Lola Ann (Scanzillo) Cuevas

          Beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend Lola Cuevas left this world on December 2, 2023, at the high-spirited age of 90 years old.

          Born on August 21, 1933, to Nicholas and Jenny Scanzillo, Lola was a first-generation Italian American. She graduated from the class of 1950 at Jamaica Plain High and was a lover of winning spelling bees and roller skating. A roller rink was where she met her devoted husband of 50 years, Navy-man, and Mississippian Ray J. Cuevas, Sr. Together they had three children and lived a life of adventure from California to Cuba.

          After Ray’s retirement, the family settled in Lee, MA where they started R&L Painting and Lola worked at Lee National Bank. She spent her free time gardening, bowling, playing bingo, doing crossword puzzles, reading, and cooking big breakfasts and dinners for her loving family. Her smile was infectious, and she was often found dancing around the kitchen, singing, and full of joy.

          Lola is preceded in death by her husband and parents, her sister Augustine Scanzillo, and her son Vincent Cuevas. She leaves two sisters, Sally Gallagher of Needham, and Rita Durfee of Natick; a brother, John N. and his wife Frannie Scanzillo of Florida; a son, Ray J. Cuevas Jr. of Lenox; a daughter, Sheryl Cuevas Bercier and Daniel Marino of Connecticut; her grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Matthew Cuevas of Lee, Daniel, Rebecca, and Addilyn Cuevas of Lenox Dale, Christopher and Neko Cuevas of Cheshire, and Michelle Cuevas and Dr. Robert Holub of Great Barrington. 

          A Liturgy of Christian Burial for Lola Cuevas will be held Thursday, December 7th at 12 noon at St. Mary’s Church in Lee, MA. Burial will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery. Visiting Hours will be Wednesday from 4-6 pm at the Kelly Funeral Home in Lee, MA.

          Lola was a lifelong lover of books and reading. If you’d care to make a donation in her memory, please consider the Literacy Network of South Berkshires, donation link at litnetsb.org or in c/o the Kelly Funeral Home, 3 Main Street, Lee, MA  01238.