Catherine Lipa, 80
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. â€' Catherine Mary Lipa, 80, of 171 Houghton St., died Wednesday morning, Dec. 11, 2002, at home.
Born in North Adams on Sept. 27, 1922, daughter of Giuseppe and Nicolina A. Filicetti Mancuso, she attended local schools and graduated from Drury High School with the class of 1940. She later graduated from Springfield College.
Mrs. Lipa she began her career at Berkshire County Head Start as a volunteer in 1968. From 1978 until her death, she was the program's assistant director. In the course of her 34 years with Head Start, she achieved her college degree at the age of 50.
She was an inspiration and role model to many Head Start parents and staff.
She was first employed with the former Gale Shoe Co. for a short time and later at the former Sprague Electric Co.
An active member of St. Anthony of Padua Church, she was a member of the parish council and past president and member of the St. Anthony Rosary Society. She was one of the founders of the St. Anthony Carnivale. She served on the executive committee of LaFesta and was a fund raiser for its annual grand auction. She was chosen as Queen Isabella in the annual Fall Foliage Parade float sponsored by the Sons of Italy.
She enjoyed traveling with her children on trips to Italy, Costa Rica, Florida and California. For more than 20 years she organized bus trips to Washington, D.C., and New York City.
Her husband, Joseph John Lipa, whom she married Aug. 29, 1942, in St. Anthony's Church, died July 2, 1959.
She leaves two daughters, JoAnn Bates of Williamstown and Judith Ann Lipa of Springfield; three sons, John J. Lipa and his wife, Bonnie Corsi Lipa, of North Adams, Joseph J. Lipa and his wife, Patricia McEneany Lipa, of Pittsfield, and James J. Lipa and his wife, Debra Fossey Lipa, of the town of Florida; six sisters, Rita Trifone of Southbridge, Dorothy Beaupre of Adams, and Margaret Brule, Frances Schmidt, Carmella Brazeau and Joanne Saltamartini, all of North Adams; a brother, Dominic Mancuso of Pittsfield, and eight grandchildren, Joseph Lipa of Austin, Texas, Heather Lipa of Granada, Spain, Christopher Lipa of Pittsfield, E. Spencer and Caitlin Bates of Williamstown, Emily and Hallie Lipa of Florida and Alicia Lipa-Blount of Springfield; 26 nieces and nephews; 29 great-nieces and nephews, and five great-great-nieces and nephews.
Her sister Mary Piccolo, brother Albert Mancuso and granddaughter Julie Bates are deceased.
FUNERAL NOTICE â€' Funeral services for Catherine Lipa will be held Monday at 9 a.m. at FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams. Funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church Parish Center celebrated by the Rev. Daniel J. O'Hear, pastor. Burial will be in Southview Cemetery at a later date.
Calling hours are Sunday from 2 to 6 p.m. at the funeral home. The St. Anthony Rosary Society will meet Sunday at 1:45 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony Building Fund or to the Catherine Lipa Memorial Scholarship Fund, which is established to be given to Head Start parents to further their education goals.