Martha Jane Bongiorno

In Loving Memory of Martha Jane Bongiorno (Dole)
June 23, 1948 – October 6, 2026

Martha Jane Bongiorno (Dole) passed away on October 6, 2026, in Jackson, Tennessee. Born on June 23, 1948, in Winchester, Massachusetts, to Albion Illsley Dole Jr. and May Elizabeth (Goodwin) Dole, she was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend. Her family remembers her kindness, her creativity, and the pride with which she spoke about her children.

Martha was baptized on February 9, 1958, at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Reading, Massachusetts, in the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. Her baptismal certificate remains a treasured piece of her family’s history.

Martha graduated from McCarrie Schools in 1991 as a medical assistant and worked for many years in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a devoted wife and mother whose love for her family remained at the center of her life.

Her creativity began early. Her sister Priscilla remembers Martha picking wild blackberries and blueberries near Hancock Street and selling them around the neighborhood. After receiving a potholder-making kit one Christmas, she made and sold those creations too. She loved keeping busy and making things—though, as her sisters fondly remember, doing the dishes was never her favorite activity.

Throughout her life, Martha created wreaths, wind chimes, crocheted and knitted pieces, and Christmas trees made from safety pins and beads. Her nephew Wayne remembers how much she enjoyed making things and giving them as gifts, leaving people with something that would always remind them of her.

Her niece Julia especially treasures the Christmas tree Martha made from safety pins and beads. She proudly puts it out every Christmas and keeps it in her china cabinet throughout the year—a lasting reminder of her aunt’s creativity and love.

Her fudge, cakes, and puddings hold their own place in the family’s memories. Just mentioning her fudge brings back familiar kitchens, the happy mess of making something homemade, and moments together that mean even more today.

Martha loved Elvis Presley, especially on Sundays, when his music often played on repeat. Her son Trevor remembers singing Kenny Rogers with her in the car. Julia remembers their shared love of country music, their conversations about Kenny Chesney, and hearing Martha tell her all about her trip to Branson.

She also enjoyed John Wayne movies, her cats, and fried clams. Trevor remembers fixing her VCR so she could watch her favorite westerns again. Her nephew Marc fondly remembers Aunt Marty teaching him to skip the clam strips and go straight for whole-belly clams. He has traveled up and down the New England coast searching for the best ones, always thinking of Aunt Marty along the way.

Her sisters remember hundreds of games of Rummy 500 during summer vacations—and Martha winning far more often than she lost. Her sister Lizzie also holds those shared memories of playing cards and dancing close to her heart.

Above all, Martha loved to dance. Her nephew Jason remembers how the Twist would get them started and how hard it was to stop once they began. Her niece Laura treasures the memory of dancing with her at her Pennsylvania wedding, surrounded by music and family, with a live band. Trevor remembers how she would try to get him dancing too, even when he tried to slip away.

Julia also remembers how proudly Martha spoke about her three children. That pride, and the love behind it, is something her family will always hold close.

Martha shared a special bond with her granddaughter, Alyssa Lynn. Their time together and the memories they made hold a dear place in Alyssa’s heart. That love extended to Alyssa’s children, Martha’s great-grandchildren, Rossi and Silvia Valentino. The moments they shared across three generations remain a precious part of the family’s story.

Martha is survived by her son, Trevor Pagoria; her grandchildren, Alyssa Lynn, William, Heather, Trevor Junior, Andreas, and Jaden; her great-grandchildren, Rossi and Silvia Valentino; and her sisters, Priscilla Dole, Elizabeth Schuler, and Linda Russo. She also leaves behind her roommate and best friend, Bobbie Kellow, whose companionship was an important part of her life.

She will also be lovingly remembered by Wayne, Laura, Julia, Jason, Marc, Krista, Ronnie Junior, Kara, Marcia, and Carol; her in-laws, Donna, Barbara, and Sal; and her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. Each carries memories of her that will remain part of the family’s story.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Edward Bongiorno; her son, Robert Pagoria; her daughter, Bess Pagoria; her parents, Albion Illsley Dole Jr. and May Elizabeth (Goodwin) Dole; and her brothers, Phillip Dole, Kenneth Dole, and Albion Dole III.

Trevor’s girlfriend, Joanne, remembered Martha with these words: “She was a kind caring woman who we all know went straight to see Jesus.”

Martha will be remembered in the songs her family hears, the recipes they share, the gifts they hold, and the stories they tell. Each person carries a different memory of her. Together, those memories preserve a life deeply loved.

Her family wishes there were more time to hear her tell those stories herself—to hear her singing, share another dance, or sit down for one more game of cards. They will treasure the memories she left them and remember how proudly and deeply she loved them.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”
Psalm 23:6 — King James Version

A Son’s Farewell

At your bedside, I held your hand,
Facing a loss I could not understand.
I could not stop the coming goodbye,
So I stayed beside you and let myself cry.
Rest now with Jesus, free from pain;
I’ll love you, Mom, till we meet again.

With all my love, your son, Trevor.