Dara Lyn Frigoletto of Natick, MA, Edgartown, MA, and Naples, FL, passed away peacefully on June 4, 2023 at Brigham & Women’s Hospital after a courageous two-year battle with cancer, with her loving husband, Peter, her family, and devoted caregivers by her side.
Dara approached this horrible illness as she did with all things in her life: with strength, resolve, and courage that were only surpassed by her love, grace, and kindness. Dara’s beautiful and radiant smile always brightened the day of all around her, as she continued to be a source of happiness even on her most challenging days.
Born in Fitchburg, MA, Dara was raised in Leominster, MA and Lancaster, MA. Dara was a graduate of Lawrence Academy in Groton, MA, where she spent some of the happiest days of her life. Dara earned her bachelor’s degree from Simmons College and went on to pursue her master’s degree in Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning at Tufts University.
Dara led a life centered around her family and many friends, and service to people in need, the community at large, and the environment. Dara was a long-time volunteer and served a term as the Policy Director at “Save the Harbor, Save the Bay,” the region’s leading voice for clean water and continued public investment in Boston Harbor, public beaches, and the Boston Harbor Islands, and at the “Conservancy of Southwest Florida,” where Dara worked to protect Southwest Florida's unique natural environment and quality of life.
The main focus of Dara’s philanthropic efforts was her many years of service with the Jimmy Fund, where Dara was a long-time volunteer and served as a Vice President of the Jimmy Fund Council of Greater Boston, the Coordinator of the Volunteer Recruitment Program and the Patient Reading Program at the Jimmy Fund Clinic at Children’s Hospital, and a registration supervisor at the annual Pan Mass Challenge.
Dara’s dedication, hard work, boundless, positive energy, and organizational skills helped raise millions of dollars over the years for the Jimmy Fund. Further, Dara had an even greater impact on the lives of the children being treated at the Jimmy Fund Clinic and their parents. Dara was an immense source of love, joy and comfort to these children and their parents each week. She fostered an environment that helped the children forget about their cancer for a short time and just enjoy being kids, and allowed their parents a respite to have some time for themselves, as they knew Dara and her team of volunteers were taking loving care of their children.
Dara received many awards during her years of service to the Jimmy Fund, including the “Woman of the Year” award given by the Jimmy Fund Council, and she was a multi-year winner of the “Bob Cheyne Lifetime Commitment Award,” which was given in recognition of her exemplary work for the Jimmy Fund Council and dedication to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
Dara was a devoted wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. Throughout her life, Dara was the champion who organized and hosted many family gatherings, and she brought so much love, energy, and joy during such events. Dara was the consummate dear friend and formed friendships almost instantly with everyone she met during her life, and those friendships endured, whether it was days, months or years between interactions.
Dara taught us many lessons with how she conducted her life, and among the most important was how kind Dara was and she always looked to help a person (or animal) in need. Almost daily, strangers sought her out, as Dara had that "aura" that people could sense about how much Dara cared and always wanted to help.
Dara and Peter and their family so enjoyed their summers spent on Martha’s Vineyard, as that was one of her special “happy places” where she could be close to the ocean. Dara and Peter were in the process of building their dream home on Edgartown Harbor (with the help of a group of supremely talented and devoted friends), and this was a project close to her heart.
Dara is survived by her loving husband, Peter DeFeo, her parents, Dr. Robert Frigoletto and Joanne (Fraticelli) Frigoletto, her brother, Jay Frigoletto and his wife, Kerri-Ann Richard, her niece, Zoe Frigoletto, and her nephew, Devon Pope, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Dara will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.
Family and friends are invited to Dara’s visitation on Monday, June 12th from 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm at the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington Street, Wellesley, MA. Dara’s Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, June 13th at 11:00 am at St. Julia’s Church, 374 Boston Post Road, Weston, MA. (Interment will be attended by Dara’s family members only at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Fitchburg, MA.)
Dara’s family is also planning a “Celebration of Life” for Dara for later in the Summer.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to be made in honor and memory of Dara to the Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.