Edna I. DiTaranto

Edna I. (Rodnick) DiTaranto, 99 of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 22, 2024 at the Jewish Healthcare Center surrounded by her loving family.

Edna’s husband of 65 years, Peter P. DiTaranto Sr. passed away on October 26, 2016. She is survived by her loving children, Donald Wade, Sr. of Florida, Peter P. DiTaranto, Jr. of Worcester, Bonnie M. Dupont and her husband Ronald of Shrewsbury. She was a proud grandmother to Deborah Puccio, Tara and Janna DiTaranto, Alana Giagni and her husband Stephen. Her great grandchildren, Amanda, Eric, Chad, Isabella and Stephen Jr. gave her immense joy. Edna leaves many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by two sisters, Mildred Vinskey and Bertha Forsythe: her grandson Donald Wade Jr.

Edna was born in Grafton, daughter of the late Joseph and Edna M. (Garner) Rodnick. She grew up in Grafton where she graduated from Grafton High School and later earned her certification in cosmetology. She worked as a hairdresser and then became a teacher at Brom’s Academy School of Hairdressing. After retirement from teaching, she worked part time at the former Sposato’s Greenhouse in Grafton.

Edna was very artistic and creative; she loved crocheting blankets and gifting them. Through the years she sewed, painted pictures and did many different crafts. She enjoyed reading, doing word search puzzles and spending time with her family and friends, especially her dear friend Beverly De Marco. Edna was a good cook and had the gift of making her house a home. She will be sadly missed.

The family would like to thank the entire staff of the Jewish Healthcare Center for the kindness and care they gave Edna during her time there.

Services for Edna will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from the Mercadante Funeral Home and Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester with a funeral Mass at 11:00 am in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and Our Lady of Loreto Parish, 37 Massasoit Rd. Worcester. Burial will follow in St Philip’s Cemetery, Grafton. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 3rd from 9:30 -10:30 am in the funeral home prior to departure for the funeral Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to: Jewish Healthcare Center, c/o Jody Freeman, Director of Development, 629 Salisbury St., Worcester, Ma. 01609