Obituary for Pasquale Di Spena
Pasquale Di Spena
Of Brighton, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning November 19th, 2019 surrounded by his loving family in his daughter’s home after a courageous and long battle with cancer at the age of 84.
Born on October 20, 1935 in Nicastro (Bella), Calabria, Italy; son of the late Giuseppe and Caterina (Cantafia) Di Spena, Pasquale immigrated to the United States as a young man in 1957 and resided in the West End of Boston and the North End of Boston before moving to Cambridge and then to Brighton in 1976.
Pasquale worked hard to provide for his family in various jobs as a young man until meeting a gentleman on Havard Avenue in Cambridge on a construction job which led him to a long career in the construction industry. He was employed as a Laborer with the Union Local #151; where he worked on many notable construction projects including the Hyatt Regency located on Memorial Drive in Cambridge.
Family was the most important aspect of his life and he could often be found spending the day with his children and grandchildren or playing bocce with friends. He was extremely proud of his Italian heritage and loved working in his vegetable garden, he grew grapes in his yard and loved to make homemade wine. He also jarred tomatoes and olives and made homemade soppressata. He was a member of the Watertown Sons of Italy Lodge for many years where he enjoyed playing cards with friends.
Pasquale was predeceased by his beloved wife Maria (Stella) Di Spena.
He is survived by his devoted & loving children Joseph Di Spena and his wife Susan of Arlington; and Rina Di Spena-Leone and her husband Robert of Newton; his cherished grandchildren Joseph and his wife Jaclyn, Christian, Davio; Dario, Simona and her husband John Paul, Cristina, Alessandro, and Dante; his adoring great grandchildren Travis, Avery, Lynne, and Maria and dear sisters Rosina Butera and Anna Di Spena both of Calabria, Italy; and numerous nieces & nephews.
Loving brother of the late Antonio, Maria, Giuseppe, Salvatore, Giovanna and Umberto.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Funeral Services in celebration of Pasquale's life from the Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM on Saturday morning November 23rd at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady Help of Christian Church, 573 Washington Street, Newton at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum in Waltham. Visiting Hours will be held on Friday November 22nd from 4 - 8 p.m. Parking attendants will be on duty.
Flowers are appreciated or expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 414238, Boston, MA 02241-4238
Of Brighton, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning November 19th, 2019 surrounded by his loving family in his daughter’s home after a courageous and long battle with cancer at the age of 84.
Born on October 20, 1935 in Nicastro (Bella), Calabria, Italy; son of the late Giuseppe and Caterina (Cantafia) Di Spena, Pasquale immigrated to the United States as a young man in 1957 and resided in the West End of Boston and the North End of Boston before moving to Cambridge and then to Brighton in 1976.
Pasquale worked hard to provide for his family in various jobs as a young man until meeting a gentleman on Havard Avenue in Cambridge on a construction job which led him to a long career in the construction industry. He was employed as a Laborer with the Union Local #151; where he worked on many notable construction projects including the Hyatt Regency located on Memorial Drive in Cambridge.
Family was the most important aspect of his life and he could often be found spending the day with his children and grandchildren or playing bocce with friends. He was extremely proud of his Italian heritage and loved working in his vegetable garden, he grew grapes in his yard and loved to make homemade wine. He also jarred tomatoes and olives and made homemade soppressata. He was a member of the Watertown Sons of Italy Lodge for many years where he enjoyed playing cards with friends.
Pasquale was predeceased by his beloved wife Maria (Stella) Di Spena.
He is survived by his devoted & loving children Joseph Di Spena and his wife Susan of Arlington; and Rina Di Spena-Leone and her husband Robert of Newton; his cherished grandchildren Joseph and his wife Jaclyn, Christian, Davio; Dario, Simona and her husband John Paul, Cristina, Alessandro, and Dante; his adoring great grandchildren Travis, Avery, Lynne, and Maria and dear sisters Rosina Butera and Anna Di Spena both of Calabria, Italy; and numerous nieces & nephews.
Loving brother of the late Antonio, Maria, Giuseppe, Salvatore, Giovanna and Umberto.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend Funeral Services in celebration of Pasquale's life from the Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM on Saturday morning November 23rd at 9:30 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady Help of Christian Church, 573 Washington Street, Newton at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum in Waltham. Visiting Hours will be held on Friday November 22nd from 4 - 8 p.m. Parking attendants will be on duty.
Flowers are appreciated or expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, P.O. Box 414238, Boston, MA 02241-4238