Norma Rita “Dee” Arena passed away peacefully at her home in Medford after a long illness. She was 87. Born in Somerville, she was the fifth of ten children. She was the daughter of the late Harry Gale and Emma (Costa) Gale, formerly of Cambridge and Somerville.

Norma was the beloved wife of Anthony Arena for 68 years. They first met in Cambridge in 1957 where they both worked at the time.

Norma’s extended family was more a forest than a tree, and to her, each member was part of a bouquet of beautiful flowers. After spending precious moments alone with her, you would often hear one say “I am her favorite”.

Norma was the loving mother to her six children: Camille Bardaro and her husband Paul of Ipswich, Allan Arena and his wife Dr. Mary Medwar of Andover, Paul Arena of Andover, Marybeth Mills and her husband Stephen of Hopkinton, Mark Arena of Medford and the late Anthony Arena Jr. who passed away of leukemia in 1961.

She was the loving grandmother of ten grandchildren: Anthony and his wife Chantel of Milton, Alicia Finch and her husband Caulen of North Andover, Dr. Timothy of Andover, Miranda Rendall and her husband Liam of New Hampshire, Marissa of Stoneham, Anthony of Stoneham, Stephen of Stoneham, Corey and his wife Emily of Sharon, Atty. Christopher and his wife Molly of Chicago and Adriana of Andover.

She was the beloved great grandmother to her eight great grandchildren: Penny, Belle, Mylo, Eva, Addison, Graham, Jane and Ellie.

She loved her children’s and grandchildren’s husbands and wives, with whom she always maintained a special friendship. The love she had for each one was mutual and will last forever.

Dee, as all of the children called her, had a kind disposition and a heart full of love and compassion. She was a natural people person who loved everyone, which made her home a most inviting place to live and to visit. She had a legion of friends, including her Winchester coffee group, customers and friends from the muffin shop in West Medford, all of her neighbors, and especially her doctor, Misha Dad, to whom the family will be forever grateful.

Her children and grandchildren loved visiting with Dee. Together they played card games, monopoly, reading, singing and dancing. Norma loved going to Disney World, especially with her children and grandchildren. She was an excellent swimmer and was a volunteer instructor for many years at the Medford High School pool. She was especially fond of her work at the pool with infants and the handicapped. Norma ran and completed the Boston Marathon, as did her husband, two sons and daughter. Norma will be dearly missed by all.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Monday, August 24th from 9-12PM, concluding with a funeral service at 12PM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Norma’s name to The Jimmy Fund, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Jimmy Fund P.O. Box 849168 Boston, MA 02284-9188 https://www.jimmyfund.org/