Lydia L. (DiMatteo) Lanzafame of Natick died peacefully on Friday, June 14, 2013 at her home. She was 91 years old.
Born in Newton, Massachusetts on December 12, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Achille & Santa (Fontecchio) DiMatteo. After the family spent the first six years of her life in Wisconsin, they settled in the Thompsonville section of Newton. She was a 1939 graduate of Newton High School and then attended classes at Harvard Extension School.
Mrs. Lanzafame worked as a Medical Transcriptionist for the MetroWest Medical Center in Natick and Framingham for over fifteen years. She retired at the age of 63 however, less than a year and a half later, she went back to work and continued until she was 87 years old.
She was a Natick resident, a member of St. Patrick’s Church of Natick and loved and supported her family in every way. She enjoyed music, opera, the symphony, traveling with the WGBH crew to Italy, knitting, needlepoint, gardening, books and learning. She was always up to date with what was happening in the world and would encourage young people to follow their dreams and music.
She was the devoted wife of the late Alfio Lanzafame, with whom she shared fifty-one years of marriage. She was the loving mother of Rosalba Saunders & her husband Thomas of Hopkinton, Robert Lanzafame & his wife Debbie of Washington, Philip Lanzafame & his wife Margaret, also of Washington, & Martha Morris & her husband John of Milford. Cherished grandmother of Ambria, Michael and Hayley Miche, Alexandra and Kelly Lanzafame and Samantha, Jennifer, Clifford and Melissa Morris. Special great grandmother of Jordan. Sister of the late Fred, George, Robert DiMatteo & Elia Gasbarri. Also survived by many nieces & nephews.
Funeral from John Everett & Sons 4 Park St., at Natick Common will be held on Friday, June 21st at 9:00AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Patrick Church, 44 E. Central St., Natick at 10:00AM. Relatives & friends respectfully invited. Visiting hours on Thursday from 4:00-7:00PM. Interment in Glenwood Cemetery, Natick.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Lydia’s memory may be made to Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave. Boston, MA 02215 or WCRB Radio, One Guest St., Boston, MA 02135. For directions or to send Lydia’s family a condolence, please visit www.everettfuneral.com