Mary A. (Martino) Arena, of Melrose, died at home on March 28, 2014 at the age of 88. Mary was born & raised in East Boston and a graduate of Fitton High School in East Boston. She went on to earn her degree from Emmanuel College in Boston and then St. Elizabeth's School of Nursing. Mary resided in East Boston from 1926–1964 and the past 49 years in Melrose. She worked as a Register Nurse & Instructor for the Melrose Wakefield Hospital School of Nursing for many years. She was a member of the Incarnation Church in Melrose, Kappa Delta PSI and the Melrose Wakefield Hospital Auxiliary for many years. Mary loved going with her family to Sunday River, Hawaii, Italy many times and playing in the waves at Salisbury Beach. She enjoyed shopping, parties, games and was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan. She was the beloved wife of the late John Arena for 49 years. Loving mother of John Arena Jr. of Stoneham, Maria Arena & her fiancé Donald J. Burke of Malden, Nancy Arena & Holly Roberts of Lowell, Roberta Arena Swann & her husband LaDon of AL and Gianine McCluskey & her husband Michael of NH. Cherished grandmother of Kara, Nick, Ian, William, James, Gage, Elizabeth, Catherine & Grace. Devoted sister of Peter Martino & his late wife Catherine, Ferdinando Martino & his wife Theresa, all of Winthrop, and the late Gerald Martino & his wife Ella, William Martino & his wife Florence, Joan Cusimano & her husband James and Concetta Bombaci & her husband John. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose, on Wednesday, April 2nd at 8:45AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in The Church of the Incarnation, 425 Upham St. Melrose, at 10AM. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours on Tuesday from 3-8PM. Burial in Puritan Lawn Cemetery, Peabody. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.