Loretta (Babcock) Prestia

May 14, 1939 – May 23, 2024

Loretta May Prestia (nee Babcock) of Melrose, passed away peacefully on May 23rd after a lengthy illness at the age of 85. Loretta was born and raised in Everett, MA. She attended Everett High School and then moved to Melrose after marrying her husband of 62 years.

Loretta worked as a day care worker at KinderCare for many years then was a babysitter at the Melrose YMCA where she worked with many of her family members.

She was a devoted wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, sister, and Aunt. She loved crossword puzzles, watching both the Patriots and Red Sox and always enjoyed a casino trip to Connecticut.

She is survived by her loving husband; Leonard Prestia and was the devoted mother to her son Robert Prestia of Melrose, Lawrence Prestia and his wife Lisa of Hudson, New Hampshire, Susan Cushman and her husband Greg of Salem, New Hampshire, and David Prestia of Melrose. She was the adoring grandmother of Maureen Tuck and her husband Randy of Manchester, NH and Corinne Prestia of New York City, NY.

She was loving sister of the late John Babcock (husband of Catherine) of Malden, MA, Rita Bernhard (wife of Thomas) of Melrose, MA, Helen Hurd of Portland, ME, James Babcock (husband of Urania) of Billerica, MA, and her surviving sister Barbara Drago (wife of Dominic) of Stoneham. She is survived by many adored nieces and nephews.

Visiting hours will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St., Melrose on Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. Procession from the Gately Funeral Home on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 9:00 AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at the Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main Street, Wakefield, MA at 10:00 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment is at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose, MA.

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in memory of Loretta to support cancer research and patient care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or via jimmyfund.org/gift.