A loving wife and mother who loved to cook and bake
MELROSE — Mary A. (Bonasera) Pingiaro, 89 of Melrose, passed away peacefully on April 7, 2022. Beloved wife of Anthony S. (Tony) Pingiaro of 68 years. Dear daughter of the late Ida (Zanelli) and Frank Bonasera. Loving mother of Ann Marie Dello Iacono and her late husband Fred of Malden, Linda Pingiaro and her companion Robert Miller of Somerville and the late Anthony F. Pingiaro. Caring sister of the late Lena Savard and her late husband George and the late Madeline Smoot and her late husband Donald Smoot. Also survived by many caring nieces and nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Mary was born in Somerville, raised in Boston’s West End and Medford. She graduated from Medford High School in 1949. She married Tony on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14, 1954. Later settling in Melrose in 1958.
She loved cooking, baking, reading, playing cards, ballroom dancing and traveling, but most of all enjoyed her family and friends. After raising her children, she became a lunch mother at the Lincoln School in Melrose. Later she worked as an administrative assistant to the Superintendent of Schools in Melrose. Mary and her husband Tony enjoyed traveling all around the United States and aboard to the Caribbean Islands, Italy, Sicily, England, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, South America, Australia and China. After retirement, she spent the winter months in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida with her many and dear friends.
Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, from 9 – 10:30 a.m., followed by Mass of Christian burial at St. Mary’s Church, 9 Herbert St., Melrose at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P. O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284. For directions and sign online condolence visit www.gatelyfh.com.
