Catherine J. Aloisi of Boston, a long time seasonal resident of the Vineyard, died of natural causes in early February at the age of 103.

She was born on Sept. 21, 1913 in the West End of Boston, where her father owned and operated a grocery store. She was one of six children born to Peter and Antonia Bicchieri. While a youngster the family moved to a large home in Belmont which housed many relatives from Italy until they found employment and permanent housing.

There were many good times at that home, but Catherine experienced sadness in her life: her older sister Etta, died of pneumonia at 28, and later, her youngest brother Nini was killed by a hit and run driver. Her brother Nunizo, a psychiatrist, suffered with multiple sclerosis his entire adult life. She had a sister, Rose Gonnelli, who lived in Providence, and a brother, Frank. She was very close to them and survived them all.

In her very early twenties she met the love of her life, Salvatore E. Aloisi, a young lawyer struggling to make a living during the Depression. They married in 1937 and settled in Sal’s parents’ home in Revere. Catherine was supportive of Salvatore, who was making a name for himself as a member, and then chairman, of the Revere school committee and later chairman of the State Emergency Finance Board while building a successful law practice. Their first son, Andrew, was born in 1939, and their second son, Peter, was born in 1947. Both are practicing lawyers.

The young family moved to a house they built in the Point of Pines section of Revere, where they survived the blizzard of 1978. Salvatore was appointed presiding judge of the Chelsea District Court by Gov. Francis W. Sargent. When he retired from the bench, he joined Andrew and Peter in the practice of law. After the judge died in 1990, Catherine moved to a condominium on the Boston waterfront.

She lead a productive and full life. She cooked terrific Italian meals, baked, washed and ironed clothes, and kept her house. She also tended to Andrew’s home in Oak Bluffs.

She was on the Internet nearly every day searching for new recipes, keeping up with current events, the latest styles and celebrity gossip. She was also an avid reader and read all of Dan Brown’s novels as well as books on nutrition and healthy diet. She enjoyed a close and loving relationship with Donna, Peter’s wife, but the true focus of her attention was her only grandchild, Peter Salvatore Aloisi. Many believe he is one reason for her long life. She was involved in his life and derived such joy from his many accomplishments, from graduating from Governors Academy and then Boston College where his father, uncle and grandfather went, to becoming a double eagle, obtaining an MBA from the Carroll School. He holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation and is a portfolio manager and municipal bond trader at Deutsche Bank. Peter married the former Kathryn Piotrowski and they have a 10-month-old baby boy, Ryan Peter, who often visited with his great-grandmother.

Catherine’s sharpness, quick wit and modern outlook on life were amazing. To her age was just a number and did not get in her way of living every day to its fullest and not worrying about what tomorrow might bring.

Many of her nieces and grand-nieces sought her wisdom on a variety of issues, from relationship problems, child raising, or fashion issues to general advice. In many ways she acted as a second mother to those who no longer had a mother and she did it in an admirable fashion.

While looking much younger than her chronological age, she led an active life to the very end, and was a familiar face at many Vineyard restaurants.

Much of her time was devoted to daily prayer for those that are ill. Her petitions were earnest and intent and her list of subjects lengthy. Many who were helped felt that her prayers were the reason. Catherine felt that God allowed her to live so long so she could continue to pray for sick people.

Her funeral Mass was celebrated at the Sacred Heart Church in the North End of Boston, where she was baptized more than 100 years ago and where her parents were married. She lamented the fact that this church was actually closed for budgetary reasons and not open for Mass. However, the major church in the North End, Saint Leonard’s, was closed for renovations when she died, and the other church, Saint Stephens, did not have any priests assigned to it during the week, making it necessary to reopen the church that was so special to her.

Donations in her memory can be made to the Judge Salvatore E. Aloisi Scholarship Fund c/o Boston College Office of Development, Cadigan Center, Rm, 304, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467.