Giovannita M. “Nita” (Vanalesti) Bates, a Needham resident since 1972, died suddenly by accident on July 29, 2007 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She was 80. She was the beloved wife of the late John F. Bates.
Mrs. Bates was born New York City, NY and was the daughter of the late Frank S. and Andree J. (Valter) Vanalesti. A. homemaker, Nita was very active in the Needham community. She was a member of St. Joseph’s Church, the Great Plain Squares and volunteered at the Needham Community Council. She was a resident of North Hill for the past 8 years and volunteered in the Wellness Program, singing in the Choral Group and many other North Hill activities.
She was the devoted mother of Frank Bates and his wife Jan of St. Louis Park, MN, Susan E. Quaglietti and her husband Vic Froelicher of Menlo Park, CA, Jacqueline B. Peck and her husband Stephen of Needham and the late Joyce A. Bates. She was the grandmother of Chris, Jake, Hannah, Michael, Katie and Sam. Sister of the late Ben Vanalesti.
A memorial mass will be held in St. Joseph’s Church, 1350 Highland Ave, Needham, on Monday, Aug. 20, at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers donations in Nita’s memory may be made to the Needham Community Council, 151 Lincoln St. Needham, MA 02492.