Helen (Demattia) Carvotta

Carvotta, Helen (DeMattia), of Revere, formerly of Peabody, died peacefully in her sleep at the Lighthouse Nursing Facility in Revere, on March 21, 2017. She had just celebrated her 97 birthday at the Lighthouse nursing home surrounded by her loving family and friends. Beloved wife of over 50 years to the late “Patsy” Carvotta, originally of Medford. Helen was the beloved mother to her late son John Carvotta of Groveland. Cherished grandmother of Christopher of Norwalk, CT and Alex of Groveland. John was married to Kimberly Carvotta also of Groveland. Helen also leaves her very special great grandchildren, John Carvotta and Eva Carvotta of Norwalk,CT, children of Christopher and Eveline Carvotta. Helen was a loving daughter to the late Michael and Marina DeMattia of Revere. She also leaves her much beloved sister Jody Caruso of Maine and brothers Charles and Michael DeMattia both of Revere, and the late Clara DiCarlo of Salisbury, George of Randolph, and Arthur DeMattia of Revere. She also leaves her former daughter in-law Michele Modica, many adoring nieces and nephews who visited her often over the years and who loved talking to her about her musical career with the family and the “All Ladies Band” she and her two sisters performed with throughout the 1940’s. Helen was a woman clearly ahead of her time, a liberated woman long before it came into vogue. She was multi-talented in many areas, foremost a gifted and talented pianist, a tremendous Seamstress who created and stitched her haute couture gowns for her work as a musician and was involved in other artistic endeavors over the years. Because of the family’s musical background, Helen, Jody, and Clara were members of the All Ladies Band which traveled and worked in venues in the Northeast and Canada throughout the 1940’s Big Band Era. Although Helen played the drums in the Band, she was more importantly valued as a truly gifted and talented pianist, self-taught. She would lovingly play piano for her family and they always enjoyed those treasured moments. While on the road Helen became a great friend to Sammy Davis Jr. who appeared with his father’s Vaudeville act in the same venues in Canada as the All Ladies Band and was taught to play the drums by Helen. Whenever Sammy was appearing in Boston, Helen would attend the performance and visit him in his dressing room where they enjoyed stories about being “on the road” together in the days before integration and shared many laughs about their experiences. Helen and her sisters had to “sneak” Sammy into the hotel from the back entrance because he and his father could not be in the “white” hotel with the other players. This is when he learned to play the drum and then started to add to his instrumental repertoire. Helen will always remain an inspiration for all women and mothers today who struggle to be a professional as well be the center of their family and do it so well. She is greatly loved and respected and will be sorely missed and remembered fondly by all those who had the privilege to have known her. Funeral from the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home 128 Revere St, Revere on Tuesday March 28, 2017 at 9:00am. Funeral Mass in St Anthony’s church at 10:00am. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visitation on Monday from 4:00pm to 8:00pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Make-A-Wish, Attn: donations, One Bulfinch Place 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114. Interment Woodlawn Cemetery.

St Anthony's of Padua Cath Church

Phone: (781) 289-1234

Address: 250 Revere St Revere MA,

Service Date: Monday March 27th, 2017

Service Time: 4:00 pm

Service Notes: Visitation