May E. "Hall" Varano

""For God so love the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, May Eugenia (Hall) Varano, of Wilmington, MA, who was surrounded by her loving family when she went home to be with the Lord on August 7, 2025; she was 91 years old.

May was born in Portsmouth, NH, on February 27, 1934; she was the cherished daughter of the late Milton and Flora (Weeks) Hall. May lived on The Isle of Shoals, on Cedar Island, until the age of seven, which gave her wonderful memories she took with her all her life, raising chickens on the homestead and exploring the seashore with her brother Charles. In 1941 the family moved to the mainland in Portsmouth where May attended school and studied the piano. After school, May studied typing and shorthand and worked in an accounting office. During that time, she met her future husband Vito O. Varano who was stationed at Pease Air Force Base. They were married on December 1, 1956. During their early years of marriage, May settled in as a military wife and mother following her husband's tour of duty in Alaska, New York, Florida, Spain, and finally at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts.

The Varano family began their hobby ceramic business when Vito and May's son Vito began casting pieces as a hobby in their basement in 1974. The hobby became a family business as friends began asking for ceramic pieces. Vito and May decided to open their Hobby Ceramics shop, Vito's Ceramic Supply, in Tewksbury in 1975. The family moved to Tewksbury and finally to Wilmington as Vito retired from the service in 1978. As son Vito and daughter Tina graduated high school, they worked alongside their parents Vito and May at the shop casting pieces and teaching classes, as May ran the retail counter, making Vito's Ceramics a family business success for over 20 years. Vito and May operated Vito's Ceramics together until Vito passed away in 1992. May continued operations of the store with her children until retirement in 1996.

May was also very fond of dogs raising several miniature poodles from pups. May subsequently spent her retirement on her favorite pastimes, babysitting her grandchildren, listening to country music, visiting Nashville, attending Carry Underwood concerts with her daughter and granddaughter, going to Statler Brother concerts, and creating cross stitching masterpieces.

May also cherished and enjoyed her yearly summer trips to Maine for Hall family reunions as well as the Varano family reunions at her brother-in-law Frank's backyard pool.

May was the beloved wife of the late Vito O. Varano, devoted mother of Vito F. Varano and his wife Patti of Wilmington, MA, and Tina May (Varano) Guarino and her husband Raymond of Nashua, NH. She was the loving grandmother, "Grammy," of Christopher Guarino and Amelia Guarino and dear sister of Eleanor Searway and late husband Nelson of South Portland, ME, Everett Hall and his wife Gerilyn "Gerry" of Eliot, ME, and the late Milton Hall and the late Charles Hall and his late wife Bernice. May was also very special to Shannon and Amanda and is further survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are welcome to gather for Visiting Hours at the Nichols Funeral Home, 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, MA, on Tuesday, August 12th from 4:00-7:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in May's memory to your favorite Animal Rescue. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit our website at www.nicholsfuneralhome.com