Georgianna "Cookie" Zagarella

Zagarella, Georgianna "Cookie" (Roberto), 84, of Haverhill, MA, formerly of Arlington and Cambridge, on August 18, 2025, after a lengthy Illness. Georgianna was born July 19, 1941, and affectionately nicknamed "Cookie" by her parents, the late Anthony and Virginia (Kelley) Roberto, as she was born around the same time as Blondie and Dagwoods daughter in their famous comic strip. Cookie was born in Medford and raised in Arlington, MA, where she graduated from St. Agnes Elementary School and Arlington High School before heading to Suffolk University. During her time at Suffolk, she met her husband, the late John Zagarella Sr, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage until his death in 2019. With John Sr, she moved to Cambridge and went on to raise her six children, John Zagarella Jr. (partner Karen Griffin), Dawn Said, Patricia "Trish", Paula, Christy, the late Joy Zagarella, and her furry baby, Finley. She was predeceased by her baby sister, Donna O'Leary. Cookie was incredibly devoted to her family and always put them first. She was often the first one up and the last one to sleep. She coached little league in East Cambridge, attended plays, sporting events and recitals. While raising her children, Cookie worked full time at Head Start and later for nearly 35 years as a social worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where she was a member of the SEIU, local 509. Despite her busy days as a working mother, she made time to make dinner almost every night and insisted on sitting together as a family to talk about the day. And though she threatened many times, she never actually stopped the car and left any of them on the side of the road. This devotion to her family carried over to her grandchildren as well. Dubbed "Nana's Taxi Service", she was both chauffeur and cheerleader, shuttling her grandkids to and from school, practices and games. Cookie was a fixture in the front row at the boys and girls club gym, soccer, football, and baseball fields, school plays, band performances, and always with a snack of Pepperidge farm cookies on her. She will be greatly missed by her loving grandchildren Pierce, Chloe, Cassandra (Lazaro Lopez), and Yonga Zagarella, Carly (Curtis) Hill, Kendrick Zagarella-Pizzotti, Kareem and Sharif Said, honorary grandchildren Njinang "The kid from New York" and Kamga Kwankam, and Dennis and Luis Pareja; as well as her adoring great-grandchildren, Liam, Christopher, Leo, Luca, Carina, and Gabriel. She will also be missed by her sister-in-law Geraldine Zagarella (John Jainchill), brother-in-law, Jeremiah O'Leary, her many nieces, nephews and friends, including, but not limited to Bob and Val Holland, with whom she and her husband shared many adventures and family gatherings. An avid reader and Dunkin' Donuts enthusiast, Cookie enjoyed a hot extra extra and a good romance novel. In her heyday, a pack of Virginia Slims made the perfect addition to her coffee and book. With an incredible sweet tooth and six children, she often kept a stash of sweets in various hiding spots. It was no secret that she kept Milky Way bars in her glove box, but her kids were surprised to find she had hidden a box of devil dogs in the dryer hoping nobody would find them. She was feisty, sarcastic, and very opinionated, yet always found a way to make people feel welcome. She loved the magic of the holiday season, especially Christmas, a trait that many of her children shared. While few things could compare to a hot coffee, a good book, sweets or cop shows, Cookie absolutely adored her furry baby Finley and grand puppy Winston Wigglesbottom, who both were a source of comfort, companionship, and laughs during her illness. Cookie's family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to her friends and caretakers, including, but not limited to, Marcia Pappas, Johanna Furcal, Roxana Pareja, Millie Cordero, Neala Mercier, Illona Roll, and Tammi Gomes, as well as the Care Dimensions hospice team of Vero, Sandra, Carol, Rachael, and Claudine. You brought kindness and light to difficult days. To celebrate her life, the Zagarella family invites relatives and friends to a visitation on Sunday, August 24, 2025, from 2-4 PM at H.L. Farmer & Sons, 210 S Main St, Bradford, MA 01835. A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Monday, August 25, 2025, at St Joseph Catholic Church-Andes Bessette Parish, 2 School St, Amesbury, MA. Burial will follow at Linwood Cemetery in Haverhill, MA. To share a memory or for more information, please visit www.farmerfuneralhomes.com