Eleanor Mary (Montagna) DiRusso, 92, or as many of her friends and family knew her affectionately as “Ma”, lifelong resident of Somerville, passed away peacefully on September 10, 2021 at home surrounded by the love and compassion of her family. She was born on July 1, 1929 in Cambridge, MA to her hardworking parents, the late Thomas and Florence (Siccone) Montagna.
Ma was a woman who was small in stature but was always larger than life. She was the beloved matriarch of her family and was a true inspiration to all. Ma was a proud woman that stood fast to her convictions. During an age and time when women didn’t usually work outside of the home, Ma flourished working as a personal care assistant for the elderly. Always a selfless woman, she would put the needs of others before herself. Ma enjoyed many of life’s simple pleasures; spending time with family, sharing a meal, trying her hand of luck at Vegas and the local casinos, collecting dolls and shopping.
Ma was a spontaneous person with a great sense of humor that lived her life on her terms. She had no qualms about literally dancing in the street or in the aisle of the supermarket. Ma, as her social media fame has risen over the past couple of years, would offer advice drawn from her decades of experience on love, relationships and marriage. Often this advice was given with a sarcastic delivery that only the easily unoffended person could appreciate. Ma will truly be loved, cherished and missed by all.
Ma’s love will continue to live through her beloved children; her daughter Marie Almas and her husband Carlos “Charlie” of Somerville, her daughter Josephine Balcius and her husband Ron of Holbrook, her late son Frank S. DiRusso, her son Anthony DiRusso and his wife Judith of Chelsea, and her son Thomas DiRusso and his wife Elizabeth of Natick. She was the ever-cherished grandmother to Ella Dion, Angela Smith, Cynthia Mizen, Josephine Rubino, Michelle Gorman, Ashley Wilichoski, Jessica DiRusso, Steven DiRusso, Tylor Dirusso and Michael DiRusso. Ma was the proud great-grandmother to her eleven great-grandchildren and great-great grandmother of two. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her parents and son, Ma was preceded in death by her four siblings; her brother Joseph Montagna, and her sisters Flora Luongo, Isabel Conti and Marie Dinitto.
Visitation for Ma will be held on Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 11 AM – 2PM at the Carrier Family Funeral Home, 38 Range Road, Windham, NH. Friends and family are cordially invited to attend. A funeral service will be held at the conclusion of calling hours. Interment will be privately held. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to either the Merrimack Valley Hospice, Home Health Foundation, Attn: Community Engagement ,360 Merrimack Street, Building 9, Lawrence, MA 01843 (online at https://www.
