Lottie Elizabeth del Papa, 97, of Newcastle, passed away at the Lincoln Home on the evening of March 26. Born on Sept. 15, 1916, in Passaic, N.J., she was the daughter of Joseph and Catherine Fisher.
She graduated from East Rutherford High School in 1933 and went on to work for her future mother-in-law, Nita del Papa, going to secretarial school at night. In 1934, she got a job in the typing pool at the Home Insurance Company in New York, advancing to the position of executive secretary to the vice president, where she worked until 1954.
In the late 1930s she had formed an enduring relationship with the del Papa family that had first hired her. In 1935, she joined them as part of a “del Papa family” vacation, bringing her for the first time to Pemaquid. Another trip took her to the del Papa family roots in Italy, sailing on the S.S. Rex, one of the ships of the Italian Line for which Nadir Sr. was the Comptroller. The relationships developed, and she married their son, Nadir, on Aug. 15, 1942. Two months later, her husband left to serve in the Army for WWII.
In 1956, they moved to Sudbury, Mass., vacationing each summer in their beloved Pemaquid, later staying at Ed Lewis’ guest cottages. It was always their dream to live permanently in Pemaquid, and they finally moved to a home on the Pemaquid Trail when her husband retired in 1979.
She loved meticulously caring for her home and family, cooking, gardening, sewing, reading, and living a very independent life.
After her husband’s early death in 1984, she immersed herself in volunteer activities with People-to-People, The Willing Workers, and The Bristol Library. She loved her time at the library and continued to go every week until 2012.
Besides her parents, Lottie was predeceased by her husband of 42 years, Nadir del Papa; sister, Mary; and brothers, Edmund, Joseph, and Edwin.
She is survived by her sister, Helen; and son, Ronald and wife Kathrine.
At her request, there will be no formal service. Prayers will be offered in her memory at St. Patrick’s Church as part of their normal Wednesday evening mass at 5 p.m., Wed., April 9. She will be laid to rest privately, next to her husband, at the Harrington Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lincoln Home, 22 River Rd., Newcastle, ME 04553.
Condolences, and messages for the family, may be expressed by visiting www.StrongHancock.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main St., Damariscotta.
