Professional Seamstress, age 106
TEWKSBURY. Lena C. (Parella) Vinal, 106, passed away peacefully in the loving care of her family on Thursday, January 6, 2022 at Bear Mountain Nursing Home in Lowell after a long and remarkable lifetime of good health. She was the beloved widow of Russell W. Vinal who passed away in 1973.
Born and raised in Everett, she was one of six children of the late Gennaro and Rose (Tisei) Parella. In 1966, she moved to Tewksbury, where she resided until 1983 when she moved to Dracut to live with her daughter and family. In 2016, she returned to Tewksbury to love with her other daughter and son-in-law.
In addition to her duties as a mother of four, she worked as a professional seamstress at several Boston fashion houses, including a long tenure at Cinderella Fashions. Among her favorite activities were taking care of her grandchildren and great grandchildren and spending time with her two sisters to whom her family lovingly referred as the real-life "Golden Girls."
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Brooks and her husband, Robert of Tewksbury; her son, Gerald R. Vinal and his wife, Denise (Iandoli) of Wilmington; eleven grandchildren; ten great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by two daughters, the late Joanne Cordeiro and the late Gail Rice; and her siblings, the late Louis "Dewey" Parella, the late Daniel "Nello" Parella, the late Carmella Capra, the late Mondo Parella, and the late Anne DeSantis.
The family would like to thank the Bear Mountain Nursing Home staff who took such good care of her in her final year of life. The family also extends their deepest gratitude to the staff who comforted her and them during her last hours. May God bless you for the incredible and often thankless work that you do
Her funeral service was held privately and burial took place at Tewksbury Cemetery. Arrangements by Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, MA 978-851-2061. Please visit www.TewksburyFuneralHome.com to leave the family a message of condolence.