Obituary
Mary E. Tempesta
2/5/28 – 3/6/23
Mary E. (Colella) Tempesta of Flagler Beach, FL, previously of Newton and Brighton, MA, died peacefully on Monday, March 6, 2023. She was 95 years young.
Mary was born in her family home in Newton on February 5,1928, the daughter of the late Guiseppe M. Colella and Loretta (Pagnano) Colella. She spent her formative years in the Nonantum “The Lake” section of Newton and graduated from Our Lady’s Help of Christians High School.
Mary loved working. She enjoyed her many years as an LPN in Massachusetts at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital and Lahey Clinic. After moving to Florida in 1981 with her husband Carlo, she enjoyed her retirement by working fulltime as a Paraprofessional in the Flagler County School system where she was affectionately known as “Miss Mary.” She officially retired at age 86.
Mary loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren who were the light of her life. She looked forward to their visits and telephone conversations and especially treasured her trips back home to spend time with them.
Her joyous personality, infectious smile, and wisdom was contagious to everyone which drew people to her. She was a great conversationalist who had the gift of the written word. Writing was her hobby. Her pen was her heart and she brightened everyone’s mailbox instead of their inbox.
Mary was the beloved wife of the late Carlo Tempesta for 57 years. She was a devoted mother to the late Thomas “Goumba” Tempesta and his wife Kathy of Walpole, MA; Rosemary Poldoian and her husband Jim of Palm Coast, FL and Carl Tempesta and his wife Rita of Walpole, MA. Cherished grandmother of Alyssa McKeon and her husband John; Thomas Tempesta and his wife Nicole; Michael Tempesta and his fiancé Mary Reedy; and Carl “CJ” Tempesta, and a loving great-grandmother to Madelyn McKeon, who called her Nona. Sister to Joseph Colella of CA; Lucy Havener of MA; Catherine Esperian of MA; and Theresa Begeman of AZ, and the late Stephen, Daniel, Loretta and Rose Colella, Lena Ruggeiro and Christine Murphy. She is survived by many nieces, and nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews, and cousins.
Mary will be fondly remembered and loved by her family, friends, and the many people she touched in her long life. She celebrated each day with joy and was a bright light to all those who knew her.
A celebration of life and mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Edward The Confessor Church, Medfield, MA on Saturday, May 20th at 10:00 am. Interment for family will be private at Evergreen Cemetery, Chestnut Hill, MA. Another service will be held at Santa Maria del Mar Church, Flagler Beach, FL on Thursday, April 13 at 11:00am