Natalie (Sarto) Fanaras

HAVERHILL - Natalie (Sarto) Fanaras, 87, lifelong Haverhill resident, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 15. 

Cherished wife of the late Robert 'Bob' Fanaras who passed in 2016. They married on November 10, 1957.  Survived by two sons, Mark A. Fanaras and Andrew R. Fanaras both of Haverhill; predeceased by husband Robert (Bob) Fanaras, parents Andrew Sarto and Mary (Colleto) Sarto and brother Louis Sarto of Haverhill. She has three grandchildren, Alicia Fanaras and her fiancé Nick Dobbs of Sandown, NH, Mark Nathan Fanaras and Adam Fanaras both of Bradford; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.  

Natalie was the care-taker for everyone in the family for decades. Her parents, her in-laws, aunts, uncles and even caring for elderly neighbors. Cooking and caring for all of them. She was the cornerstone of the family.
She had an incredible work-ethic working as a bookkeeper for Brentwood Machine Sales from the early 70's until retirement in the early 2000's. She also had great energy and toughness to make it thru many medical challenges later in life.  

Her passions in life were NFL Football (the Patriots more than any team) and the Celtics. She also loved the Bruins and Red Sox. A unique woman who was as passionate about sports as the men in her family! She also had a passion of roses and flowers in general. Along with decorating for all of the holidays. Natalie loved people and made friends with all the new people who moved into her neighborhood and also with anyone she met at the medical facilities she needed later in life.

She was a woman of principle always saying "my father taught me to never be a liar and always speak the truth." She carried herself that way thru life, at times rubbing the people the wrong way by speaking an uncomfortable truth. She was an outspoken and independent woman growing up in a time when that wasn't commonly accepted. So many people with miss the Feisty Little Italian Lady. 

Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 19, in the Driscoll Funeral Home, 309 S. Main Street, Haverhill from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Catholic Funeral Rites will be offered graveside Friday, in St. Patrick Cemetery, N. Broadway at 11:00 AM. For guestbook, visit www.driscollcares.com

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