Shrewsbury – Lucy Zarette will be remembered as a spirited, creative, artistic and classy woman whose family and faith were the center of her life. Lucy died Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 in The Coleman House in Northborough, with family gathered by her side. She was 93.
Lucy L. Simone was born Nov. 2, 1921 in Worcester, she was a daughter of the Italian immigrants (Biscegliese, provinca de Bari) the late Bartolomeo and Angelina (Baldino) Simone. Raised in the city’s Italian neighborhood on Shrewsbury Street, she married Domenic F. Zarette Jan. 17, 1942 in Our Lady of Mount Carmel – St. Ann Church. They lived many years in Worcester before moving the Westbrook Crossing Community in Shrewsbury in 1995.
Lucy owned and operated the former “Auntie Mae’s Place” on the corner of Shrewsbury and Seward Streets alongside her sister, Mary Bergantine. Anyone who knew Lucy and Mary…..knew them. The two sisters were talented cooks…….a good duo and quite entertaining.
True to her Italian heritage, Lucy knew her way around the kitchen and was a talented cook and baker. Lucy loved to entertain people and got very creative with her cooking; making new recipes and changing them to make them unique. She also enjoyed embroidery, making quilts and clothes for many family and friends. She had a natural ability to see something she liked in a magazine and replicate it. Lucy’s natural artistic abilities enabled her to draw virtually anything that caught her eye and interest. Simple pleasures for Lucy and Dom were faithfully watching their much loved Red Sox.
Lucy’s family extends their gratitude to the entire staff at Coleman House for the wonderful care they gave Lucy while a resident.
In addition to her husband of 72 years, Domenic, who died Nov. 1, 2014, she is predeceased by her siblings, Mary I. Bergantine, Marie Oliveri, Maurice “Mike” Simone, Giaccomo “Jack” Simone, and Thomas Simone, and her son-in-law, Michael F. Doherty who died in 1999.
She leaves her children, Francis P. Zarette and his wife Debra of Shrewsbury and Linda M. Doherty of Worcester; her grandchildren, Tara Alano and her husband Alphonse, Sean Doherty and his wife Melanie, and Tracey Doherty; her great-grandchildren, Matthew, Michael, Liam, Reilly, and Colin; her brother, Domenic “Babe” Simone of Worcester; and her sister, Amelia C. “Millie” Simone of Worcester, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor and remember Lucy’s life by gathering for calling hours Saturday, Sept. 26, from 9-10:30 a.m., at Heald & Chiampa Funeral Directors ~ The Sumner House, 5 Church Road, On the Common, Shrewsbury Center, before leaving in procession to Our Lady of Mount Carmel – St. Ann Church, 24 Mulberry St., Worcester, where her funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Michael F. Doherty Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of St. John’s High School, 378 Main St., Shrewsbury, MA 01545 or to the NEADS Organization, P.O. Box, 1100 Princeton, MA 01541, an organization that provides skilled dogs for disabled veterans.
