Shrewsbury – Lena (Armenti) DiPilato, longtime Shrewsbury resident and family matriarch, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015, with those she loved gathered by her side.
Lena, one of 14 children, was born in Worcester, a daughter of Italian immigrants Giuseppe and Angelina (Bodinizzo) Armenti. She grew up in the Italian neighborhood of Shrewsbury Street. In her younger years, she attended Girl’s Trade in Worcester.
In 1954, Lena married the man who became her devoted husband, Libro DiPilato. Together, they began their life of love and family for the next 61 years. In 1965, Libro and Lena moved their family to Shrewsbury where they have lived ever since.
Along with Libro, her family always came first in her life no matter what. She was the family backbone and remained devoted to her nearest and dearest, especially her beautiful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who fondly called her “Grammy.”
Lena was a beautiful woman who enjoyed the simple pleasures of life; spending time with family and friends, Sunday dinners, the holidays, talks with her kids and grandchildren, telling stories, laughing, playing cards, her lifetime movies, bowling and not to forget scratching tickets. She was also a companion to many of the residents at The Willows in Westborough, bringing them care and comfort. She loved to cook and was at her happiest preparing meals for everyone.
In years past, Libro and Lena loved to dance and every Saturday night, along with their friends, gathered at the Froshinn club for supper, friendship and dance.
She truly believed that faith, family and friends were the most important aspects in life and she had room in her heart for everyone she met. Lena was very generous with her love, her time and her resources, and would help anyone whom asked. Lena’s unwavering faith of family and religion, kept her grounded and helped her through life’s challenges. Her passing leaves a hole in everyone’s hearts and her memory will never be forgotten.
Lena leaves the family she cherished, her husband, Libro; her three children, Matthew J. DiPilato and his wife Maria, Joseph A. DiPilato, and Diane L. Nolli and her husband Richard; her five grandchildren, Leigh A. Augusto and her husband Robert, Lindsay M. Halloran, Allysha L. Nolli and her fiancée Steven Clark, Matthew J. DiPilato Jr., and Lauren T. Nolli; and five great-grandchildren, Michael, McKenna, Ava, Anthony and Annabel. One of 14 children, Lena is survived by a her sister, Lucy Cariglia and her husband Marty and her brother, Joseph Armenti and his wife Norma of Florida; two brothers-in-law, John Evangelista and Edward Lemanski; and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. She was predeceased by five brothers, Ralph, Peter, John, Patsy, and Natale Armenti, as well as six sisters, Mary Carilo, Yolanda Cote, Gloria Lemanski, Ida Evangelista, Katherine Foley, and Rose Boissoneau.
“Come on, everybody…Salad’s on the table!”
Friends and relatives are invited to calling hours Thursday, Nov. 5, from 4-7 p.m., in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Her funeral will be celebrated Friday, Nov. 6 from the funeral home with a procession to St. Anne’s Church, 130 Boston Tpke., where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery of Shrewsbury.
