childhood home in San Carlo, Italy. Soon after, the family relocated to Saugus, where she met Nick Fasano her sophomore year at Saugus High. Voted best dancer of her graduating class, Lola had a lifelong love of song and dance, and Frank Sinatra was her absolute favorite. Lola and Nick graduated in 1956, and years later chose a different Old Blue Eyes, marrying her high school sweetheart Nick in October 1963.

The couple and their growing family moved to Melrose in 1968 and lived there ever since. Lola was exceptionally active in the lives of her three children, and was always involved at their schools, sporting events, and dance recitals. There was no limit to Lola’s devotion to her family. She gave everything she had to those she loved.

Later in life, Lola was in her element when surrounded by her children and grandchildren, relishing the happy chaos of great meals, holiday celebrations, and many fun-filled vacations. Some memorable trips included stays in Mexico, Jamaica, Curaçao, and California. She achieved her lifelong dream when she introduced her grandchildren to her family members in Italy. Lola and Nick were constant fixtures at all of their grandchildren’s basketball, football, hockey, soccer, softball, and lacrosse games, as well as tennis matches and dance recitals, where they were known by teammates, coaches and parents as Nonna and Pop. For Lola, nothing was better than being with “the kids” at the family’s Cape Cod homes in Cotuit, where they spent countless days at Loop Beach and Sampson’s Island, Kettleers baseball games, and barbecuing on each other’s decks.

Lola’s pals were her second family. She and Nick regularly gathered with their close-knit circle of lifelong friends, many from high school: Judy and Phil Boyle, Bette and Jack Andre, Marilyn and Bill McCormick, Barbara Banks, and Jan and Ted Brady. They enjoyed decades of lunches, movies, and international travel. And they almost never missed an opportunity to party together on New Year’s Eve, for over 50 years.

Lola was the beloved wife of 57 years to Nicholas Fasano and the devoted mother to Lea Fasano and her husband, Evan Zahner, of Melrose; Dana Sullivan and her husband, Michael, of Melrose; and Nicholas Fasano and his wife, Kathleen Hughes, of Manhattan Beach, CA. She was the world’s best Nonna to her cherished grandchildren: Zachary, Cameron, Emery, Kelsey, Aidan, Lola, and Maelie. Lola was the loving sister to many siblings and was predeceased by Elmiro and his wife, Gloria; Diana, Nemi, Richard and his wife, Katherine; Abdon, and Doria (Sister Mary Mark). She is survived by Abdon’s wife, her treasured sister-in-law, Assunta (Tina). Lola is also predeceased by her adored mother-in-law, Margaret; father-in-law, Nicholas; and brother-in-law, William. She will also be dearly missed by many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends, as she had a unique way of making them each feel so important.

Relatives and friends gathered for visiting hours at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose, on Thursday, July 15, 2021. A mass of Christian burial was held at St. Mary’s Church, 9 Herbert St., Melrose on Friday, July 16, followed by interment at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.

In lieu of flowers, charitable gifts may be made in Lola’s name to her home hospice provider, Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B102, Danvers, MA 01923. To send a message of condolence please visit www.gatelyfh.com.