Dorothy E. Tassinari passed away quietly with family by her side on March 2 at Millbury Healthcare Center. She was born Aug. 19, 1915 in Mount Holly, Vt., the only daughter in a family of four children.
On Feb. 21, 1942 Dorothy married the love of her life, Bruno Tassinari. In 1943 Bruno settled his bride and young son Thomas in a small apartment in Natick, Mass., and shipped off to war in Europe.
While she waited for his return, Dorothy cared for her son, and saved money by sewing her own clothes and making baby food from scratch.
Dorothy loved her family and enjoyed being a mother and grandmother. She was a superb cook who enjoyed trying new recipes. She was known to all of her grandchildren as “Cookie Nana.” She was a talented oil and pastel portrait artist and studied art under a gifted tutor for many years. She never advertised her work. Her reward was in the simple satisfaction of doing the occasional portrait for others.
Dorothy and Bruno attended and thoroughly enjoyed ballroom dancing to live music whenever they could. Together they were graceful and elegant dancers. Well into their 80s they wowed those who saw them gliding across the dance floor.
Dorothy was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW.
She was predeceased by her husband Bruno Tassinari; and brothers, Harvey, Arthur, and Norman; as well as granddaughter, Pauline Francis Tassinari.
She was a loving and devoted wife to Bruno for almost 69 years, mother to three children, Thomas H. Tassinari and wife Corinne of Grafton, Mass., Diane Mulkern and husband Tom of Gloucester, Mass., and Richard Tassinari and wife Pamela of Jefferson; grandmother to 10 grandchildren, Jessika Baker and husband David of Jefferson, Shaina Kalama and husband David of Hawaii, Aimee Edgar and husband Cory of Boston, Alicia Tassinari of Jefferson, Laura Tassinari of Wilmington, N.C., Kristine Tracy of Wiscasset, Kevin Tassinari of Grafton, Mass., Karen Tassinari of Charleston, S.C., Nicholas Tassinari of Augusta, and Anthony Tassinari, also of Augusta; and seven (soon to be eight) great-grandchildren, Zachary and Matthew Baker of Jefferson, Aidan Tracy and Maddison Abbott of Wiscasset, Cash and Cole Kalama of Hawaii, and Landon and Liliana (arriving soon) Tassinari of South China.
Her funeral was held March 6 and arranged by Roney Funeral Home of Grafton, Mass.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her name may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association.
