Taught piano at Batchelder School
Published in the March 3, 2016 edition
ATHOL – Winnifred Mae Saia, 83, of Athol died Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016 at Athol Hospital. Mrs. Saia was born March 29, 1932 in Hanover, N.H. She was the daughter of the late James W. and the late Edith C. (Johnson) Delmege. She married Joseph Saia Jr.
Winnifred grew up and lived in Hanover, N.H., graduating from Hanover High School in 1950. She also attended music school in Boston. She later moved to Malden and North Reading, where she lived most of her life before residing in Athol in 2010.
She was a bookkeeper for many years for an insurance company and also for her husband’s business, Joseph Saia Architect. She taught piano in North Reading at the Batchelder Elementary School and also gave private lessons. She was very gifted in music. Besides teaching piano, she sang professionally in the Boston area for several years.
She volunteered at the school library for many years while living in North Reading. She was a member of the North Reading Historical Society for many years, also serving as its secretary, and was a member of the Choral Society. She enjoyed rug hooking, knitting and was very involved in the Campfire Girls in her younger years.
She is survived by her husband, Joseph Saia Jr.; two daughters, Pamela Saia and her companion John Palm of Stockbridge, and Paula Materas and her husband Kevin of Athol; one sister, Martha Morley of Manchester, N.H., and one brother, James W. Delmege Jr. and his wife Nancy of New York. She also has one grandson, Benjamin S. Roberts of Chapel Hill, N.C., one aunt, Charlotte Pernokes and her husband Lou of Stevensville, Texas, and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be private.
To leave an online condolence please visit mackfamilyfh.com.
Higgins–O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol, is directing arrangements.
