Nina DiGaetano

DiGaetano, Nina – March 8, 1935 to October 15, 2025

Nina DiGaetano passed away peacefully on October 15, 2025 at the age of 90. A loving and devoted Sister and Aunt, Nina dearly loved her family and was happiest when spending time with them.

Born on March 8, 1935 to the late Leonardo and Francesca DiGaetano in Detroit, Michigan, Nina was the youngest of three girls. She lived in the Detroit area all her life. After graduating from Denby High School, Nina continued her education at Macomb County Community College, earning an Associate's Degree. A lifelong learner, Nina continued to take classes through the Lifelong Learning program at Macomb Community College well into her 70's.

Nina never married but instead chose to focus her energies on her sisters and five nephews. She loved to tell the story about when she taught her nephews how to play Monopoly and how, by that afternoon, she wasn't allowed to play anymore because she was "too slow" moving her piece around the board. She was so proud of her nephews, not only for learning Monopoly from her so quickly, but for all their achievements. Nina was their biggest cheerleader.

An avid reader, in 1990 Nina co-founded a book club comprised of members from two other organizations she belonged to: the Red Hat Society, and the Creative Clothing sewing group. The book club focused on biographies and autobiographies of notable women.

Always independent, Nina was pleased with the life she created for herself. She worked from the time she was 18 and retired in 1997 from Marsh & McLennan in downtown Detroit. She bought her own townhouse and then condo and supported herself her entire adult life. After retirement, Nina took a creative writing course and found her voice as a storyteller, crafting more than 20 short stories that told the story of her own life with humor, honesty and heart.

Nina loved to sew and made many of her own clothes in her younger years. In later years, at the encouragement of fellow Creative Clothing sewing group members, Nina decided to make fleece blankets for her numerous great-nieces and nephews; the blankets reflected each one's interests, from school colors to favorite colors, to favorite sports teams and more. The blankets were admired by friends and family members of the recipients, and they started asking her to make them a blanket. By the time she put her needle down, she had sewn over 50 fleece blankets.

She cherished Christmas and nothing made Nina happier than providing roast beef for her family at their Christmas Eve celebration. One year, she brought Christmas Carol songbooks, and the family made memories singing Christmas songs together, with one very special and hilarious "12 Days of Christmas" reenactment by her two nephews Paul and Len.

Nina is survived by her nephews Paul (Jane) Recchia, Leonard (Mary) Quagliotto, Robert (Cristina) Recchia, Raymond (Kathy) Recchia and John (Betty) Quagliotto. She was predeceased by her parents Leonardo and Francesca DiGaetano, and her sisters Catherine (Katie) (Silvio) Quagliotto and Jennie (Paul) Recchia. Nina will be missed by 14 great-nieces and nephews, and 15 great-great nieces and nephews.

Nina's family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Pomeroy Living Rochester Nursing. Their kindness, attention, and dedication made a profound difference in Ninas life and will always be remembered with appreciation. Additionally, thank you to the wonderful team at Accent Hospice care (especially Corey), whose compassionate care brought comfort to Nina in her final days.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests donations the Clinton-Macomb Public Library at https://www.cmpl.org/get_involved/donate_or_contribute/index.php.

Visitation Wednesday October 29th from 3-8pm at Wujek-Calcaterra & Sons 36900 Schoenherr at Metro Parkway (16 Mile Rd). Funeral Thursday October 30th at Grace Episcopal Church 115 South Main St Mt, Clemens from 10am until the funeral service at 11am. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. Share memories with the family at their "On-Line Guest Book" @ WujekCalcaterra.com.