Fay Dell'Arciprete

Flavia “Fay” M. Dell’Arciprete (Ferrante), a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026 at the age of 96, surrounded by the love of her family. Born in Brockton to the late Leonardo and Gemma Ferrante, Fay grew up in a close-knit family before moving to Cambridge, where she formed lifelong friendships, attended Cambridge High and Latin, and graduated from Burdett College.

In 1951 she married the love of her life, Anthony “Tony” Dell’Arciprete, and together they raised eight children, first in Waltham and then in their dream home on Beach Avenue in Hull. Fay filled their ocean-view house with warmth and activity, cooking from scratch, hosting lively gatherings, and delighting family and friends with her famous baked stuffed clams and “Grammy’s Granola.” She and Tony were often seen walking hand in hand along the beach, earning the affectionate nickname “the honeymooners” from neighbors. Together they shared a passion for music and ballroom dancing that brought them joy on Saturday nights out with friends.

After Tony’s passing in 1980, Fay drew strength from her family, deep friendships, and strong faith. A friend’s gift of paperback books sparked a lifelong love of reading and regular visits to the library, where she explored novels, biographies, and books on health and nutrition. She became an enthusiastic advocate for healthy eating and shared her practical wisdom—known fondly as her “Fay-isms”—through thousands of handwritten letters and cards. Her warmth, style, and genuine smile also led to a successful career with the Loretta Davis Promotional Agency, where she excelled as one of their top sellers.

Fay traveled with friends and family, visited her children across the country, volunteered at South Shore Hospital, and remained active in church and at the gym well into her nineties. In her final years in Pembroke, she found her greatest joy in the growing circle of her family, especially welcoming new grandchildren and great-grandchildren. To Fay, family was everything, and holding a new baby was the greatest gift.

She leaves behind her children Dianne, Denise, Debbie and her husband Jay, Daniel and his wife Janice, Donna, and Dina and her husband Kurt, as well as 18 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, many nieces and nephews, her brother James and sister-in-law Jennifer. She was predeceased by her son David, daughter Darlene, and eldest brother Philip and his wife Marjorie.