Julia E. Contrada, R.N.
…WWII Army Veteran; 97
TEWKSBURY - Mrs. Julia E. Contrada, R.N., age 97, a faithful communicant of St. William’s Church in Tewksbury, died peacefully Friday morning, July 21, at Blaire House of Tewksbury in the loving care of her family and hospice, after a long period of declining health. She was the beloved wife of Anthony G. Contrada, who died in 1986.
She was born on the family farm in Ludlow, Vermont, on Christmas Eve in 1919, one of twelve children of the late James and Donata (Petraglia) Pallotta, and raised in Ludlow. She went on to graduate from Black River Academy high school, and moved to Lowell to continue her education. She graduated from Lowell General’s School of Nursing, and earned her certification as a Registered Nurse.
She then enlisted in the U.S. Army, and served in the Islands of the South Pacific during WWII, honorably discharged as a 2nd Lieutenant. She worked in Boston hospitals until the birth of her children, when she assumed the role of full time mother.
She raised her family in Boston, Medford, and Framingham before settling in Tewksbury in 1981. Mrs. Contrada was a devout Catholic layperson, and when her health allowed, was a daily communicant of St. William’s Church in Tewksbury.
She leaves four children, Deborah Contrada of Cambridge, Anthony A. Contrada and his wife Donna-Rae (Hargraves) of West Springfield, MA, Dave Contrada of Nashua, NH, and Dianne Levinson of Portland, OR; four grandchildren; Wayne Contrada and his fiancée Chelsea Delnero of Southwick, MA, Dennis Contrada of Chicopee, MA, Emily Roberts and her husband Stephen of WA, and Jennifer Gilroy and her husband Matthew of OR; two great grandchildren, Wyatt and Stella Roberts; her siblings, Louise Diassi of FL, Vincent Pallotta and his wife Barbara of VT, Valentino Pallotta of Somerset, MA, Irene Darrin of VA, Leonard Pallotta and his wife Jeanne of VT; her brothers-in-law, Joseph Contrada of Watertown, MA and Julio Contrada of Newton, MA; many nieces and nephews; and was predeceased by her siblings, Matilda D’Ambola,R.N., Anthony Pallotta, Carmen Pallotta M.D., Armeda Richardson, R.N., Amedeo Pallotta, and Elizabeth Wyse, M.D.
Relatives and friends will be received Tuesday, July 25, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury Center, Ph. (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. Her Funeral Mass will follow on Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury. Burial with Army Honors will be in Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial to the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168 or visit www.jimmyfund.org or the charity of donor’s choice. The family would like to thank Danielle Williams and the staff of Blaire House of Tewksbury for their tireless and compassionate care and support.
Note: Go Fund Me Page: https://cob.makemydonation.org/1050/julia-e-contrada-rn