Vita M. Santuccio Obituary
Vita Marie (Lovasco) Santuccio, 87, passed away at the Kaplan Family Hospice House with her family's love surrounding her on Tuesday morning, May 23, 2023, the day of her wedding anniversary.
Born on May 31, 1935, in Gloucester, the fifth of six children, to Grace (Orlando) and Gerolomo Lovasco, Vita had fond memories of growing up in the family home on Granite Street at a time when aunts, uncles and cousins all lived in the same neighborhood. She attended Gloucester Public Schools and graduated from Gloucester High School.
She was married to the late Captain Frank C. Santuccio, who passed away in 1996. She was a devoted wife and has missed "Papa" every day since his passing. Being the wife of a Gloucester fishing captain, who was at sea days and weeks at a time, she became a very strong and independent woman, raising her three sons, who were her pride and joy.
Vita had a beautiful operatic voice and, as a young woman, was often requested to sing at many church weddings.
Later in life, when she became a grandmother, she found great joy in singing to her grandchildren. She loved Sunday dinners, holidays and birthday celebrations at her son Sam's home and always looked forward to visits from her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her favorite places to travel were to St. Augustine, FL to visit her son Jerry and his family and road trips to New Hampshire to spend time with her son Frank and his family. She loved to reminisce about the Tuesday 'club' night at her parent's home on Marina Drive with her four brothers, her sister, and their spouses: playing cards, sharing Italian pastries, and having lots of laughs.
A "tell it like it is" woman, she will be remembered as having a quick wit, good sense of humor, avid reader of suspense novels, fan of TV crime shows and solving challenging crossword puzzles all while enjoying a small glass of white wine or a good cup of coffee.
Vita is survived by her three sons Sam (Rozanne) Santuccio, Jerry (Donna) Santuccio and Frank (Peggy) Santuccio, her grandchildren, Beth Marie (Rusty Tucker) Marc S. Santuccio (Jennifer), Christopher John Santuccio (Kelly), Jason Jerome Santuccio (Erin), Jamie Lynn Santuccio (fiancé' Bill Whelan), Erin Grace (Kyle Boutot). She is also survived by her great-grandchildren who affectionately nicknamed her "Gigi". She adored these children and made certain they knew of her love whenever they were together or when she spoke with them over the phone; Samantha, Vanessa and Malia Tucker, James and Lucas Santuccio, Mila Santuccio and Vivienne Boutot. Others surviving Vita are her brother Ambie Lovasco and sister-in-law Marlen, her sisters-in-law, Ann Grace Militello, Kathy Santuccio and many nieces and nephews. She was looking forward to meeting her eighth and ninth great-grandchildren who are expected later this year. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her. "Sangue Mio".
The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at seacoast rehabilitation, Care Dimensions and Kaplan Family Hospice House for their compassionate care to Vita these past few months.
Vita's funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joachim's Church, 56 Broadway, Rockport, MA. In keeping with Vita's wishes, visiting hours and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Vita's name to Friends of Seacoast, Inc, P.O. Box 1578, Gloucester, MA 01930, or Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.
Arrangements by the Greely Funeral Home, 212 Washington Street, Gloucester.
