Patricia Motherway
“Money Room” Supervisor at Former Suffolk Downs Racetrack
Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Memorial Funeral Mass on Saturday, September 16, at 12 noon in St. Joseph – St. Lazarus Church, 59 Ashley St., East Boston for Patricia A. (Thompson) Motherway who died on Wednesday,
September 6th at her home following a long illness, She was 70 years old. Interment will be held privately.
Patricia was born in Boston on December 12, 1952 to the late Carl and Virginia A. “Duddie” (Barberi) Thompson. An only child, she was raised and educated in Boston Public Schools and was a graduate of Fitton Girls High School, Class of 1970.
She worked for “Goodies Catering” in East Boston for several years before taking a position at Suffolk Downs Racetrack. Her career spanned over 35 years and she rose in the ranks as a supervisor in the “Money Room.” During this time, she was the proud and loving mother of her only son, P.J. Mazac.
She was married to the love of her life, William J. “Billy” Motherway in October of 1980. The couple remained in East Boston and lived in the Orient Heights section.
Patricia was forced to stop working due to declining health. During this time, she lost her best friend and husband on May 9, 2022 and then, six months later, her mother, Virginia “Duddie” on November 9, 2022.
Patricia enjoyed many trips with her husband to Cape Cod. She enjoyed cooking and most of all, Sunday dinners at her aunt’s home in East Boston with her cousins and their families.
She was the beloved wife of 42 years of the late William J. “Billy” Motherway, the loving mother of Patrick “P.J.” Mazac and his fiancé, Dena DiMarzo and their daughter, Deanna DiMarzo, all of Peabody. She was the treasured cousin of Edward Minichello of Winthrop and his late wife, Valarie and the late William Minichello and his late wife, Francis “Frannie” (Hickey) Minichello.
In lieu of flowers, remembrance may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. To send online condolences, please visit: www.vertucciosmithvazza.com.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals, Revere.
Dianne Rose DiNunno
Of East Boston, formerly of Franklin
Dianne Rose DiNunno of East Boston, formerly of Franklin, passed away on September 4.
Dianne graduated from Franklin High School in 1967. She went to Kenneth Hair Design in Framingham, Massachusetts, where she studied hair dressing and cosmetology. She was also employed at Texas Instruments in North Attleboro where she helped manage the staff at the corporate office.
The daughter of the late Everett J. Jr. and Marie L. (Brunetti) Petitt of Franklin, she was the beloved wife of Vincent DiNunno Jr. for over 51 years, devoted mother of Dianna Marie DiNunno and her husband, Leroy Gannett and Vincent A. DiNunno, all of East Boston; dear sister of Lauren “Lori” Anne Petitt of Deering, NH, Marianne “Mari” Petitt-Bazinet and her husband, Dennis and Everett James “Jimmy” Petitt and his wife, Susan Lucas, all of Franklin and Timothy “Timmy” John Petitt and his fiancé, Susan French of Gloucester, RI; cherished grandmother of Anthony Michael DiNunno and Samantha Ashley DiNunno. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. All services are private. To leave an online condolence visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Rev. Fr. Gregory Mercurio
He Will Be Remembered for Acts of Kindness and Compassion
Rev. Fr. Gregory Mercurio succumbed to a courageous battle with Corticobasal Degeneration on September 6, 2023.
He was born on March 26, 1949 in Montauro, Provincial di Catanzaro, Calabria Italy to the late Giuseppe and Angelina Mercurio.
At the age of 6 he arrived in the United States with his family and settled in the North End of Boston and later became a citizen of the United States. He attended Christopher Columbus High school and graduated from St. Francis Seraphic Seminary in Andover to begin formal studies for the priesthood. He took time off to work at the federal reserve bank of Boston to subsidize his education.
He received his BA in philosophy and Master of divinity degrees studying at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Troy, New York and St. John’s Seminary in Brighton. In 1979 he became a member of the Franciscan Friars and on November 8, 1980, he was ordained to the priesthood.
His first assignment was at St. Leonard’s Church in the North End. He was transferred to St. Ann’s parish, where at the age of 34, he became pastor. He incardinated into the Archdiocese of Boston as a diocesan priest and served the parishioners of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Winthrop. He became pastor of Holy Family parish in Lynn and while serving as pastor, he became administrator of St. Pius the V in Lynn. He was granted senior priest status in 2017 and served the parishioners of Immaculate Conception in Marlboro until his medical leave.
Fr. Gregory served as Chaplin for the Knights of Columbus in Marlboro and Lynn. He was involved in the order of Sons of Italy, where he founded a lodge at Holy Family, served as Chaplin for the Marlboro lodge and was State Chaplin in Massachusetts. Fr. Gregory was an avid gardener, cook and photographer. He will be remembered for acts of kindness and compassion.
He is survived by his sisters, Liberata Scimemi and her late husband, Mario of Revere and Rose Oliveri and her husband, Carl of Saugus and many loving nieces and nephews.
The Short & Rowe Funeral Home, 95 W. Main St., Marlborough, MA was in care of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial please visit, www.shortandrowefuneralhome.com