Obituary for Mario Pandolfi
MARIO PANDOLFI
Of Waltham, passed away on Friday morning, June 17th, 2022 after a period of declining health. He was 90. He was born in Naples, Italy to Vincenzo and Clementina “Dora” (Iscaro) Pandolfi.
Mario was much loved and respected in Naples. He knew every inch of the city having worked as a bus driver there for more than twenty years before moving to the United States with his wife Carmela and their three young children in 1970. They joined many of Carmela's siblings and her mother in Waltham and had their youngest daughter there in 1973.
When he first moved to the United States, he worked for Mazzola Bakery in Newton. After that he spent many years working at the Polaroid Corporation in Waltham before retiring from there in 1995. But, his proudest work was done alongside his son Roberto, who is a builder. Mario was at every job site helping to manage contractors, operating machines and even doing manual labor himself well into his eighties.
Mario was a hardworking, honorable man who valued his family above all else. He taught his children the importance of respect and doing the right thing and he did this by example. For Mario, family was everything. He loved spending time with his children and especially his grandchildren. When his wife was well, she and Mario loved to host Sunday dinners at their home where the whole family would be together. His grandchildren loved their time with Papa and Nonna. Although he always preferred his wife's cooking, he did enjoy going out to eat, especially when it was with his grandchildren. He had a knack for fixing things. Whether it was a car, a snowblower, a radio or a kids' toy, if it was broken, he could fix it. In fact in his later years, he brought many robotic dinosaurs, trains and other toys back to life for his youngest grandsons.
Despite living in the US for more than 50 years, Mario always considered Naples his home and he would often tell stories about his life there. He cherished the Neapolitan culture and music and loved listening to old songs by Mario Merola. He had a natural ability to sing and even performed his favorite songs at many family weddings.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years Carmela (Maione) Pandolfi in 2020.
Mario is survived by his devoted and loving children Tina Sheldon and her husband Steven Nerlfi of NJ; Luisa Pandolfi and her husband Philip Chorman of Waltham; Roberto Pandolfi and his former wife Debra of Waltham; and Monica Carbone and her husband Lorenzo of Newton; his siblings Giovanni, Carmela, Antonella and Rosanna, all of Italy.
He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Amanda Penna, Laura Spagnolo, Roberto, Giuliana and Mario Pandolfi and Mario and Lorenzo Carbone, his adoring great granddaughters Vinessa, Violetta and Aly and his many nieces, nephews and extended family in the US and Italy.
Mario was predeceased by his late sister Tina.
Those who wish to pay their respects to Mario and his family can do so in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM on Tuesday June 21st from 4pm until 8pm. For those who wish to pay their final respects, but are unable to attend, please be sure to sign the guestbook at www.BrascoFuneralhome.com. Parking attendants will be on duty.
Family and friends are welcome to gather and celebrate Mario's life and remember the love and friendship he shared with others at a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday morning June 22nd at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 920 Trapelo Road, Waltham at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.
Those who wish may make donations in his name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate
Of Waltham, passed away on Friday morning, June 17th, 2022 after a period of declining health. He was 90. He was born in Naples, Italy to Vincenzo and Clementina “Dora” (Iscaro) Pandolfi.
Mario was much loved and respected in Naples. He knew every inch of the city having worked as a bus driver there for more than twenty years before moving to the United States with his wife Carmela and their three young children in 1970. They joined many of Carmela's siblings and her mother in Waltham and had their youngest daughter there in 1973.
When he first moved to the United States, he worked for Mazzola Bakery in Newton. After that he spent many years working at the Polaroid Corporation in Waltham before retiring from there in 1995. But, his proudest work was done alongside his son Roberto, who is a builder. Mario was at every job site helping to manage contractors, operating machines and even doing manual labor himself well into his eighties.
Mario was a hardworking, honorable man who valued his family above all else. He taught his children the importance of respect and doing the right thing and he did this by example. For Mario, family was everything. He loved spending time with his children and especially his grandchildren. When his wife was well, she and Mario loved to host Sunday dinners at their home where the whole family would be together. His grandchildren loved their time with Papa and Nonna. Although he always preferred his wife's cooking, he did enjoy going out to eat, especially when it was with his grandchildren. He had a knack for fixing things. Whether it was a car, a snowblower, a radio or a kids' toy, if it was broken, he could fix it. In fact in his later years, he brought many robotic dinosaurs, trains and other toys back to life for his youngest grandsons.
Despite living in the US for more than 50 years, Mario always considered Naples his home and he would often tell stories about his life there. He cherished the Neapolitan culture and music and loved listening to old songs by Mario Merola. He had a natural ability to sing and even performed his favorite songs at many family weddings.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years Carmela (Maione) Pandolfi in 2020.
Mario is survived by his devoted and loving children Tina Sheldon and her husband Steven Nerlfi of NJ; Luisa Pandolfi and her husband Philip Chorman of Waltham; Roberto Pandolfi and his former wife Debra of Waltham; and Monica Carbone and her husband Lorenzo of Newton; his siblings Giovanni, Carmela, Antonella and Rosanna, all of Italy.
He is also survived by his cherished grandchildren, Amanda Penna, Laura Spagnolo, Roberto, Giuliana and Mario Pandolfi and Mario and Lorenzo Carbone, his adoring great granddaughters Vinessa, Violetta and Aly and his many nieces, nephews and extended family in the US and Italy.
Mario was predeceased by his late sister Tina.
Those who wish to pay their respects to Mario and his family can do so in the Mary Catherine Chapel of Brasco & Sons Memorial, 773 Moody Street, WALTHAM on Tuesday June 21st from 4pm until 8pm. For those who wish to pay their final respects, but are unable to attend, please be sure to sign the guestbook at www.BrascoFuneralhome.com. Parking attendants will be on duty.
Family and friends are welcome to gather and celebrate Mario's life and remember the love and friendship he shared with others at a Mass of Christian Burial on Wednesday morning June 22nd at Our Lady Comforter of the Afflicted Church, 920 Trapelo Road, Waltham at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Mount Feake Cemetery in Waltham.
Those who wish may make donations in his name to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital at https://www.stjude.org/donate