Enjoyed ballroom dancing, cooking and tending his garden

Published July 30, 2020

WAKEFIELD — Luca Cresta was born on June 30, 1930 and passed away on July 28, 2020.

He was born in Castelfranci Provence of Avellino, Region Campania, Italy. At the age of 21 he moved with his family to a bigger farm in Province of Pisa, Region Tuscany. Here he worked on the farm; worked general construction and served in the Italian army. He got married to Concetta Raffaele and later came to the United States. He first worked in a clothing factory in Germantown, Penn. and then settled in Wakefield. He worked at Middlesex Furniture Co. owned by John Raffael, Sr. and was later employed by Charley Cardillo Construction. Luca worked for him for many years and became a very good cement mason and also grew to be a self-employed mason with his partner, Felice Ciardiello.

He was predeceased by his father, the late Soccorso Cresta, his mother, the late Rosella Perillo; his late brothers, Michele and Giuseppe and late sisters, Mariuccia, Palmina, Minuccia. He is survived by his sister Emma, who lives in Italy at the age of 98.

Luca’s last 14 years of life have been the most difficult. On June 21, 2006 his right leg was amputated due to poor blood circulation. He lost his daughter, Rose Marie Cresta, to cancer at age 49. He battled many other health issues along the way and lost his wife, Concetta, on March 7, 2019.

He is survived by his son Anthony Cresta and his wife Bonnie Greenberg; his grandson, Tyler Cresta and granddaughter, Sophia Cresta.

Luca has always worked hard and never complained. He liked to ballroom dance, cook great food and take care of a big garden. He loved fruit trees and grapevines for making the best wine. He never met anyone that did not like him. He is remembered as a man of few words, with a huge heart and easy to get along with attitude. We, the family, believe that the Lord will make room for him to be in His kingdom, where he can now rest peacefully. After being a victim of the Coronavirus for the last three months at the age of 90.

Due to the current circumstances surrounding COVID-19, the family will have a private viewing for close family and dear friends of Luca at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Saturday from 9-10:45 a.m. followed by a graveside service at Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield at 11 a.m.

Extended family and friends are asked to kindly pay their respects online at mcdonaldfs.com or at a later time.