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Dolores T. "Dee" (Giancola) Tarantino
July 15, 2021

Obituary





Dolores T. (Giancola) Tarantino, 80

Dateline: Mansfield, MA

Dolores T. “Dee” (Giancola) Tarantino, age 80, of Mansfield, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, July 15, 2021. She was the beloved wife of Richard A. Tarantino, to whom she was wed on September 16, 1961.

Born in Boston, MA on November 23, 1940, she was a loving daughter of the late Louis Giancola and Theresa (DiCarlo) Roderick. She later grew up with her stepfather, the late Frank Roderick, who she adored.

Dee grew up and was educated in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston. She met Richard, the love of her life, at the local store called the Busy Bee. When younger, she worked as a talented hairdresser at the Bill Curtis Hair Salon in Boston.

For the past fifty-five years, Dee had made her home in Mansfield and was a well known and loved member of the community. Prior to retiring, she worked as a Special Education Teacher’s Aide for the Bi-County Collaborative for twenty-five years, a job she truly enjoyed bringing joy, peace and love to so many children and families with disabilities. She also worked for the Arc of South Norfolk, formerly owned and operated the Treat Shoppe, a penny candy store on North Main Street in downtown Mansfield and was affectionately known as the “Mill Street Mom” to everyone on her street. Like her heart, her home was always an open place.

An active communicant of Saint Mary’s Church in Mansfield, Dee served the parish in many- many ways. She was a former Religious Education Teacher and as a gifted musician with a beautiful singing voice, helped with Saint Mary’s Folk Group. She would open her Cape house to have unforgettable weekend retreats for the group with Father Bruce. Mrs. Tarantino also led the children’s chorus, and you could always find Dee’s special penny candy table at the church’s annual Septemberfest. She was a deeply spiritual person who found God’s love in everyone she met.

Dee was also a former Cub Scout Leader, a former member of the Mansfield Band Parents Association and was involved with Special Olympics and Relay for Life Walks, which was her favorite. She also treasured memories created along with her family and her late dog “Maggie” at their Cape Cod home.

Family was Dee’s first love and priority. She enjoyed keeping up on traditions, whether it be family reunions, Sunday dinners or throwing a party to keep people together. She was a woman who truly knew how to celebrate life. She will be forever missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her husband of nearly sixty years, she is survived by her devoted children: Richard A. Tarantino and his wife Susan of North Attleboro, TinaMarie Petrella and her fiancé Gregory Lamanna of Mystic, CT and Maria Tarantino Cortese and her spouse Shelley Cortese of Barrington, RI. She was the cherished grandmother of Corey, Ryan, Nathaniel, Joshua, Zachary, Ricky, Matthew, Alex, Lauren, Nikki and the great grandmother of Grayson and Sophia. She was the dear sister of Theresa Giancola, Christina Giancola, John Giancola and the late Maria Mead and Linda Giancola. She was the special sister-in-law of Robert Tarantino and his wife Ann and Agnes Smith who was predeceased by her late husband Kenneth Smith. She is also survived by several generations of loving nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, July 20th from 5:00-8:00 P.M. at the Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home, 55 North Main Street, Mansfield.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, July 21st at 11:00 A.M. in Saint Mary’s Church, 330 Pratt Street (Route 106) Mansfield. Burial will follow at Saint Mary’s Cemetery in Mansfield.

Those wishing may remember Dee with a donation in her memory made to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105

To send her family a message of condolence, please visit www.shermanjackson.com

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Sherman & Jackson Funeral Home
55 North Main Street
Mansfield, MA 02048
508-339-2000