NATICK: Susan P. (Strickland) Pignatiello, age 88, died on Friday evening, March 18, 2016, at the Lydia Taft House in Uxbridge, her home for the past six years. She was the devoted wife of the late Joseph J. Pignatiello for 66 years.
Born in Cambridge, the daughter of the late William Albert and Sarah (Frost) Strickland, Susan and her siblings were raised and educated in Newfoundland. She returned to Massachusetts at 19 and was married to Joe the next year.
The Pignatiello’s settled in Natick where Susan set about creating a warm and loving home for their growing family. She was employed inspecting baseballs at the Harwood Baseball Company, work she remembered fondly throughout her life. When her sons were of school age, Susan worked for several years in the Natick High School cafeteria. A family centered lady, she was thrilled to have her grandchildren for extended visits and would spend hours making up games to play and projects to be done. Susan and Joe enjoyed flea marketing and after many years became vendors themselves. After moving to the Lydia Taft House, Susan looked forward to the many activities she shared with her fellow residents.
Predeceased by a son, Michael in 2007, she is survived by sons Joseph J. Pignatiello, Jr. and his wife Christine of Beaver Creek, OH, and James Pignatiello and his wife Susanna of Uxbridge; Michael’s partner, Tracy Short of NM; her grandchildren, James, Jr. and his wife Lisa of East Longmeadow, Lauren and Nicholas, both of Jacksonville, FL, Michel and his husband Ryan of Cortlandt, NY, and Susanna and Angela, both of Uxbridge; great-grandchildren Joshua and Catherine; a brother, John Strickland of Westborough; and a sister, Shirley Bartell and her husband John of Warwick, RI. She was also a sister of the late Moses Strickland, Lucy MacLean, and Violet Zanchi.
Her funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Wednesday, March 23rd at 9:00AM with a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Patrick's Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick at 10:00AM. Burial will follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, 4 - 7PM. Donations may be made in her name to the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445.