Ned Pavia

Ned Pavia of Salem, Ma. Formerly of Framingham Ma entered into rest peacefully Sunday August 25, 2024 with his son and daughter by his side. Ned was a beloved husband, father, Grandfather, Uncle, cousin and friend and will missed by all that knew him.

Survived by his eldest son, Edmond Pavia of Worcester, Ma., his daughter Jennifer (Pavia) Keller, his son in law John Keller of Auburn, MA, his daughter in law Natalie (Monestime) Pavia of Salem, Ma., his five beloved grandchildren Jordan, Trey, Aidan Gabriel & Julianna as well as many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many friends who were like family, neighbors and former co-workers. Preceded in death by his wife Maureen (Kelly) Pavia, his youngest son John L. Pavia, his parents Francesco & Filomena (Castagna) Pavia, his brothers Frank & Salvatore Pavia and his nephew Frankie Pavia.

Ned lost his beloved wife Maureen of 61-1/2 years this past April along with his youngest son, John two days later. He was left with a broken heart both physically and emotionally. Still, he remained strong for the rest of our family for as long as he could. He is now reunited with his wife and son in the loving arms of our lord and no longer is in pain but at peace still watching and protecting his family as our angel.

Maureen and Ned shared a love story for the ages. Meeting in their twenties while working at the same company, first meeting via phone they decided to meet in person at St Patrick Cathedral in New York City where it was love at first site. Married on July 6th, 1963, they would go on to have three children and create a family and home that would be welcoming to all that knew them. They supported each other and the family through many moves around the country, before finally settling in Framingham in 1981. They would spend 43 years in their home that became a second home and family to many friends.

Ned would welcome their children’s friends into their home and make them feel loved and a part of the family. This was never truer when they met their daughter in law Natalie, who was only 20 at the time. Natalie left an indelible mark in Ned’s heart and would go on to be not just a daughter in law but a daughter and friend in every way. After the loss of his son John he chose to live in Salem to be closer to her and his grandchildren during an unimaginable time of grief. Natalie was his voice of reason when no one could tell him otherwise, her gentle way always comforted him and he was so proud to tell everyone she was a nurse. We will always be forever grateful for her connection to Ned.

Ned was a proud first generation Italian American who spoke fluent Italian, Spanish and English. Growing up in Freeport Long Island, NY. He was the youngest in his family and always had a mischievous playful smile and twinkle in his eye. His laugh was from the heart and his humor and wit never ending. He loved the Italian culture and his heritage but was a very proud American who volunteered for the Army at 18 with his cousin. After basic training at Fort Dixes, N.J he would spend two years serving at Fort Belvedere Virginia. He considered this one of the greatest experiences of his life. Serving during peacetime, he left months before the Korean war which left him to be a constant supporter of the Korean War veterans.

After the Army he was able to attend college on the GI Bill, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Relations from St John’s University in Brooklyn, NY. Ned would go on to have a long career of over 40 years in Business Management with companies such as General Electric Corporation, GEM stores and Bloomingdales. Leaving General Electric in 1987, he would start the second half of his business career in the second mortgage world where he spent the next twenty years until he retired in early 2000. In retirement, he worked for Busy Bee, driving a van for the elderly and special needs children. Ned was very social and enjoyed conversing with his customers and hearing about their lives.

He was always fascinated by the human experience with a love of history, military, politics and sports. He was an avid reader and lifelong learner, he enjoyed watching the Italian station RAI as well as watching murder mysteries with his wife Maureen on Acorn or Brit Box. Ned was a great story teller, sharing stories about his family’s journey to America and the lives they lived in Italy. Growing up bilingual and later becoming trilingual in Spanish, he loved speaking in both Italian and Spanish whenever the opportunity arose; even if that meant stopping a stranger who he heard speaking either language so he could say hi and interact with them in their first language. He had the opportunity as a teen to visit Italy with his mother for four months, where he spent time traveling the country and meeting his family in Metito, Calabria the home of both his parents. It was truly one of the best times of his life that he never forgot and passed down to his children who are now the keeper of his stories.

His family would like to thank both the John Bertram House of Salem and Care Dimensions Hospice team for the love and care they showered upon our father. We are forever grateful to all the outstanding caring staff that made his new place a home in the last months of his life with their patience, love and care of our father. We will be forever grateful.

Visiting hours will be Sunday, September 8th from 2-4 at the Norton Funeral Home 53 Beech St. (corner of Union Ave.) Framingham. A Catholic Mass will be held on Monday, September 9, 2024 10 am, St. Bridget’s Catholic Church 830 Worcester Rd., Framingham, with burial immediately following at Edgell Grove Cemetery 53 Grove Street, Framingham.

In lieu of Flowers donations may be to the links below for “Let it Be – Team JP” 2024 Mass General Cancer Center Eversource 5K Run-Walk or Mass General “Caring for the Cure” foundation in memory of John Pavia.

Let it Be – Team JP
https://because.massgeneral.org/team/597433

Caring for a cure Foundation
https://because.massgeneral.org/campaign/caring-for-a-cure/c112468

To leave a message of condolence please visit www.nortonfuneralhome.com