Mary Fichera's Obituary
Mary (Somma) Fichera, 99, formerly of Lawrence and a recent resident of Methuen’s Grace Morgan House, passed away peacefully at the Nevins Home on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 of natural causes. She was born in 1924, raised and educated in Lawrence. Mary was the daughter of the late Gennaro and Bice (Caraccio) Somma.
Mary was a Lawrence High School graduate, class of 1941. Mary enjoyed facing challenges, and so she accepted various positions in both government, one of which was the Lawrence Experiment Station (now the Se. William X. Wall Experiment Station), and private sectors.
In later years, her most satisfying work experience was in aiding early-grade students with special needs at the Breen, St. Patrick and South Lawrence East grammar schools.
May loved classical music, having studied both piano and violin in depth, and to a lesser degree, the organ. After high school graduation, she became a member violinist in the Lawrence Alumni Orchestra, which is noew known as the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic Orchestra. She once gave a solo piano performance in Boston Symphony Hall.
Mary enjoyed reading and solving crossword puzzles, and was an accomplished, expert 45’s player.
Mary was pre-deceased by her devoted husband, Fred Fichera in 2013, to whom she had been married 65 years, and by her special little ‘grand-dog’ Charlie Brown. She was also pre-deceased by her brother, Dante Somma, and by brothers-in-law Peter Fichera and Egidio Consoli. Loved by many, she is survived by a daughter Janet Fichera, her son Stephen Fichera and his wife Deborah (Foskett) Fichera, sisters-in-law Edna (Heafey) Somma and Nancy (Fichera) Consoli, and a few cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and a few dear friends.
At Mary’s request, private graveside services will be held Monday, January 23, 2023, at the Bellevue Cemetery in Lawrence. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s name to the Nevins MSPCA, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844 or to the charity of one’s choosing. To send a message of condolence to the family, please visit www.breenfuneralhome.com.
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