Mary Jane Pignatelli, 63

LENOX, Mass. — Mary Jane Pignatelli, 63, of Lenox, died Sunday, July 9, 2017, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer.

 

Born in Pittsfield on Dec.  5, 1953,  daughter of William and Mary Conry Heaphy of Pittsfield, she grew up in the beautiful Berkshires, graduating from the former St. Joseph's High School in 1971. After high school, she attended Winthrop Community Hospital School of Practical Nursing, from which she received a Certificate in Practical Nursing in 1972. She continued her studies at Laboure Junior College to pursue an associate's degree in nursing in 1977. While raising three children, she received her bachelor's degree in nursing in 2002 from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

 

Mrs. Pignatelli was employed as a registered nurse at Berkshire Medical Center for more than 20 years in several different capacities, establishing herself as a true leader amongst her colleagues. She taught the LPN Program at Berkshire Community College for eight years, during which she had a profound impact on students and their educational achievements. For the past eight years, she worked as the school nurse at Lenox Memorial Middle & High School and Morris School, where she was loved by all the faculty and students. 

 

She was extremely passionate about nursing and taking care of others. She especially loved working with all the children in the Lenox School System.

 

A communicant of St. Ann's Church, she volunteered on several committees and boards including: the Lenox Board of Health, Lenox Bullying Prevention & Intervention Community Task Force, Lenox Safety & Wellness Task Force, Tri-Town Health Department, Salvation Army Board and as class adviser for the class of 2018 at LMMHS. She enjoyed gardening, traveling, sports, especially the Boston Celtics and was an outstanding cook. 

 

She took great pride in her family and was a devoted mother and a loving wife to her husband, Gary F. Pignatelli. They would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this October.

 

Besides her husband, she leaves her daughter, Andrea and her husband, John Simons, of Manhattan, N.Y.; two sons, Mark and his wife, Daniela, and her youngest son Dan, all of Lenox; her siblings Barb Heaphy of Lenox and Bill Heaphy of Pittsfield, and her niece and nephews. She is also survived by her beloved dog, Manny, and her granddogs Bailey, Russell and Larry.

 

She was predeased by her sister Joan Heaphy, late of Troy, N.Y.

 

FUNERAL NOTICE — Calling hours for Mrs. Pignatelli will be hosted at Roche Funeral Home in Lenox on Thursday, July 13, from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, July 14, at 10 a.m. from St. Ann's Church in Lenox, with a Liturgy of Christian burial celebrated by Msgr. John Bonzagni. Burial will follow at St. Ann's Cemetery.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Ann's Church in care of Roche Funeral Home, 120 Main St., Lenox, MA 01240 or to The Mary Jane Pignatelli Scholarship Fund in care of Lenox Public Schools, 6 Walker St., Lenox, MA 01240.