Zena (Scarpato) Merullo

Zena (Scarpato) Merullo, 91, passed away on Wednesday, November 24th 2021, at the age of 91.  Beloved wife of the late Edward A.Merullo.  Born in Boston, she is the beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Silvestro) Scarpato.

Zena grew up in the West End of Boston and was a graduate of Girls High School in Boston.  She attended Middlesex Community College and earned an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education.  She married the love of her life, Edward, and they settled in Reading to raise their family.  Zena worked as an elementary school teacher in the Reading Public School system for many years.  She was a talented painter, an avid reader and a spectacular cook.  Zena’s greatest joy came from being with her family.  She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.  Her love and devotion to her husband and family was so deep that it was difficult to describe in words.  Zena will be truly missed by everyone she touched and by her loving family.

Zena is the Devoted Mother of Edward J. Merullo and his wife Lynda of Marblehead, Karen Shiebler and her husband Paul of Winchendon, Elizabeth Lombardozzi and her late husband Edward of Malden, Mark Merullo and his wife Susan of Franklin, Mary and her husband Randy, and David Merullo and his wife Patience of Chelmsford.  Zena was the most cherished grandmother of Aaron and Natalie Merullo, Jenny Merullo and James Woodard, Tyler Merullo, Kate Shiebler and Sam Roberts, Matt Shiebler, Tim Shiebler and Jessica Sweeney, the late James Lombardozzi, Lisa and Michael Henry, Russ Merullo and Emily Hilly, Angela and Peter Lawrence, Erin and Jonathan Eberle, James Singleton, Atticus Adams, Cameron Merullo, Zena Leah Merullo and the great grandmother of six.  She was the beloved sister of Joseph Scarpato and his wife Teresa of Marlboro, the late Roy Scarpato and his wife Anne Scarpato of Topsfield and the late Dr. Robert Scarpato and his wife Janet Scarpato of Osterville.  She is also the loving aunt to many nieces and nephews.   She also leaves her long time caregiver Lynn Nsimiire, who took care of her with gentle love and humor, as well as her beloved cat Tessa.

Funeral from the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St. (corner of Park St. and Rte. 28) NORTH READING, at Reading line, on Tuesday, December 7th at 9:30am. Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Athanasius Church, 300 Haverhill St., Reading at 10:30am.  Interment will follow at Charles Lawn Memorial Park, Reading.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to visiting hours at the funeral home on Monday, December 6th, 2021 from 4 to 8pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations to the Reading Scholarship Foundation Online or mail in at Reading Scholarship Fund, P.O.Box 492, Reading, MA 01867 be made in Zena’s name.

The Merullo family respectfully requests that visitors wear masks at all times, and are fully vaccinated to protect the health and safety of vulnerable family and friends.

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