Obituary of Rosalba Cincotti

On March 16, 2025, our beloved Rosalba (Capone) Cincotti passed away peacefully at the age of 77, after a courageous battle with Bronchiectasis and Congestive Heart Failure. She departed this world as she had lived in it—surrounded by the unwavering love of her family.

Rosalba's journey began on August 8, 1947, in the quaint hill town of Torre le Nocelle, nestled in the province of Avellino, Italy. The youngest of seven children born to Fiore Francesco and Annita Maria Capone, she grew up in a close-knit family that profoundly shaped the loving woman we all knew. Despite facing a serious illness as a child that left her bedridden for nearly a year, her family's love and care forged a unique bond with her siblings—a bond that carried her through the many challenges and triumphs of her life.

In postwar Italy, the Capone family dreamed of a better future. In 1958, with little more than hope and determination, they embarked on a long and uncertain voyage across the Atlantic, settling in Boston's North End. None of them spoke English or knew the customs of their new home, but they embraced the challenge, finding their way in a bustling immigrant community. Rosalba quickly adapted to her new country, learning English swiftly and excelling in school while helping her mother navigate this new world as her medical interpreter.

She attended Julie Billiart High School, graduating in 1967, where she formed lifelong friendships and discovered her love for singing in the Glee Club. Her experience with her mother's medical issues led her to enroll in Northeastern University's Radiology program at Mass General Hospital, becoming the first in her family to pursue higher education. As a certified X-ray technician, she spent over a decade at Mass General, where she not only honed her skills but also touched the lives of patients and colleagues alike with her warmth and kindness.

In 1967, Rosalba met her husband, Gerald (Jerry) Cincotti. After the birth of their first child, Danielle, they moved to Medford, MA and later settling in Burlington, MA, in 1977, where their family expanded to include Susan and Thomas. It was here that she truly flourished as a mother—reading to her children, encouraging their creativity, and ensuring they had all the opportunities she had not.

She volunteered at the school library, taught CCD for over 15 years at St. Malachy's Church, and discovered a love for gardening. She formed lifelong friendships with her neighbors, creating a community that would support and love her throughout her life—they coined themselves "The Rose Parade": Ann, Barbara, Betty, Jan, Martha, Tina, and others, fostering a community based on care and love all the way to her end.

Rosalba's career took her to Lahey Clinic in Burlington, where she worked for 25 years before retiring in 2013. There, she not only cared for patients with extraordinary kindness but also mentored young professionals, earning the First Mentor Award for her dedication to training future X-ray technicians. Patients often expressed their gratitude for the comfort she provided during difficult moments, a testament to her innate ability to make others feel at ease.

Beyond her career and family, Rosalba was a caretaker at heart. She selflessly devoted herself to her mother's care until her passing in 2001 and later to her husband during his battle with cancer, which he lost in 2013. Even in grief, she found purpose—giving her time to Minuteman Senior Services, supporting elderly members of the community, particularly those who spoke Italian, and volunteering at local schools to share her love of crafts and gardening with young students.

Perhaps one of her greatest joys in life was becoming a grandmother—her beloved title of "Nonna" brought her immense pride. She adored her four grandsons, cherishing the tradition of making her famous Christmas cookies with them—a legacy that will be lovingly passed down.

As her health declined in recent years, she remained surrounded by the same love and support she had always given to others. Her son, Thomas, took on the role of her primary caretaker, alongside her daughters Danielle and Susan. In the end, she left this world knowing she was deeply loved, just as she had loved so many.

Rosalba is survived by her children: Danielle Cincotti of Topsfield, MA, and her partner, Peter Denny, along with her sons, Luca and Matteo Gentile; Susan Herschell of West Linn, OR, and her husband, Paul, with their sons, Andrew and Alex; and Thomas Cincotti of Burlington, MA. She is lovingly remembered by her siblings: Beniamo Capone; Chiriaco (Jerry) Capone and his wife, Giovanna; Adua Fabbo and her husband, Chiriaco, all of Medford; Ernani Capone and his wife, Joanne, of Winchester; and Silvana Byrne of Westchester, PA. She was predeceased by her sister, Luisa, and Luisa's husband, Paolo Diorio, of Somerville, as well as her brother-in-law, Stephen Byrne, of Westchester, PA, and sister-in-law, Rosemarie Capone, of Medford.

She leaves behind a large extended family of beloved nieces and nephews, countless cherished friends, and a lifetime of memories that will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Rosalba's legacy is one of unwavering love, selfless devotion, and boundless kindness. She taught us that family is everything, that hard work and resilience can build a life of meaning, and that the simplest acts of care—holding a hand, offering a kind word, or making someone feel truly seen—are the greatest gifts we can give.

Visiting hours will be at the Arthur P. Graham Funeral Home, 3 Arlington Rd. (cor. of Pleasant St.) Woburn on Friday, March 21 from 4:00-7:00 pm.  The funeral will be held from the funeral home on Saturday, March 22 at 9:00 am, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Malachy Church in St. Veronica Parish, 99 Bedford St., Burlington.  Burial will be at the Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford.