Martina J. Ferrante

1952 - 2018

Martina Jean Ferrante, devoted mother, wife and teacher, age 66, died peacefully in her sleep with her family at her bedside after a courageous eighteen year battle with cancer in her Middleboro home on October 15, 2018. Tina was born to Emily (O'Reilly) and Alfred D. Turowski, on April 26, 1952, at Brockton Hospital. She was the third of nine siblings. Her education started in her hometown of East Bridgewater, where her lifelong love of music began. Gifted with a natural talent for singing, she would go on to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Eastern Nazarene College in Boston, and a master's degree in Performance at the New England Conservatory of Music. Tina's adventurous spirit and ever curious mind carried her to many places around the globe where she indulged her enduring appreciation for travel, culture, cuisine and her overall joy for living. As a professional vocalist, Tina appeared with the New Bedford, Brockton, and Quincy Symphonies, The Boston Opera Company under the direction of Sarah Caldwell, and toured with Opera New England for many seasons, gaining glowing reviews. She taught music in the Plymouth, Brockton, East Bridgewater and Marshfield school systems, and was a professor of voice at Bridgewater State University. Many students also had the honor of her tutelage in private voice lessons and as participants in the Orpheus Vocal Performance Workshop which she co-founded. Tina was proud of all her students and regarded each of them as individually special. She survived her husband of 39 years, Bob Ferrante, who also fell to cancer in October of 2015. Their home was a warm and welcoming place where one could always find visiting friends and family. Tina's bright spirit and bubbling sense of humor were infectious, even as she frantically searched for her keys, glasses, cell phone or purse, which she seemed to lose on a daily basis. A woman of great faith, Tina was an active and engaged member of her church for many years who lived to share her devoted love of God with everyone. She is survived by her eight siblings, many nieces and nephews, her beautiful daughter-in-law, Alexandra; and her only son, Marc, whom she had boundless love and pride for. Wakes will be held on Friday, October 19, between 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m., in the Shepard Funeral Home in Kingston. A celebration of Tina's life will be held on Saturday, October 20, at 11 a.m., in the Mayflower Congregational Church in Kingston. To offer condolences or for directions, please visit www.shepherdfuneralhome.com. Shepherd Funeral Home, Kingston.