Gelsomina "Mina" (Diperna) Malacaria

MALACARIA, GELSOMINA "Mina" (DiPerna) of Norwood passed away on February 18, 2017 at the age of 88. Beloved wife of Frank P. Malacaria. Devoted mother of Charles F. Malacaria of Boston, Nancy M. Lincoln and her husband Philip of Ocala, FL, Peter F. Malacaria and his wife Barbara of Franklin and Gina M. Tomaselli and her husband Stephen of Franklin. Sister of the late Cosmo DiPerna. Daughter of the late Francesco and Civita (Fedele) DiPerna. Cherished grandmother of Matthew, Heather, Daniel, Rebecca, James, Timothy, Sarah, Christopher and John. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Mina was a member of the Norwood Catholic Women's Club, Norwood Italian Ladies Lodge, Norwood Senior Center, Norwood Senior Center Crafts Club and Glee Club. She volunteered at St. Catherine of Siena School and Xaverian Bros. High School. Mina enjoyed cooking, crafts, crocheting, knitting, sewing, singing, and donating to Veterans. Mina was 4 years old when her father left Gaeta, Italy to come to America hoping to earn enough money to send for Mina, her brother, and her mother. She did not see him again until the age of 21 after the Second World War ended and he was able to send them enough money to immigrate to the US. She lived in Italy during the War, surviving 8 months in a concentration camp in La Breda, Italy. She attended the Instituto Nautico Flavio Gioia and graduated as an elementary school teacher. Mina worked as a seamstress in a clothing factory and later at John Hancock as a claims adjuster. She also worked as an assembly technician and inspector for Nortronics and Polaroid. Mina met her husband Frank at a dance at Mosley's on the Charles on 6/2/1956 and they were married a year later. She enjoyed cooking and was renowned for it. Mina loved to share many sweet treats with the younger children in her Norwood neighborhood who often visited her. An accomplished seamstress, she made many dresses for herself, her daughters, and friends. She also created costumes for plays as well as uniforms for the CYO sports teams. In her later years, she would knit blankets that she donated to veterans. Funeral from the Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home 1248 Washington St. Norwood, Tuesday Feb. 28, 2017 at 10am followed by a funeral mass at 11am in St. Catherine of Siena Church Norwood, MA. Visiting hours will be held on Monday February 27, 2017 from 4-7pm. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery Norwood, MA. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her name to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital PO Box 1000 Dept. 142 Memphis TN 38101-9908 or to the Norwood Senior Center 275 Prospect St. Norwood, MA 02062.

Visitation:
1248 Washington St
1248 Washington St, Norwood, MA, 02062
Monday February 27, 2017 4-7pm