Nancy M (Mollica) Certo -- North Smithfield

North Smithfield – Nancy M. (Mollica) Certo, 92, of the Villa at St. Antoine, Mendon Road died Sunday, July 26, 2009 at Landmark Medical Center, Woonsocket. She was the wife of the late Joseph Certo.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, a daughter of the late Emmanuel M. and Annunziata (Saltalamacchia) Mollica, she had lived in Pennsylvania for most of her life, moving to Lincoln for 9 years before moving to North Smithfield 3 ½ years ago.

As a teenager, she studied at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia and she was a protégé of Arturo Toscanini. Her stage name was Nancy Newell and she was often cast in the role made famous by Jeanette MacDonald. She sang various songs from operettas. She sang with the Big Bands of Benny Goodman, Fred Waring and Woody Herman. A night club entertainer, she was the first act and lead entertainer at Club Del Rio in Manoa, PA. During World War II, she worked and produced several inventions for General Electric on gear hobbing machines for the B-29 Bombers.

She is survived by two sons, Domenic Certo of Philadelphia, PA and Peter J. Certo of Lincoln; seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Joseph Mollica, Katherine Pisasale, Michael, Grace and Joseph Mollica.

Her funeral will be held THURSDAY, JULY 30 at 8:45 A.M. from the BELLOWS-FALSO FUNERAL CHAPEL, 160 River Road, Lincoln with a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 A.M. in St. Jude’s Church, 301 Front Street, Lincoln. Entombment will be in Our Risen Christ Mausoleum in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call WEDNESDAY 4-8 P.M. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mrs. Certo’s memory to the Nancy M. Certo Music Scholarship Fund, c/o Mount St. Charles Academy, ATTN: Mrs. Christine Cabral, 800 Logee Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895 would be appreciated. For Directions and Guest Book, please visit www.bellowsfh.com.

Reported: 07/27/09 (Show all obituaries for this day)

By: Bellows-Falso Funeral Chapel (Show all obituaries and information about this funeral home)

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