Grace (Suppa) Colonna, age 100, died on Sunday, May 14, in the Glen Ridge Nursing Care of Medford, surrounded by family and friends. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Maria (Mazzilli) Suppa of Corato, Italy. Her family returned to Italy when she was eight years old. However, she returned to the U.S. at the age of 16 - by herself. She lived with her older sister Phyllis for ten years before marrying Frank Colonna.
Grace raised three children - Mary Ann, Michael and Thomas. Her dream was to see her children graduate from college because she herself had been denied that opportunity. Grace worked in a factory as a stitcher for many years. She was an accomplished cook and was the loving center of a large extended family. Grace was a bright, shining light to all who knew her, and a wonderful role model for living life to the fullest.
Grace was the beloved wife of the late Frank Colonna, and the devoted mother of Mary Ann Camarra and her husband Domenic of Medford, Michael Colonna and his husband Solomon Haile of Peabody, and Thomas Colonna and his wife Sheri-Ann Valentino of Lynnfield. She was the loving grandmother of Marisa Camarra of Boston, Danielle DiTonno and her husband Eric of Wakefield, and her late beloved, handsome grandson, Tommy. Grace is also survived by her loving and devoted daughter-in-law Sandy Caprio, niece Nancy Colonna, sisters-in-law Maria Colonna and Elena Mastromauro, and many extended family members.
Funeral from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Friday, May 19 at 9 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in St. Francis of Assisi Church, 441 Fellsway West, Medford, at 10 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Visiting hours Thursday, May 18, from 4 through 8 PM.