Nancy Marie (DiMattia) Sannella, of Medford, passed away peacefully after a difficult illness on Thursday, September 14, 2017 surrounded by her family. She was 89 years of age.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she was the loving daughter of the late John and Carmella (Lerro) DiMattia.

Nancy was the beloved wife of the late Michael Sannella, who passed away in 1978. She was the devoted mother of Michael Sannella and his wife Mary of Westford, Louis Sannella and his wife Laurie of Andover, John Sannella and his wife Geri of North Reading, Marianne Preziosi and her husband Michael, Susan Fleming and her husband Mark, all of Stoneham. Nancy was the loving grandmother of Nicole Tisbert and her husband Brian, Noelle Matara and her husband Joseph, Crystal Orfanos and her husband Louis, Michael Sannella and his wife Stephanie, Jaclyn and Joseph Sannella, Anthony and Nicholas Preziosi, Michael and Matthew Sannella, Michela, Jake Joseph, and Maria Fleming. She was the loving great grandmother of Drew, Brooke, Halle and Ty Tisbert, Ava Matara, Emmy Orfanos and Cameron Sannella. Nancy was the dear sister of Philip and Anne DiMattia of Medford, Rita Moreno of Reading, and Theresa DiMattia of Stoneham. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Nancy was a 1949 graduate of the Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing. She worked as a neurological staff registered nurse, and became the head nurse of the MGH Bulfinch Mallinckrodt research unit. She left to raise her family, and then in later years, returned to nursing at Malden Hospital, Tufts University Student Health Clinic, and several nursing homes.

Nancy loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren; they were her joy. For every family event, she was always there to celebrate with them; her presence was a given. She enjoyed her many vacations with her family to Hampton Beach, the White Mountains, and Europe. She was a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend. She will be dearly missed by all.

Her funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main Street, Medford, on Thursday, September 21st at 10:30AM followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High Street, Medford, at 11:30AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 through 8PM. Services will conclude with interment at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent in Nancy’s name to the National Kidney Foundation, 85 Astor Avenue, Suite 2, Norwood, MA 02062 or the American Heart Association, PO Box 417005, Boston, MA 02155.