Shrewsbury – Matteo J. Dell’Erba, 92, of Shrewsbury, formerly of Worcester, passed away on Sept. 8, 2021, at St. Vincent’s Hospital. Matteo was born in Worcester, a son of the late Carlo Antonio Dell’Erba and Lena Moscatiello.
He worked as a chef for many years throughout Worcester County, with his last job at The Kittansett Country Club in Marion. He then owned and operated The Sunshine Deli in Worcester near Clark University, where he befriended many neighborhood residents and students.
Matteo was a member of the Worcester Senior Center where he visited for lunch daily. He enjoyed going to his daughter’s house on Cape Cod where he spent time at the beach and visiting with friends and family, and taking walks with his faithful canine, Susie.
He loved New England sports and was especially happy to witness the Red Sox win the World Series in 2004. He proudly served in the Army, stationed in Oklahoma and in Presque Isle, Maine.
Matteo’s wife of 67 years, Ramona (Mocker) Dell’Erba, passed away on June 1, 2016. He is survived by two sons, John Dell’Erba of Grafton, N.H. and Marty Dell’Erba and his wife Catherine of Shrewsbury, with whom he lived; a daughter Jacqueline Hoegen and her husband Kevin of Uxbridge; a daughter-in-law, Christine Dell’Erba of Sunapee, N.H.; six grandchildren, Rachel Stockwell and her husband Quentin of S. Berwick, ME, Matthew Dell’Erba of Fitchburg, James Dell’Erba of Manchester, N.H., Christopher Dell’Erba and his wife Francesca of Shrewsbury, William Dell’Erba and his wife Julia of Nantucket, and Jesse Guay of Grafton, N.H.; three great-grandchildren and one due in September, Aidan and Elliot Stockwell and George Dell’Erba; and many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by three brothers; Martin and Louis Ragucci and Thomas Dell’Erba and five sisters; Angeline Antonucci, Josephine Koza, Mary Carpenter, Philomena Nelson and Theresa Dell’Erba; a son-in-law, Richard Welch.
His funeral service will be held on Monday, Sept. 13, at 11 a.m., in the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester. Burial will follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Worcester. A period of calling hours will be held on Sunday, Sept. 12, from 5-7 p.m., in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, kindly consider making donations in Matteo’s memory to: Elder Affairs at the Worcester Senior Center, 128 Providence St., Worcester, MA 01604 or Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, DC 20090-6011.
