Miss Ernestine Tortorella, age 61 of Medford formerly of Malden, died Wednesday in Bear Hill Nursing Home in Wakefield following a brief illness.
Miss Tortorella was born in Brookline, daughter of Alice (Natale) Tortorella of Medford and the late Lawrence A. Tortorella. She was raised in Boston’s North End and is a graduate of the former Julie Billiart High School class of 1967. In earlier years she had been employed as an administrator and worked for the Arthur D. Little Company. She was a quiet, shy and demure woman who valued time with her family and friends above all. As time went on she became the caretaker of her mother, a task she lovingly carried out for many years. In addition to her mother, she is survived by a sister Josephine “Jodi” Scola and her husband Paul of Woburn, a nephew Michael Scola and his wife Amanda of Stoneham, a niece Alycia Leofanti and her husband Paul of Franklin, loving grand aunt of James and Matthew Leofanti. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral from the Dello Russo Funeral Home 306 Main Street Medford on Monday at 9:00 AM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Joseph Church, 118 High Street Medford at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours Sunday from 3:00-7:00pm. Services will conclude with interment in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Those who prefer may make contributions in Ernestine’s name to the Hallmark Health VNA And Hospice, 178 Savin Street, Suite 300, Malden, MA 02148.