Newton - Donata (Cardarelli) Salvucci, 82, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her family on Friday, August 28, 2026. She was the beloved wife of Luigi Salvucci, with whom she shared 61 years of marriage. Donata was born in San Donato Val di Camino, Italy, on August 24, 1944. She was the daughter of the late Remo Cardarelli and Teresa (Tempesta) Cardarelli and sister to the late Cristina (Cardarelli) Leone, John Cardarelli, and the late Joseph Cardarelli. She lived in San Donato until the age of 18 and then immigrated to the United States where she would then reside in Brighton, Massachusetts with her family. In 1967, she later moved to Newton, MA, where she lived out the remainder of her life.
Donata was an extremely hard worker. She held various jobs throughout her life including the ARCO Switch in Brighton, Delaney Linen Service in Newton, Standard Thomson in Waltham, and Cuniff Elementary School in Watertown, where she would retire. If you knew Donata, it was clear that the job she found most rewarding was being mother to her four daughters, nonna to her seven grandchildren, and bisnonna to her one great-grandchild.
Donata was proud of her beautiful vegetable garden and loved to cook and bake. She would never attend a gathering without a delicious, homemade contribution. She was known for her famous ciambelle and cherry cake, which were often requested on demand and always showed up with her infectious smile and positive energy. She was the biggest cheerleader of her grandchildren and was often found at dance recitals, hockey, baseball, and soccer games and gymnastics meets (to name a few)... truly anywhere they were. She was loved by all who knew her.
Donata is survived by her husband Luigi, her brother John Cardarelli, her four daughters and sons-in-law, Ivana (Salvucci) Varallo and husband Daniel Varallo of Belmont, Rita (Salvucci) Miller and husband Richard Miller of Waltham, Sandra (Salvucci) Anastasi and husband Michael Anastasi of Framingham, and Dina Salvucci of Waltham. She is also survived by her grandchildren Danielle (Varallo) Rudolph and husband Robert Rudolph, Gabrielle Varallo, Andrew and Alex Miller, Sara, Jenna, and Michael Anastasi, and great-granddaughter Mia Rudolph. Her loving spirit lives in them.
Donata’s family will receive friends and family on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. Visiting hours will be from 9:30-11:30 am at Andrew J. Magni and Son Funeral Home at 365 Watertown Street in Newton, MA 02458. Funeral mass to follow at 12 p.m at Our Lady Help of Christians at 573 Washington St., Newton, MA 02458. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made in Donata’s honor to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.