Ms. Diva Diva Theodora Tonucci Taylor

Diva Tonucci was born to Argentina Rolli and Lizanio Tonucci on Feb. 4, 1931. She is survived by her brother, Domenic Tonucci (and wife Aurora) of South Dennis, Massachusetts and her sister, Dolores O'Keefe, of West Dennis Massachusetts. She was pre-deceased by a sister, Giselde Orlandi. Her children include Lauren Taylor (Richard Cardinali) of Eastchester, NY and Dr. William Taylor of Hyannis, MA. Grandchildren include Andrea, David and Raymond Cardinali of Eastchester, NY, Anthony Foster of Eugene, Oregon along with Jane Hartford of Highland Park, IL.

Diva was groomed from a young age as a classical pianist. She continued to play piano until her last days and found solace in her music. She had many artistic pursuits including her favorite, sculpture. She created Tiffany style cut glass lamps and other glass items, worked with textiles creating hand dyed and loomed rugs, and she painted in oils and acrylics and sketched and photographed the beauty she found all around her.

Her grandchildren were her great joy and she enjoyed every moment she found to spend with them.

Ms. Tonucci traveled with her parents to Italy for the first time in 1950 when she was 19 years old. She was proud to see The Vatican in the Holy year and met all her Aunts, Uncles and cousins from Senigalia, (Ripe) and Reggio Emilia (Castel Novo Soto) and Viadana during that trip. She also made many friends with servicemen and kept many photos and letters they sent her in the following years. A cousin described those days in Ripe to me: "Your mum was so beautiful. She has a white dress that she wore off the shoulders. We never saw anything like that. She was like a Hollywood beauty. We had so much fun together when she first came to Italy."

In 1952, she met her future husband, Robert William Taylor. "Bob" was a Jazz Musician and stepping out with him opened up a new world for the classical pianist. They married in January of 1953 and after the birth of their first child, Michelle (Hartford?) they moved from Roxbury, MA to a house in Quincy, MA. A second daughter, Lauren arrived in 1955. In 1959, they bought a small summer cottage in West Dennis Massachusetts because they both loved Cape Cod so much. The family moved from Quincy to Weymouth, MA in 1961 after their third daughter was born. (Diva wanted a ranch; no more stairs for her with three kids!) The family was complete in 1961 when son, William, joined them.

In 1966, the entire family travelled throughout Europe for 13 weeks, beginning in London. All six family members rode in a Volkswagon bus driven by Dad from Paris, through France and over the Apls to Monaco, Italy, Switzerland,Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Holland and back to France through Normandy and Brittany. It was a trip Diva designed even though the children were young: 12, 11, 6 and 5 years old. The following Spring, the Taylor family made a permanent move to Cape cod into the now expanded cottage they had purchased so long ago as a vacation home.

Diva began teaching music at the Wixon Middle School in South Dennis. She also became an entrepreneur selling Stanley Home Products at parties around the area. She continued to take art classes and pursue her creativity as she raised her children. She developed amazing cooking skills and catered large dinners on Sunday afternoons at the West Dennis Yacht Club after the Sailboat races. She loved the beach but was leary of water even after taking years of swimming lessons.

Several more international trips took Diva back to Italy to see her relatives from her mother's side and her father's side. Her Italian was fluent and she conversed in two Italian dialects with her cousins. She had many Italian sayings that she used often and her children and grandchildren know them well. A favorite was passed down from her mother: "Canta tavola, nonsciette, chies vo vedere fischio let." ="Only fools sing at the table and whistle in bed." Singing was encouraged anyplace but at the table!

Cape Cod was Diva's home and passion. She continued to take walks to the end of West Dennis Beach for as long as her health allowed. IN February of 2011, Diva turned 80 years old and friends and family gathered from all over to celebrate her and wish her well. She had a magical evening of music, dancing, eating and drinking complete with flowers, balloons and cake.

The last few winters in West Dennis were desolate and she moved to Hyannis to live with her son, Bill in November of 2011. She spent a few hours a day playing the piano and had small social circle that included friends in Hyannis and occasional visits to her siblings. She continued to laugh and smile even as her memories faded.

A visit to New York in late April of 2013 became a permanent stay. It was time for Diva to have full time care and more socialization than could be provided at home. She moved into Schnurmacher Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in May and was only four miles from her daughter, Lauren. Family visited nearly every day and Diva continued playing the piano and enjoying all the musical presentations offered several times a week. She had a sparkly "DIVA" sticker on her chair and everyone knew her and loved her. She smiled at everyone even if she forgot to say hello. We took many pictures and videos and even had her up dancing and pushing us in her wheelchair a few times.

She was still happy and lively on New Years Day. Soon after, it was discovered that she had some health issues. Following a brief illness and surgery, Diva left us peacefully on January 27, 2014.

But she will always be in out hearts.