Lena M. (Piccirilli) DiGiantommaso passed away peacefully at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington on Friday morning. She was 89. Born and raised in Malden she was the daughter of the late Frank and Christina (Lombardi) Piccirilli. Lena was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was dedicated to her children and developed the love of her own children and concern for their future into a nearly 30 year career as an elected member of the Medford School Committee.
A Medford resident for 57 years, Lena was involved in many civic enterprises. As her own children grew up she was involved in the local Parent Teacher Association and she also served as a scout leader and parent member of the Mustang Band. Lena was among the original organizers of the effort to preserve the Chevalier Theatre in Medford Square. In 1981 she was elected to the Medford School Committee and served through 2009. Throughout her tenure she was a passionate advocate for the students. She saw sweeping changes in the educational landscape in the city. She was part of the process which decommissioned the neighborhood elementary and middle schools to create new and larger schools with the latest of technology and improved accessibility and modern amenities. She was known to lobby on the state and national level for increased funding and improvements to programming. Lena was always appreciated for her ability to get people together and achieve positive results. The citizens remember her for her accessibility and willingness to listen. Also, Lena enjoyed a 25 year run as a part-time waitress at the landmark Hilltop Steak House on Route 1 in Saugus. There, she delighted her customers with her customary kindness and attention. Lena will be remembered not only as an exemplary public servant but most of all as a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend.
The beloved wife of the late Alfred A. DiGiantommaso, Lena was a devoted mother to Deborah DiGiantommaso and her husband Douglas Place of Melrose, Michael DiGiantommaso and his wife Sadie Costa of Sutton, Linda Valenti and her husband Ralph of Wilmington. Lena leaves her loving grandchildren: Jennifer, Tanya, Scott, and Stephen and well as her loving great-granddaughters, Mia, Stella and Abigail. Lena was a dear sister to the late Lucy Cataldo, John "Pickles" Piccirilli, Yolanda Fornari, Catherine Hood, Joseph and Rocco Piccirilli and also leaves many nieces and nephews.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to visit at the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, Monday 4 to 8 PM and again on Tuesday morning, December 17th at 9 AM with a procession to St. Clement Church 71 Warner Street, Medford, for a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 AM. Burial will follow at Oak Grove Cemetery.