Rosa Mignacca, who lived through the Battle of Monte Cassino as a child in Italy and later built a large family in the Boston area, died October 24 in Melrose with her family around her. She was 88.
She was born November 5, 1937, in Cassino, Italy, to Emilio Palombo and Camella Contestabile, the second of their seven children. The war reached her hometown when she was a girl, and her family went through years of displacement and loss. Her family says those years taught her gratitude and the value of sticking together.
In 1964 she crossed the ocean to the United States on her own and that same year married Angelo Mignacca. They had six children. Angelo died at 50, and Rosa carried the family forward from there.
She worked for years at the Schrafft’s candy factory in Charlestown until it shut down in 1984, then in production at Abbott Laboratories until she retired.
At home she kept up the traditions she brought from Italy. She grew a garden, made her own pasta and sauce, and liked nothing more than a full table. Her family says she always had a story ready, usually about Italy or the hard times she came through, and those stories tied the generations together.
She leaves her children, Maria Mignacca-Griffin, Nicola Mignacca, Anna Colombo, Angelo Mignacca, Anthony Mignacca and Michael Mignacca; her grandchildren; her siblings; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visiting hours are Thursday, October 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose. Her funeral Mass is Friday, October 30, at 11:45 a.m. at St. Anthony’s Church, 38 Oakes St., Everett. Mourners should go directly to the church. Entombment will follow at Holy Cross Mausoleum in Malden.
Compiled from information published by Robinson Funeral Home, 809 Main St., Melrose. Photograph courtesy of the family via Robinson Funeral Home. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.