Douglas/Westborough – Nancy L. (Vecchione) Colonero of Douglas, died peacefully early Friday morning at the Beaumont Nursing Facility in Westborough. She was born on September 23, 1917 and died a few days short of her 105th birthday. She was the eighth of eleven children born to Nunzio and Santina (Sodano) Vecchione both of Naples, Italy.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Benjamin Henry Colonero Sr. and by all of her siblings; Philomena “Fannie” and her husband Vincent Cerulle, Felix “Flax” Vecchione and his wife Viola, Ferdinand “Fritz” Vecchione and his wife Elena, Carmen Vecchione and his wife Dorothy, Theodore “Ted” Vecchione and his wife Sylvia, John Vecchione and his wife Evelyn, Carmella McNamara and her husband Richard, Joseph Vecchione, Samuel Vecchione and his wife Lynn, and Angelo Vecchione. She is survived by her sister-in-law Dorothy and many nieces and nephews.
Nancy was the proud mother of four surviving sons: Benjamin H. Colonero Jr. and his wife Jerri of Shrewsbury, Chris Colonero and his wife Anne of Westboro, Paul Colonero and his wife Edie of Sandwich, and Gerald Colonero and his wife Christine of Douglas and found great joy in her 10 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, one great-great grandson, and a great-great granddaughter on the way.
Nancy attended primary school in East Douglas. Her family then moved to New York where she attended middle school but returned to Douglas for her high school years. After graduation, she enrolled in the Secretarial Program at Becker College, but due to family finances during the depression, she was unable to finish the program. Nancy went on to work for her brother Fritz at the Hayward Schuster Mill in Manchaug, and was promoted to Secretary of the Superintendent at the mill in the 1930s. It was at this job where she met her future husband, Benjamin, who was also employed there. Nancy and Ben believed in the value of property and together purchased the Douglas Hotel and other properties in town, where they lived happily and raised their sons.
Nancy was a hard worker, a great cook, and a business woman ahead of her time. As she was raising her boys, she worked as a receptionist and assisted when needed in the claims department for Carrick Insurance Agency in Worcester and in Whitinsville. Together, Ben and Nancy owned and managed a full service restaurant, Frost’s Store, with a connecting gift shop, which they later sold in the mid-1970s.
In 1977 Nancy & Ben purchased land in Sandwich, and built their Cape Cod home. Never fully retiring, she worked part-time as a cashier for her brother Joe’s Lobster Hut in Plymouth, and her son Paul’s Seafood’s Sam’s in Yarmouth. They also continued to manage the Douglas “Hotel” apartments.
Nancy had many hobbies, she loved painting, ceramics, and cooking everything “Italian”. Her favorite thing to do was garden. She spent much time in her gardens in Douglas and in the Cape, and often incorporated the flowers as gifts. Above all, her real passion in life was her love and devotion to her Catholic religion. She attended Mass religiously and raised her family with the values and principals of her deep faith. Nancy was responsible for the arrangements at the statute of the Blessed Mother Mary across the street from St. Denis Church in East Douglas. A special proclamation was awarded to her from The Vatican in order of her dedication to this grotto that she maintained for so many years. She was a longtime member of the Catholic Women’s Council and loved being with her closest friends in faith working together on many projects over the years.
Her Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, August 24th at 10 AM in St. Denis Church, 23 Manchaug St., Douglas, burial will follow in St. Denis Cemetery. Calling hours will be held in Jackman Funeral Home, 7 Mechanic St., Douglas on Tuesday, August 23rd from 4-7 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to: “Friends of Beaumont Fund” (a fund for gifts to non-management staff), 3 Lyman Street, Westborough, MA 01581.
Nancy’s Funeral Mass will be streamed live on the Saint Denis Facebook page and will be available to watch after the conclusion of the services at www.SaintDenisChurch.com.
To leave a condolence message for her family please visit: www.Jackmanfuneralhomes.com.
