Damiano Pignato
Retired Vice President of Starboard Cruise Services
Damiano “Dan” Pignato died in his home in Naples, FL on Monday, Nov. 4 at the age of 78.
Mr. Pignato was born on July 7, 1941 in Boston to Pasquale and Margaret (Granesse) Pignato. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1958 to 1963 during which time he served on the lead ship during President Kennedy’s Blockade of Cuba. He married Karen (Ladowski) Pignato in Buffalo, NY in 1984. After moving to Florida, he began working as Vice President for Starboard Cruise Services (Duty Free Industry).
Dan is survived by his wife, Karen Pignato; his three sons and daughters-in-law, David and Lisa (Hoeltke) Pignato, Patrick and Samantha (Connelly) Pignato and Christopher and Ashley (Gibbons) Pignato; his granddaughter, Samantha Pignato; his two sisters, Josephine Ruggiero and her late husband, Joseph Ruggiero Sr, and Mary Carrozza, and her husband, Robert; numerous nieces and nephews and his many dogs. He was preceded in death by his sister, RoseMarie Paris, and her husband, Joseph, and Patricia Pignato.
A memorial service in celebration of Danny’s life will be held at St. Joseph-St. Lazarus Church, Ashley St., East Boston on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 12 Noon.
Sheila Garofalo
Selfless Wife, Loving and Caring Mother and Grandmother
Sheila E. (Murray) Garofalo, 79, of Revere died peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital on Nov. 18 surrounded by loved ones.
Born July 23, 1940 in Roxbury, she was predeceased by her parents, William and Mae (Bransfield) Murray of Roxbury; her eight brothers and her late husband of 39 years, Domenic “Buzzy” Garofalo, a retired Captain of the Revere Fire Department.
In 1958, she graduated from vocational school with a certificate in hairstyling. She and her late husband, Buzzy, met while they were both working at Filene’s department store in Boston and married shortly after in 1960.
Sheila was a devoted wife and loving and caring mother. Selfless almost to a fault, she cared more than anything for the well-being and happiness of her loved ones.
A proud and meticulous homemaker for most of her life, after raising her children, she worked several years as an aide at the former Atlanticare Nursing Home in Revere where she relished every moment lending a helping hand or bringing smiles to the faces of the residents.
A bingo enthusiast and talented knitter and crocheter, her true passion in her later years was her grandchildren. She was a delightful cook especially of Italian cuisine and loved celebrating Sunday dinner with her family.
While always there to listen and help in any way she could, she never complained about her own problems even in the face of serious illness.
Sheila is survived by her three loving sons and their spouses, Kenneth and Linda of Revere, Chris and Julie of Norwood, New Jersey, and Phillip and Kim of Lynnfield; her five adoring grandchildren: Matthew, Sean, Domenic, Nathan,and Sophia; and her caring brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Ted and Elaine Dzik of Palm Harbor, Florida. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, 128 Revere St, Revere on Thursday, Nov. 21 from 4 to 8 p.m. Her Funeral will be held on Friday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. at the Buonfiglio Funeral Home followed by a 10 a.m. Funeal Mass at Saint Anthony’s Church in Revere. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.