81, of Cranston, has made the journey to her next life. She will be guided through her transition by her beloved husband the late Joseph A. Gemma, Sr. and her cherished daughter the late Maria-Elena Gemma. Elena passed peacefully, surrounded by her family on Wednesday, August 24, 2016 at Cortland Place, Greenville. Born on Federal Hill in Providence she was a daughter of the late Santo and Antonetta (Lanna) DiPietro. Elena was a graduate of Mount Pleasant High School, Class of 1953 and a graduate of Rhode Island College where she received both her bachelor and master’s degrees. She was a recipient of the prestigious Jefferson Award for Scholastic Achievement and was a member of MENSA International. Elena served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary Church, Cranston. She was a volunteer at the St. Vincent DePaul Society Food Bank for twenty-five years and INSIGHT for the Blind, CASA  where she served as an advocate for neglected and abused children. Elena worked as a Diagnostic Prescriptive Teacher and at the Special Services Center for the City of Cranston before her retirement.

She is survived by her loving sons, Alexander J. Gemma and his wife Karen of Cranston, Joseph A. Gemma, Jr. and his wife Virginia of Shelby Township, MI, Peter J. Gemma and his partner Michael of Seattle, WA and Paul V. Gemma and his wife Ann-Marie of Cranston. She was the cherished grandmother of eight and the great-grandmother of six. Elena was the sister of Gemma Dean of Cranston and the late Rita Simonelli, Eligio, Osvaldo, and Alfio DiPietro, She was the sister-in-law of  Mary DiPietro of Cranston and Marion DePalma of Scituate. Elena will be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews, the "Sutton Street Girls" and her dear friend Mary Simeone.

Funeral from the NARDOLILLO FUNERAL HOME & Crematory, 1278 Park Avenue, Cranston on Monday at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. in St. Mary Church, 1525 Cranston Street, Cranston. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston. VISITING HOURS Sunday 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman Street, Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906.

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