Lella Danese

Lella (Pascetta) Danese, 84, of Pittsfield, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on August 20. She was born in San Valentino in Abruzzo Citeriore (Pescara), Italy, on September 28, 1940. She attended primary schools in Italy before immigrating to the United States on May 12, 1958, where she made her home in Pittsfield. There, she graduated from Pittsfield High School as part of the Class of 1961. Throughout her time in Pittsfield, she was a communicant at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church and, later, at Sacred Heart Church. Lella worked in the Accounts Payable department at GE Plastics and other affiliated companies for 37 years, until her retirement. She was a diligent employee who took pride in her work, and she received numerous accolades for her work ethic. Outside of work, she had several notable talents. She was a skilled seamstress who earned perfect marks in a professional tailoring class in Italy, and she was always ready with a needle and thread to fix a ripped shirt or a frayed pair of pants for her family. She was an excellent cook who routinely produced elaborate cookie trays that were artistic masterpieces for the few moments before they were devoured at holiday gatherings. She was an avid gardener, and her front yard flower garden was recognized with an award from the nonprofit Pittsfield Beautiful organization. In addition, she was an expert manager of household finances and had a remarkable command of English, despite it being her second language; she conveyed her love of words to her children through regular living room Scrabble games during their childhood (she often won these games). Above all, Lella was a loving wife, daughter, sister, niece, mother, and nonnina (grandmother). She married Tony Danese in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada, in 1967. She is predeceased by her parents, Silvino and Giovina Pascetta; her brother, Valentino Pascetta; her parents-in-law Giustino and Filomena Danese; brothers-in-law Guido Danese, Alfonso Cirillo, and Giovanni D'Amore; sisters-in-law Maria Cirillo and Angela Danese; and her beloved aunts Nicoletta (Donato) Salvitti, Regina (Pio) D'Amore, Rosa (Nicola) Salvitti, Anna (Gaetano) Mastrodicasa, Maria (Louis) Coco, and Chiarina (Giustino) Mastrodicasa. She leaves behind her husband of 58 years, Tony Danese, of Pittsfield; sisters-in-law Elaine Pascetta, of Glastonbury, CT, and Carmela Danese of Windsor, Ontario, Canada; sons and daughters-in-law Paul Danese (Leslie Pratt), of Glastonbury, CT, Anthony Danese (Stephanie Wolfe), of Randolph, NJ, and David Danese (Katherine Clouse), of Cambridge, MA; and grandsons Nicholas Danese, Spencer Danese, David R. Danese, and Gianluca Clouse-Danese. In addition, she leaves behind a number of loving nieces and nephews across the United States and Canada. In her final years, Lella was cared for with extraordinary diligence and patience by her husband Tony, with the support of several invaluable caregivers – including Zema Baghirova, Ashley Bonin, Lori Johnson Southard, Heidi Lovato, Tammy Lusignan, Nora Reagan, Tina Rice, and Gisele Yetz, along with the staff at Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center in Lenox – to whom Lella's family expresses its heartfelt thanks. There will be calling hours at the Flynn & Dagnoli-Bencivenga Funeral Home 5 Elm St. Pittsfield, MA on Wednesday, August 27, from 8:30 to 10:30 am, followed by funeral services at Sacred Heart Church at 11:00 am. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com