Mary Nangeroni
Mary Fae (Hunt) Nangeroni transitioned peacefully on June 23rd. Mary was born Jan 9, 1922 in Albion, PA to Ernest Percy Hunt and Fae Vira Hunt (Mellish). She came from an artistic and musical family; her mother painted and her father played violin. The family farmed in California and later Farmington Maine where Mary and her brothers Arthur, Ken, Gordon, Ernest and Douglas befriended a bear, a skunk and squirrels. Her brothers and sister Edith preceded her in death.
From an early age Mary took piano, organ and voice lessons. She graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a major in voice and organ. While in Boston she met her husband Ambrose Nangeroni who she married in 1943. Together they raised a small orchestra of 8 musical children. They moved to Milton in the late ‘40s and remained together until Ambrose died in 1996.
Much of her life was dedicated to social justice and civil rights issues. Mary was a tireless volunteer committed to helping end racism, domestic violence, poverty and other inequalities. She helped form, and served a term as president of, the Milton Civil Rights Fellowship. She served as board president of the Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity (METCO) program, Boston’s voluntary school desegregation program. She also volunteered at Freedom House. In the summer she brought carloads of kids from Dorchester and Roxbury to her house to swim in the pool. She also volunteered at Rosie’s Place (a sanctuary for poor and homeless women) and DOVE, an organization dedicated to ending domestic violence. She was a founder of the Milton Meals on Wheels program dedicated to ending hunger for seniors. Mary also volunteered with Hospice and often gave caretakers a day off by sitting with those who were ill and dying. She also served as an organist and choir director for several churches. She was recognized for her exceptional volunteer work at Milton Hospital where she led weekly sing-alongs and did other volunteer work for more than 20 years. More recently she helped form Milton’s branch of the No Place for Hate program.
In the mid 1970s Mary was recognized for her community work with a Certificate of Appreciation for services rendered to the Boston Branch of the NAACP Educational Committee. She was honored by the Milton Mattapan Clergy Association in 2001 for her role in fighting for equality in Milton. Calling her an “unsung hero if there ever was one”, they presented her with their Candle of Peace for living a life of justice. In 2010 the Milton Interfaith Clergy Association recognized Mary for “offering her best to the community of Fuller Village by attending to the struggles and joys shared.”
Known for her generosity, Mary had a reputation for creating delicious and artfully decorated bakery goods including wedding and birthday cakes, gingerbread houses, marzipan shaped into fruit, cookies and sweet breads. She was an amazing gardener with more than a green thumb, known for being able to resurrect any plant. She also loved to read. Perhaps one of her greatest pleasures was visiting and playing games like scrabble with her large and diverse family and friends who miss the kindness of her spirit and her wry humor.
Mary is survived by her children, Ambrose E. Nangeroni and wife Linda of VA, Paul Nangeroni and wife Vickie of MD, Marna Onorato and husband John of Wrentham, Mary Granda and husband Ray of Franklin, Nancy Nangeroni and partner Gordene of Beverly, Peter Nangeroni and wife Sandra of Westwood, Terri Nangeroni and partner Cheryl of AZ, and Ruth Nangeroni of VT. She is also survived by her 12 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.
A Mass will be celebrated in St. Elizabeth’s Church, Milton, Fri June 28, at 10 o’clock. Visiting Hours in the Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Ave., EAST MILTON, will be Thurs, 4-8 pm. Interment Milton Cemetery. Contributions in Mary’s name may be sent to Milton Meals on Wheels, c/o South Shore Elder Services, 1515 Washington St. Braintree, MA 02184 or to D.O.V.E., Inc. P.O. Box 690267, Quincy, MA. 02269.
Guestbook Entries
What a wonderful woman , I knew Mary long before I met Paul and was thrilled to become a”Family member”.She will be greatly missed.Xo Judith
To the Nangeroni Family: My thoughts and prayers are with you during this sad time. Mary was a wonderful and accomplished woman; also a woman of great faith. No doubt she is with Ambrose in a most peaceful place tonight. With sympathy, Aurora
Aunty Mary was a wonderful friend to my mother in her waning years. I remember her valiant effort to teach me piano, the beautiful frosting roses she made for special occasion cakes, her wonderful voice, her generosity in hosting my bridal shower, and most importantly, her unflagging dedication to fairness and social justice for all people.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to our eight cousins and their families.
Love,
Beebe and Harold
While I did not know Mary, I do know Nancy and it is easy to see Mary in her. My thoughts and prayers are with the Nangeroni family.
To Mary’s Children, I wish I could be with you on Friday to sing your mother’s praises. Her commitment to the causes in which she believed and gave her energy to was so admirable. Liz Atkins
I spent the evening before Mary’s passing with her in thought, reminiscing. Little did I know that she would pass the next morning.
My thoughts are with you all,
Joanne
I knew Mary as a lovely, gracious lover of music, supporting musical events in Milton and bringing songs to Milton Hospital patients. A strong community leader.
My sympathy to all the family,
Emma Jean Moulton
Thank you, Mary, for welcoming me into your family. You don’t know how much it means to me the love I recieve from you very large, extended family. Your legacy will live on in our hearts and in our dedication to our community. xo, Cheryl
To all the Nangeroni’s,
Thanks for your part in honoring Mom. I will cherish the time spent together during her wake, funeral and at Peter’s.
May the next time we are together be soon and a reunion for fun.
Love each of you dearly,
xoxo
Terri
Mary, the memories will stay with us always as far away as we may go: the birthday cakes, the garden, the music, our little playhouse that you shared with so many children, and our days of playing with Mary and Nancy and Paul and Marna. You blessed us all. Joan, Renee, Michele,Paul and Monique Majeune
To ALL of Mary Nangeroni’s children:
My sincerest condolences to you with your mother’s passing. While it has been very many years since the brief time we Majeune’s lived “across the way” in Milton — we always remembered what a wonderful family the Nangeroni’s were– no doubt due in large part to the kind, committed, and talented person that your mother was, which her obituary captured beautifully. I now understand better my mother’s fondness and appreciation for the person your mom was.
I hope that the good memories you have of your mother bring you comfort.
Sincerely– Michele Majeune (Golden, Colorado)
Thank you Mary Fae Nangeroni for making our family feel so welcome to Milton in the 1950s. Your children invited us up over the hill to play, such a generous, extroverted family, a warmth I carried with me that helped me meet the world in the years beyond Milton Mass.
With love and respect and my sympathies to family.
Renee Majeune
Arvada Colorado
11/7/14 Good Morning to the Nangeroni Family: Elaine had a dream about Mary this week and tried to reach her on the telephone, but it was disconnected. Elaine decided to check her name out on google and came across her obituary. We are so sorry to hear about your loss, but you know that your mother was a wonderful woman. She accepted our family into your home and we will never forget her or your father. God Bless