BELFIORE- Of Chelsea, January 7th, Venera (Barbera). Devoted wife of Michael Belfiore for 67 years. Beloved mother of Natalie Santagate of Chelsea, Marguerite Belfiore and her husband John Elliott of Tewksbury and Grace Belfiore and her husband Neil Head of Temple, New Hampshire. Daughter of the late Natale and Concetta (Ruggeri) Barbera. Dear and loving sister of Grace Palermo of Stoneham, Mary Salvato and Frances Parks both of Chelsea and the late Joseph, Peter, John and Frank Barbera. Cherished grandmother of Lisa Santagate of Luska, Zambia, Christine Landale of Milford, New Hampshire, Kimberley Gulley of Walpole, Theresa Zajackowski of Port Angeles, Washington, Jason Miller of Allston and Gregory Miller of Kapa's, Hawaii. Great grandmother of Andrea, Megan, Matthew, Rachael, Alicia, Hannah and Ryan. Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral from the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Avenue, Chelsea on Monday morning, January 10th at 10 AM followed by a Funeral Mass celebrated in St. Rose Church, 601 Broadway, Chelsea at 11 o'clock. Visiting Hours in the Smith Funeral Home on Sunday from 2-6 PM. Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Venera age 91, died surrounded by her family in her home in Chelsea following a lengthy battle with congestive heart failure.
Born in Messina, Sicily in 1913, Venera was one of nine children born to Natale and Concetta (Ruggeri) Barbera.
She was an avid antiques collector and an accomplished seamstress who in her early years made costumes for the Chelsea Drum Majorettes and Santina's Dancing School. In later years, Venera created beautiful quilts and Afghans for her family and friends. She was also a wonderful cook known for her incomparable Italian dishes.
Venera had a special gift for telling richly detailed stories of her childhood in Sicily and the hardships and joys her family experienced in crossing the ocean to Ellis Island and their life in America.
She was a lifelong member of St. Rose Parish, a supporter of the Salvation Army and a member of the Senior Citizen Center in Chelsea.
Small but feisty, "Vi" was a generous and good-hearted person who will be fondly remembered and missed by eveyone who knew her.