Brenda J. (Sabatino) Damiano

HAVERHILL - It is with great sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Brenda J. Damiano, 76, of Haverhill, MA. Brenda passed away December 18, 2024.

She was born in Haverhill, on March 21,1948 to Janice C. (Morse) and Bernard (Bennie) Sabatino and raised in Haverhill, Mass. her entire life. Brenda was the first born of five siblings, which she helped raise, clean, cook and take care of the household while her parents worked. 

Brenda attended all Haverhill schools growing up and graduating from Haverhill High School Class of 1966. Then there was the day at Plaza Bowling Lanes on Lincoln Avenue here in Haverhill where she first laid eyes on a man, she knew she would marry, and he became the love of her life. They then bowled on a mixed league together for many years bowling ten pins. She married her love Joseph E. Damiano on July 15, 1967, in a very quiet ceremony to which she was happily married for 57 years.

They bought their first and only home across the street from her childhood home where she resided until her passing. They went on to have two children, Heidi M. Damiano (Yell) and Wendy Lee Damiano, which they raised in the same home that to this day they still lived.

She was a housewife who became the family babysitter for all her sibling’s children and helped raise them while her siblings all worked. She became the neighborhood mother to all that knew her and also watched many of her good friend’s children as well. Over the years many of her daughter’s friends also looked at her as a mother figure. Eventually Brenda went on to work in the Haverhill School System starting out at Nettle School as an outdoor monitor then went on to working in the cafeteria before moving onto the Haverhill High School Cafeteria where she eventually retired in 2003. 

Some of the things she enjoyed were sewing, doing word search puzzles, watching Nascar Racing, The Hallmark Channel and all the Boston professional sports teams on TV and in person with her family, playing card games which she went on to teach her children and grandchildren. In the summer you could find her swimming in the family pool and in her younger years spending Sundays at Hampton Beach with friends and family. She enjoyed cooking homemade recipes, as well as Joseph and herself were known for baking their homemade Boston Baked Beans and homemade coleslaw every Saturday night that so many loved, they would then send small containers to family and neighbors in the neighborhood. In the fall after the harvest of their large family garden she would spend hours prepping and canning with the help of her husband and children. Some of her favorite hobbies she enjoyed were baking, which you could find her spending numerous hours on a weekend baking her banana breads and chocolate chip cookies which she always gave away to loved ones monthly. She also enjoyed crocheting hats and mittens which she would donate to the Salvation Army every winter, as well as she would spend hours on end everyday crocheting variegated afghans which she would sell or give to friends and family.  

Her newest interest / hobby was watching the squirrels, chipmucks, as well as the birds at the large array of feeders her daughter Heidi had in the backyard. She mostly loved watching the Bald Eagles that are nesting in the white pines on the next street that she had the best view of when they would fly by to land in their nest. Most of all her family was always her number one priority, which she treasured dearly.

Over the years she enjoyed watching and helping raise her three grandchildren Travis, Nia, and Quinton on the same street she was raised and lived on for 70 years. Prior to her passing her granddaughter Nia welcomed her one and only great grandchild Axel who was born and she had a blessed 15 months of seeing and enjoying him almost every day.

She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her beloved husband Joseph E. Damiano and her beloved Yorkshire Terrier Tarshe; daughter Heidi M. Damiano (Yell) of Haverhill, MA, granddaughter Nia M. Yell, her only great-grandson Axel Ty Anaya of Groveland, MA, daughter Wendy Lee Damiano which everyone new and called Nanie, grandson Quinton A.D. Damiano of Lawrence, MA; siblings James B. Sabatino, Sr., and wife Cynthia of Raymond, NH, Beverly J. Spohr and husband Wally of Strafford, NH, Bonita J. Clay and husband Clint, Sr. of Moultonborough, NH, Joel B. Sabatino, Sr. and his wife Wendi of Haverhill, MA;  her only living aunt Mildred Chadwich and  husband Rodney of W. Newbury, MA; many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her loving parents as well as her two beloved grandsons Travis Mitchell Yell (age 20) and Joseph James Damiano (newborn) and her nephew Matthew Sabatino (age 28).  

Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 28, in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill at 11:00 AM. Please meet directly at the cemetery. Flowers are welcomed at the grave in her memory. Look for the yellow balloons. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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