Mrs. Lorraine Pesce di Gregorio

di Gregorio-Lorraine (Ippolito) of Boston died peacefully in hospital on Wednesday February 9, 2011 after a sudden stroke. Lorraine was born in Boston into a musical family. Her grand-father, Salvatore Ippolito, was brought over from Italy by Oscar Hammerstein I to conduct at the Manhattan Opera Company in New York. He later established a wind instrument school in the North End of Boston. Her mother, Emilia Ippolito Giardini, was a well known voice teacher who established the Bel Canto School of Voice and Opera in Boston. She was Professor of Voice Emeritus at Boston University. As a child, Lorraine studied piano at the New England Conservatory and also violin privately. She graduated in voice from the Conservatory of Naples in Italy (San Pietro a Maiella) where she won a six year scholarship. She made her American debut as Gilda in “Rigoletto” with the San Carlo Opera Company and gave many concerts and oratorio performances including appearing with the St. Cecelia Schola Cantorum of Boston and the Providence Philharmonic Orchestra. She also appeared as a soloist on numerous occasions with the Boston Pops under the direction of Arthur Fiedler, Harry Ellis Dixon and John Williams. Lorraine was also presented with the I Migliori Award by the Pirendello Lyceum for her contributions to Italian musical heritage. For many years she was a voice teacher and opera coach. She was the wife of the late Dr. Savino di Gregorio and is survived by her brother Dante Giardini, Jr of Dearborn, MI and sister Adrienne Wittenborn of St. Charles, MO and her son Vito di Gregorio of Boston, MA, her daughters Giuliana di Gregorio of Milan, Italy and Silvana di Gregorio Gardiner of London, UK and her grand-children Alessandro Giglio of Milan, Italy and Laura Gardiner of London, UK. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home, Boston Harborside Home of J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring-Langone, 580 Commercial Street, Boston, MA 02019 on Monday February 14 between 4:00PM-8:00PM. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday February 15 at 10:00AM at St. Ignatius Church, 28 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill. Interment will follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery in Roslindale. In lieu of flowers, donations in Lorraine’s memory may be made to either the Dante Alighieri Society or the Pirendello Lyceum.