Maria Lena

Maria Coppola di Lena, formally of Boston's North End passed on in Weymouth at 96 years old. A funeral mass will be offered in her memory at Immaculate Conception church in Weymouth on Broad Street on the 24 January at 1030am. Born in San Sossio Baronia, Avelino, she moved to Argentina, where she married the late Michael Lena, before immigrating to the North End. She is survived by her son, Felix, and ex-wife Joan along with their daughters, Kate, Madeline, and Emma and great grandchildren Tommy, Lena, and Sophie. She is also survived by her daughter, Maria Lucia and granddaughter Nicole, and great grandchildren, Jocelyn and Abby. She worked for many years at Colonial Brush and later Brooks Brothers. And after long days there, she would come home to care for her family. She loved to watch and talk about politics, sports (she rooted for all Boston teams, and hated all New York teams), and she loved Spanish telenovelas. But Maria, more commonly known as Nonnie, most of all, loved to spend time with family and cook for them. This was her passion. Whether making her meatballs, gravy, eggplant parm, fusilli, Zeppoli or the feast of at least seven fishes on Christmas Eve. We have always been amazed that she would do it all and throw us out of the kitchen when we offered help. Her traditions of meatballs and dunking Scali bread in the gravy will live on with her great-grandchildren, who loved visiting and eating her food. Whether cooking or knitting the many blankets for everyone, which are now on three continents, she always put family first. She taught us this and the many traditions we will carry on. We will always love and miss you, Nonnie. Thank you Ma.