Pasqua (Gulia) Bodinizzo

Pasqua “Pat” A. (Gulia) Bodinizzo, 95, passed peacefully, from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease, on Sunday, February 18, 2018, at the Shrewsbury Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Shrewsbury, Ma, where she resided for the past seven years.  Her loving husband of 56 years, Peter J. Bodinizzo, died December 11, 2004.  Pat leaves five children:  Mary Jane Bodinizzo, Catherine Bodinizzo, and Nicholas Bodin, all of Worcester, Ma, Paul Bodin of Key Biscayne, Fla and John Bodin and wife Patricia Bodin of Walpole, Ma.  She also leaves five grandchildren:  Jill Mulrain of Worcester, MA,  Keith Bodin and wife Rebecca Lis of Redmond, WA, David Bodin of Oakland, CA , Andrew Bodin and Lauren Bodin of Walpole, MA.  She also leaves one great-grandchild: Timothy Mulrain of Worcester, Ma as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and their families.  Pat is survived by two brothers-in-law and four sisters-in-law: George Laug, of Florence, S.C., Joseph and Gloria Bodinizzo,  Robert and Theresa Parretti, Annette Pellegrino, and Theresa Bodinizzo, all of Worcester, MA.  Pat was predeceased by her sister Mary Bastardi and brother-in-law Paul Bastardi,  her sister Rita Laug, brother Egidio Gulia and sister-in-law Helen Gulia, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: Judge Anthony and Mary Tomasiello, Michael Bodinizzo, Joseph and Frances Walkowiak and John Bodinizzo.

Pasqua was born in Worcester, MA, daughter of the late Domenic and Catherine (Foppoli) Gulia.  She graduated from Belmont Prep School, Class of 1937A, serving as its Class President;  Commerce High School, Class of 1940B where she was a Horace Mann Scholar; and Boston University, College of Liberal Arts, Class of 1945.  After graduating from college, she worked as Girls Club Director of Quinsigamond House.  She then ventured out to Chicago, Illinois, where she worked at the Chicago Commons Settlement House as a Recreation Director.  While working in Chicago, she met her future husband Peter Bodinizzo, who was going to school in Chicago and was also from Worcester.  They married in 1948 and moved back to Worcester a few years later.   After raising five children, Pat returned to work as a substitute teacher in the Worcester Public Schools.   She worked many years in the Alumni Office of Worcester Academy from which she retired in 1987.  Pat was very involved with her children’s education and was extremely proud that all five graduated from college.

Pasqua was a very enthusiastic, outgoing  and hard working person who greatly enjoyed her college experience at Boston University.  She resided at the Harriet T. Richards Cooperative House while a student  and met many people there who became lifelong friends.  She was very active with BU Alumni Affairs for over 50 years and served as President of its Worcester County Alumnae Association for a time.  She served as Chair of  her 50th Anniversary Reunion Committee in Boston in 1995.  She chaired numerous reunion committees for Belmont Prep and for Commerce High School over the years.

Pat was a Board Member at the Worcester Girls Club, Lincoln House, where she had spent many happy hours after school as a child.    She volunteered as a news reader at the Worcester Audio Journal.  She also started the first Osteoporosis Support Group in Worcester County and received the Key to the City in 1996 for her dedication to and leadership of this Group.   Pat was very involved in her Catholic faith and was a longtime member of the Holy Rosary Parish.  She was a Lector,  member and Past President of its Rosary Sodality,  and chaired the Bishop’s Fund Drive in 1978.  She was always ready to help others.  Pasqua was a voracious reader, enjoyed going to lectures, Whist Parties, dancing with her husband Peter, and traveling.   She greatly enjoyed all holidays, birthdays, graduations, and weddings with her extended family.  Pat had a long, happy and productive life which was slowed, but not defeated in her last years by Alzheimer’s Disease.   She was always smiling to the end, even in her final days.

Pasqua’s funeral will be held on Friday, February 23, 2018, from Mercadante Funeral Home and Chapel, 370 Plantatation St., Worcester, MA, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 23 Fales St., Worcester, MA.  Calling Hours in the funeral home will be held before the Mass from 8:45 A.M. to 10:15 A.M.  Burial in St. John’s Cemetery will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 309 Waverley Oaks Rd,, Waltham, MA, 02452, Our Lady of the Rosary Church at the above address, or the Activities Dept., Shrewsbury Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 40 Julio Drive, Shrewsbury, MA 01545.  To leave a message of condolence or share a special memory of Pasqua, please visit her memorial site at mercadantefuneral.com.