Jacqueline Angela Fortunato

LEWISTON – From the loving arms of her children, our Momma, Jacqueline Angel Fortunato, passed into the loving arms of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Sunday, Feb. 2, 2022 at D’Youville Pavillion in Lewiston. Momma was born to Nicholas and Rose LaVista on Sept. 23, 1924 in the Bronx, N.Y. She grew up in Mineola, N.Y., and graduated from Mineola High School in 1942, where she was a member of the basketball team and drama club. Upon graduation she entered the work force as a long distance operator, a position she held for many years. Momma met our Dad, James Fortunato Sr. through her sister Mary in 1943. They dated for four years and married on August 31, 1947. Dad and his father built their first home in Bay Shore, N.Y., where they resided for 41 years and raised their five children. They moved to South China in 1989 where Dad and his son Richard built their retirement home. Our mother was a kind, loving, gentle and generous woman who welcomed everyone into her life. She could be found in the front room (“the shrine”) each afternoon saying her prayers and daily rosary. Being of Italian heritage she was a great cook, her Sunday sauce and meatballs were a family favorite. No one could make her meatballs, her son-in-law, George attempted to perfect her recipe numerous times! Momma was a parishioner at St. Bridget Church in Vassalboro and St. John Church in Winslow. She sang in the choir in both churches and served as a Eucharistic Minister. Our mother is survived by her children, Susan Viscarelli, Jimmy and Beth Fortunato, Richard and Joyce Fortunato, Michael and Cathy Fortunato and Chris and Beckee Fortunato; her grandchildren, Janine Giroux, Katie Fortunato, Elisa Viscarelli, Kristy David, Michael Viscarelli, Amy Ballenger, Megan Bernasky, Matthew Fortunato, Nicholas Fortunato and bonus grandson, Cheick Diallo, along with her two stepgrandchildren, Gene Iacona and Yvonne Piazza; 12 great-grandchildren, Declan and Delaney Giroux, Eddie and James David, Sophia Rancourt, Ansleigh, Walker and Charlie Ballenger, Wyatt& Walker Bernasky, Luca and Vinn Viscarelli. Mom was predeceased by her parents and husband James Fortunato, Sr., her son-in-law George Viscarelli, her sisters Lena Gianni, Mary Motto, Mae Mahoney and her brother Ralph LaVista. The family wants to acknowledge the excellent care and love she received for the past four years from the staff at 4 East at D’Youville Pavillion. We would also like to thank the staff from Beacon Hospice who comforted Momma in her final weeks. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday June 2 at 10 a.m., at St. John Church in Winslow with a burial to follow at St. Francis Cemetery in Waterville.Arrangements are entrusted to Veilleux and Redington Funeral Home, http://www.VeilleuxFuneralHome.com.Donations can be made to Good Shepard Food Bank in Auburn, Maine.