Nancy Gambone

Nancy (DeVita) Gambone, 99, formerly of Wakefield and North Reading, passed away on Thursday, December 15, in her home at Brooksby Village, Peabody.

Mrs. Gambone was born on March 8, 1912, in Brooklyn, New York, the last child of Anna Gigante DeVita and Luigi DeVita, gardeners and carnation growers. The family moved to Massachusetts when she was a child.

Mrs. Gambone was an honor graduate of Wakefield High School, class of 1930, where she delivered the valedictory address. She briefly attended Boston University, majoring in foreign languages. She later enrolled in the DeBenedictis School of Art in Boston, where she studied classical painting.

Joining her brothers in the family floral business, DeVita's Conservatories, she established a reputation for her stunning floral arrangements. In the forties and fifties, she won many awards at the annual New England Flower Show.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Gambone continued to pursue a career in painting. Her landscapes, still lifes, and portraits won her numerous awards at local and regional art shows. In 1977, she was commissioned by Boston Bruins hockey legend Ken Hodge to paint his official family portrait.

In 1960, Mrs. Gambone and her cousin Fred Fiandaca, began a small art school, Studio Art Classes, which grew to be one of the most popular private art instruction academies in the area. Many of her students went on to have their own important careers in art. When Mr. Fiandaca retired from the school, Mrs. Gambone continued to give private lessons, retiring only at 94, when she moved to Brooksby.

Mrs. Gambone was married to the late Arthur Louis Gambone, who predeceased her in 1991. She is survived by her sons, Philip of Boston, Robert of Stillwater, Minnesota, David of Lexington, and Richard of Malden, her grandchildren, Hayley and Brady Gambone, and many loving relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her brothers, Pasquale, Dominic and Alfonse DeVita and sister, Mary Simeola.

Her funeral will be held from the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield, Tuesday at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass in St. Joseph Church, 173 Albion St., Wakefield at 10 a.m. Visitation for relatives and friends will be held at the funeral home, Monday, 4 – 8 p.m. Interment will be at Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge.

Read Nancy Gambone's Obituary and Guestbook on www.mcdonaldfs.com.

Visitation

McDonald Funeral Home
19 Yale Ave.
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Monday, December 19, 2011, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Service

St. Joseph Church
173 Albion Street
Wakefield , MA US 01880
Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 10:00 AM

Cemetery

Mount Auburn Cemetery
580 Mt. Auburn Street
Cambridge , MA US 02139
Tuesday, December 20, 2011, 12:30 PM