Obituary: Domenico Pietro Calabria

Domenico Pietro Calabria, at 76 

Domenico Pietro (“Peter”) Calabria passed away after a courageous battle with glioblastoma on Nov. 22, 2023. He was 76.

Mr. Calabria leaves behind his beloved wife of 44 years, Maria Fabiano Calabria; his daughter Felicia Bennington and her husband, Jason, of Weymouth; and his daughter Silvana Bitar and her husband, Bahige, of Rockland. He was the brother of Pino Calabria of Hull, Maria Donato of Hull, and the late Ciccio Calabria, Silvana Calabria, and Vincent Calabria. He was the devoted Nonno to his grandchildren, Nicholas and Emilia Bennington. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Calabria immigrated to Hull from Sambiase/Lamezia Terme in Calabria, Italy, when he was only 19 years old. He came to be with his siblings and to make a better life for himself. He went back to Italy in 1979, and that is when he met his wife, Maria Fabiano. She moved here with him and helped to build a fantastic life for their family. Everyone was welcome in their house, where they would be sure to offer you something to eat or drink.

Mr. Calabria was a talented carpenter who created beautiful, intricate wood pieces. He originally started with creating altars and woodwork for churches, and more recently he created the cases for model ships for Lannan’s Ship Model Gallery. Mr. Calabria worked hard his entire life up until he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, and for 11 months, he didn’t allow even that to slow him down.

Mr. Calabria loved planting and taking care of his large garden of tomatoes and other vegetables, along with his wonderful fig tree that he would bury every year to protect it from the elements. For the holiday season, he would construct his intricate Christmas display that consisted of both outside lights and a Christmas village and Nativity set that would take up two rooms in his basement. Whenever anyone came to visit, he would take great joy in showing them his garden and his Christmas display. He was always known as the man behind the camera, documenting every event in his family’s life. He also loved walking along Nantasket Beach collecting shells and rocks.

Family was everything to Mr. Calabria. He was the best father and Nonno that anyone could ever ask for, and nothing brought him more happiness than to watch his grandkids playing. Saturday night dinners became a tradition in the Calabria household, and everyone was always welcome. Mr. Calabria was a generous, giving, selfless man who will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

Visiting hours were held Wednesday. A Celebration of Life Service is scheduled for Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Pyne Keohane Funeral Home, 21 Emerald St., Hingham, prior to the funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Parish in St. Ann’s Church at 10:30 a.m. Burial in Hull Village Cemetery. Donations in memory of Domenico Pietro Calabria may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to support cancer research and patient care: Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or dana-farber.org/gift.