Lena M. DeLaura

Lena M. (Ferretti) DeLaura, age 102, died at home on Wednesday, January 3, 2024. She was born November 15, 1921, the daughter of the late Pasquale and Maria (Pascelli) Ferretti. A lifelong resident of Erie, Lena graduated from Academy High School and went on to work at General Electric in the refrigeration division. She wed Nick DeLaura in a blizzard which must have been a good luck charm for a long and happy marriage.

Lena was a founding member of St. Luke’s parish where she never missed a bake sale and a volunteer at the Barber National Institute where, with her sister Emma, she helped to prepare the annual spaghetti dinner.

She was an accomplished cook and baker who regularly turned out delectable Italian dishes including her signature rolled macaroni and pizzelles that graced cookie tables at weddings for decades.

Lena was a helper at heart, a de facto nurse and gifted caregiver to family members and friends. She was compassionate, kind, generous, forthright, dependable, hard working and fun to be around. To her family and friends she was loving and loyal. She was filled with gratitude for her long, and in her words, happy and lucky life.

Besides her parents, Lena was preceded in death by her husband, Nick; a son, David DeLaura; two sisters, Florence Tullio and Emma DiTullio and three brothers, George, Leo, and Louis Ferretti.

Lena is survived by her children, Mary Susan DeLaura of Arlington, MA; Richard Delaura and his wife, Marcia Hannon of Boston, MA; two granddaughters, Isabel and Rosalind DeLaura; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to call Monday, January 8, 2024 at St. Luke Catholic Church, 421 E.38^th St. from 10:30 am until 12 noon at which time a Funeral Mass will be celebrated. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice or to the Nick R. and Lena M. DeLaura Endowed Scholarship at Gannon University,109 University Square, Erie, PA 16541; the Barber National Institute, 100 Barber Pl., Erie, PA 16507 or Emmaus Soup Kitchen, 218 E.11^th St., Erie, PA 16503.

Arrangements by the Burton Quinn Scott Cremation and Funeral Services, Downtown, 602 W.10^th St.

Send condolences to www.BurtonQuinnScott.com