Obituary for Jacinta Arena (Capizzano)
Jacinta (Capizzano) Arena, 91, of Somerville, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022, surrounded by her family, after a long struggle with cancer.
Born on Aug. 26, 1931 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As an adult, she immigrated to the US with her family, where they lived in The Bronx, New York City. She had a decades-long career as a microbiologist, including at Bellevue Hospital in New York, where she was involved in the early response to the AIDS crisis. Following her retirement, she eventually moved to Massachusetts.
Jacinta’s lifelong intellectual curiosity was reflected later in life when she received a B.S. in Geography from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in 2004. Deeply religious in the Catholic faith, she was a member of the Pax Christi group in Boston, and regularly attended Mass at two Boston churches, St. Clement’s and St. Anthony Shrine. She was also involved in community civic life, including through the Somerville Community Corporation and Massachusetts Senior Action. She loved her family dogs, from Lucky to Daisy. A dedicated gardener, she had a plot in a community garden in Somerville for many years. She enjoyed reading fiction and nonfiction, music, arts and crafts, and travel.
Beloved mother of Laura Carmen Arena of Cambridge, Mass., and her partner Richard Tenorio; and Dario Arena of Tampa, Fla., and his wife Jennifer Arena. Dear sister of the late Ester Damiano. Loving daughter of the late Giuseppe and Carmen (Gutiérrez) Capizzano. Cherished aunt of Viviana Bastone and her husband Pascual Bastone. Devoted great-aunt to Sebastian Bastone and his wife Alyse Bastone; and Leonardo Bastone. She is survived by her former husband, Nicolas J. Arena, and by many cousins and friends.
The family would like to thank the staff of Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston for caring for Jacinta over the past year.
A wake for Jacinta will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1st at Brasco and Sons Memorial Chapels 325 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA. from 4 to 8 p.m. Followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30am on Friday, Dec. 2nd at St. Paul’s Church on Mt. Auburn Street in Cambridge, MA. Interment will take place in St. Raymond’s Cemetery Bronx, NY.
" Creating Meaningful Memories"
" Brasco and Sons Memorials"
Born on Aug. 26, 1931 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. As an adult, she immigrated to the US with her family, where they lived in The Bronx, New York City. She had a decades-long career as a microbiologist, including at Bellevue Hospital in New York, where she was involved in the early response to the AIDS crisis. Following her retirement, she eventually moved to Massachusetts.
Jacinta’s lifelong intellectual curiosity was reflected later in life when she received a B.S. in Geography from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, in 2004. Deeply religious in the Catholic faith, she was a member of the Pax Christi group in Boston, and regularly attended Mass at two Boston churches, St. Clement’s and St. Anthony Shrine. She was also involved in community civic life, including through the Somerville Community Corporation and Massachusetts Senior Action. She loved her family dogs, from Lucky to Daisy. A dedicated gardener, she had a plot in a community garden in Somerville for many years. She enjoyed reading fiction and nonfiction, music, arts and crafts, and travel.
Beloved mother of Laura Carmen Arena of Cambridge, Mass., and her partner Richard Tenorio; and Dario Arena of Tampa, Fla., and his wife Jennifer Arena. Dear sister of the late Ester Damiano. Loving daughter of the late Giuseppe and Carmen (Gutiérrez) Capizzano. Cherished aunt of Viviana Bastone and her husband Pascual Bastone. Devoted great-aunt to Sebastian Bastone and his wife Alyse Bastone; and Leonardo Bastone. She is survived by her former husband, Nicolas J. Arena, and by many cousins and friends.
The family would like to thank the staff of Beth Israel Deaconess in Boston for caring for Jacinta over the past year.
A wake for Jacinta will be held on Thursday, Dec. 1st at Brasco and Sons Memorial Chapels 325 Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA. from 4 to 8 p.m. Followed by a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30am on Friday, Dec. 2nd at St. Paul’s Church on Mt. Auburn Street in Cambridge, MA. Interment will take place in St. Raymond’s Cemetery Bronx, NY.
" Creating Meaningful Memories"
" Brasco and Sons Memorials"