Mary J. Calista

Mary J. ”Mame” Calista (Nunes), 100, of Pawtucket, passed away on Tuesday, September 15, at Miriam Hospital following a brief illness, with her son and daughter by her side. She was the wife of the late John Q. Calista Jr., to whom she was married for 67 years.

Born in Lee Center, New York, to the late Manuel and Maria (Rodrigues) Nunes, she moved to Rhode Island in 1941, settling in Central Falls, and had resided in Pawtucket since 1955.

Mary was a parishioner of St. Teresa’s Church in Pawtucket. She was a dedicated homemaker and accomplished seamstress who enjoyed cooking, gardening, and reading. Above all, the most important part of her life was her family.

Mary was also a member of Pawtucket’s Recreation Division Walking Club, Club Madeirense, and the James A. Ryan Post #33 Amvets.

She was the beloved mother of Patricia Roberts of Rumford, Rhode Island, and J. Jeffrey Calista and his wife Linda of Pawtucket; the proud grandmother of Kyle Gannon (Christina) of Rehoboth, MA, and Jillian Bradley (Kevin) of Seekonk, MA; loving great-grandmother to Will, Charlotte, and Cole Bradley, and Will, Grace, and Katherine Kimmell; and great-great-grandmother to Connor Serbst.

She also leaves several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and friends, and was the sister of the late Manuel Nunes.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, September 26th, at 11:00 AM at St. Teresa of the Child Jesus Church, 358 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket. Calling hours will precede the Mass on Saturday morning from 9:00 - 10:30 AM at the Manning-Heffern-O’Neill Funeral Home, 220 Cottage Street, Pawtucket. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mary’s memory may be made to her favorite charity, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.