Obituary of Dorothy A. Abruzzese

Dorothy A. (Thompson) Abruzzese, a longtime resident of Woburn, passed away on Saturday Morning, January 10, 2026.  She was 87 years of age.

Born in Medford, she was the daughter of the late William A., and the late Dorothy G. (Leonard) Thompson.  The love of her life, her husband, Lucius Marius "Mario" Abruzzese passed in 1996.

Dorothy stayed home and raised her children. But when they were older, she began to work for Vent-Axia, a British manufacturer of ventilation heating and cooling products.  She traveled to London, New Orleans and many places with the company.

After the death of her husband Mario, Dorothy would later have a companion, Joseph DiZio, of Winchester, MA, who passed in 2008.  Dorothy attended the First Baptist Church in Woburn MA, and later the First Congregational Church in Salem, NH.  She participated in the book group at the First Congregational Church in Salem, NH.

Dorothy loved to sew and create handmade ornaments for family members.   However, in later years, due to her Parkinsonism's, she was not able to use her hands the way she wanted to.

Dorothy played “Mrs. Claus” in the Lion's Club Halloween Parade for many years.   In addition, she led a group of Carolers every year for many years on the second Saturday of December to Carol through Winchester hospital, brightening the season for all those that found themselves in the hospital.   The Carolers were always accompanied by Santa Claus.

Dorothy cared about her neighborhood.  Refusing to live on a street dirtied by trash, she walked Warren Avenue once or twice a day picking and removing all trash on the road.  She enjoyed the impromptu parties that would pop up in the summer time around the pool where family members and friends would gather to cool off and enjoy each other's company.

Dorothy is survived by one daughter, Merri Carlson and her husband Scott of Salem, NH; one son, Mario Abruzzese and his fiancée Tonia Gracie of Sutton NH; and three grandchildren, Kristina Carlson and her fiancé Kevin Murphy of Buford GA, Jared Carlson and his wife Natalie of Hillsborough, NH, and Olivia Abruzzese of Reading, MA

She is also survived by one brother, Earl "Orkie" Thompson and his partner Christine Burr of Simsbury, CT; and two sisters, Carol Touchette of Medford, MA and her late husband Joseph, and Mary Ann Holmes and her husband Bradford of Plymouth, MA.  Dorothy was preceded in death by two brothers, the late Glenn Thompson, and the late James “Jimmy” Thompson.

Visiting hours will be at the Arthur P. Graham Funeral Home, 3 Arlington Rd., Woburn on Friday, January 16 from 4:00-7:30pm, followed by a funeral service at the funeral home at 7:30pm.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in Dorothy’s memory may be made to Silverthorne Adult Day Care, 23 Geremonty Drive, Salem NH 03079