Mary Rose Dirago, theatrical seamstress
The Haverhill
Gazette Milestones
Section...
January 15 -- January 21, 2004
By Tom Vartabedian, Staff Writer
Mary Rose (Perreault) Dirago put her talents to use as a dressmaker.
In addition to working for Madame Coty, a prominent clothing name in the area,
she also labored behind the scenes of local theater groups as a costume designer
for her children and grandchildren.
Her flair for costuming was found in such shows as "The Sound of Music" and
"The King & I" and never wavered an opportunity to pitch a hand so long as
it was behind the scenes. That's where she excelled.
"She kept at it a long time," said her son George. "My mother made it possible for performers to dress accordingly. She loved the theater and took a lot of pride in watching her grandchildren appear on stage in her costumes."
Mrs. Dirago died over the weekend at Merrimack Valley Hospital at age 88.
She was a lifelong resident of the city, living much of her life inside a
three-family tenement at 85 High St., filled with relatives.
When entertaining, Mrs. Dirago gained applause as a cook and hostess. She was
known for the New Year's parties she threw for fellow Western Electric workers
and other holiday extravaganzas.
Sundays were set aside for family dinners, which she prepared. There was never
a shortage of guests as she was one of 13 children and raised three of her own
which resulted in 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two
great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Dirago left St. Joseph's School after the eighth-grade to help nurture
younger siblings, but always remained a stickler for education. She began
working in shoe factories at 16 and quickly learned the meaning of sacrifice.
"When I dropped out of college, she encouraged me to go back," said her son
George. "I'll never forget the advice she gave me. She said a quitter never
succeeds and I graduated from Northeastern with a degree in political science."
Exactly two years prior, she lost her husband Vincent at age 91. The two had spent time together at
Kenoza Manor Nursing Home and retired together in 1971 from Western Electric
after 28 years where she worked as a layout operator. They had been married
68 years.
"Where you found one, you saw the other," said George. "They were soulmates.
They walked together, talked together and enjoyed similar activities."
Both were 25-year volunteers at Hale Hospital. They purchased a motor home and
traveled the roller skating circuit to national tournaments. They were part of
a happy group called the Merrival Campers which savored outdoor life and held
the environment sacred. A cultured woman, music filled her home, mostly Mozart
and Beethoven.
When All Saints Church was going through some difficult times, she gave a lot
of moral support to its pastor, the Rev. Dennis T. Nason, who called her
"a tough woman," in his eulogy.
George serves as a Eucharistic minister. His mother belonged to the Ladies of
St. Anne Society. You would find Mrs.Dirago bowling in two leagues with a
respectable 92 average. She and George won a mixed doubles tournament one year.
Besides her son and daughter-in-law Cammie of Haverhill, she leaves two
daughters, Marie Marzioli and her husband Alfred and Theresa Trick, all of
Haverhill; a brother Adrian Perreault, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; two sisters,
Rita Viens, Haverhill, and Priscilla Spaulding, Epping, N.H., and her
extended family which includes several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society,
c/o All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Ave., Haverhill, MA 01832 or to the food
pantry of that church. Arrangements were by the Berube-Comeau Funeral Home,
47 Broadway.
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ETP Ventures, Inc. All Rights Reserved.