Lucy Autiello

Lucy (Vitale) Autiello, 91, was born on March 16, 1934, in Rocca d'Evandro, Italy. She passed away after a long illness.

As a child, Lucy experienced World War II as a civilian living in Italy. Her father, Davide, was executed and she lost many of her siblings due to the war. Lucy, her mother (Regina Traino), and her remaining siblings were forced to flee from their home in Italy. During this time, the family was separated and Lucy lived in a convent until the age of 16 years old. She then reunited with her mother and family, and immigrated to the United States of America, residing in Lawrence, MA.

Lucy was an amazing cook and seamstress. She would cook anything, and it always tasted better than a five-star restaurant. One family-favorite dish to this day was her homemade sauce and meatballs, a long-time staple of the Autiello family Sunday dinners. She would also make a delicious eggplant dish for family holiday gatherings (even for Fourth of July sometimes!). Family members would ask each other pre-meal "did Grandma bring the eggplant?" in anticipation of the enjoyment their taste buds were about to experience. The Sunday family dinners and holiday gatherings with Lucy's home-cooked meals, Tripoli's bread, and sounds of the grandchildren playing will be missed.

Lucy loved to sing in Italian, and you could hear her beautiful voice throughout the Autiello home. She always had a story to tell about her childhood years when she lived in Italy, sharing detailed memories of her happier years before the war as well as horrific years during the war. She was always told by her family that she should have written a cookbook or a book about her childhood during World War II. When asked for her recipes, she would often explain using phrases like "it's easy, there's nothing to it", "just put in whatever you like", and "you just cook it until it's done", which her family always found comical – she just made cooking a delicious meal for a whole family seem so easy.

Lucy's four girls meant everything to her. She would do whatever she could to help them and always enjoyed being with them. When her grandchildren came along, she dedicated her time to them and adored all of them. Lucy had a huge and most generous heart, and was a loving, giving soul. She often found enjoyment in cooking for her family and giving small gifts to her grandchildren. She will be truly missed by her family.

Lucy is predeceased by her husband Eugene Autiello and her oldest daughter Cynthia Autiello. She is survived by her daughters Barbara and her husband Scott White of Derry, NH; Gina and her husband Allen Croteau of Derry, NH; Kimberly and her husband John O'Neil of Haverhill, MA; her grandchildren Christopher White of South Boston, MA, Brian White and his girlfriend Kathleen Fleming of Hampton, NH, John O'Neil of Manchester, NH, Kerry White of Derry NH, Kelsey and her husband William Marsden of Concord, NH, Timothy O'Neil of Haverhill, MA, Kyle Croteau and his girlfriend Brooke McLaughlin of Manchester, NH, and Erin O'Neil of Nesconset, NY; and her great-grandchildren Cameron and Olivia Marsden.

Lucy moved to long-term living at Port Healthcare in Newburyport. The entire staff from the Aides to the Nurses to the Directors were so helpful in making living there as pleasant as possible. We have the utmost respect for them. They enjoyed our Mom so much for the short time she lived there. They would do anything for her to keep her comfortable. They even created a Pasta class activity for her to teach. Betty Sloban and Britany Low especially helped our mother so much in so many ways. Thank you all for everything you did for our Mom.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 5, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 So. Main Street, Haverhill, from 9:00 to 10:00 AM. Funeral Mass of Christian burial will be held at Sacred Hearts Parish, 165 So. Main Street, beginning at 10:30 AM. Interment will follow in Saint Mary-Immaculate Conception Cemetery, 55 Hideaway Lane, Methuen. Contributions in Lucy's memmory may be made to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Alfio's Society in Lawrence or to the Wounded Warrior Project. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com.