Elena Lucia Filippone, 89 of Lynnfield MA, formerly of East Boston, passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2023.

During her last days, Elena was surrounded by her loving family, the caretakers from Avita of Newburyport, Compassus Hospice as well as some special others. For those who were too far away to visit her in time, a phone was held to her ear as they told her how much they loved her. A room filled with love that was never overshadowed by tears, exactly the way she would have wanted it. She was the beloved wife of the late Vittorio Filippone with whom she spent 62 years of marriage until his passing in 2017. She was born in East Boston on July 21, 1934 and was the adored daughter of the late Frank and Lucia (Landolfi) Zambello.

As a child, young adult and for the first part of her marriage, Elena resided in East Boston where she enjoyed being close to her family. She took pleasure in all the Italian gatherings that both sides of the family would frequently hold. After relocating her family to Lynnfield, she would often return to the city for those fun events or hold them at her own home in the suburbs. She loved to cook and take care of her family and her house was kept in immaculate order.

She worked a few different jobs before becoming a homemaker and a mother, something she always longed to be. Finally, after years of trying, she welcomed her first son, Vittorio, who was named after her husband.

Elena was a monumentally religious person and went to church more than most people ever have. She found comfort and peace in being there and was as generous as she could be to her church, Our Lady of Assumption of Lynnfield. She would often pray to saints, but her favorite was St. Jude, who she named her youngest son after.

Once she became a grandmother, that is when she shined the most - The Goat (Greatest of All Time). She held a special relationship with all her grandchildren, but her first grandson, Jesse, the only child of her daughter, Maria, became like another son to her. She would attend every special event with her grandchildren until it became impossible. But for as long as she could, she would send cards - for every holiday, for every birthday and for every special occasion in their lives. She also relished their many visits and talking with them on the phone, because she cared so much about what was happening in their lives. The four Sirois grandchildren (Michael, Colin, Samantha and John), the children of her daughter, Lucille, always made time for her and they enjoyed her company as much as she enjoyed theirs. And Tanner, her youngest grandchild was a joy to her, she would color and get down on her hands and knees and play with him for hours. Though Angel and Billy didn't get as much time with her, she treasured them no less.

During these last few years, more than ever, she cherished her relationship with her only surviving sibling, Rose Ann. Though they lived some distance apart, they remained close and communicated through cards and many phone calls. Elena also had a special bond with her many nieces and nephews, in particular the ones on her husband's side who would often visit.

An apogee of Elena's life was having her first great-granddaughter and keepsake, Elena Bruinsma, and soon to follow, Isabella Bruinsma.

These recent years were tough ones as Elena cared for her husband after a long illness, then shortly thereafter, embarked on a battle of her own. But she embellished those years with dignity and grace as much as possible, and that's something that will be admired by all for years to come. There's no end to the wonderful things that could be said about Elena. She will be missed tremendously. To share a quote reminiscent of how Elena would want her loved ones to carry on, “If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart, I'll stay there forever." - Winnie The Pooh (A.A. Milne)

Elena is survived by her 4 children, Vittorio Filippone and his wife Kimberly of NC, Lucille Sirois and her husband Michael of Merrimac, Maria Bruinsma and her husband William of Lynnfield, and Jude Filippone and his wife Gina of ME; her grandchildren, Jesse Bruinsma and his wife Molly, Michael Sirois and his girlfriend Laurel Driskill, Colin Sirois and his girlfriend Courtney Terry, Samantha Sirois, John Sirois, and Billy, Angel, and Tanner Filippone; her sister, Rose Ann Bucca; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Sadly, in addition to her parents and husband, she is predeceased by her siblings, Frank, Joseph and Emilio Zambello, Frances Petrone, Tomasina LoConte and Philomena Parziale.

Her funeral will be from the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn Street, Peabody on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 8:45AM followed by a procession to Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Lynnfield for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in her honor at 10AM. Visiting hours will be on Monday from 4PM to 7PM. Interment will be at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Elena’s memory to Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 17 Grove St. Lynnfield, MA 01940 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by visiting www.stjude.org.