September 18, 2024
Fiorinda “Dolly” (Conte) Tocchio, 91, of Hingham, beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend to many, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loving family, on September 13, 2024.
Above all, Dolly was a social butterfly, talking to anyone and everyone she could and always making friends. She was passionate about her work, her family, and her food. She had tremendous empathy and compassion and was generous with her time and anything she could offer to those around her. Born during the Great Depression to Italian immigrants, Dolly quickly learned the value of hard work, integrity, and resourcefulness.
Dolly was born in Needham but spent most of her formative years in Hingham, raised as part of a large, boisterous Italian family, including many cousins whom she adored. She loved school, graduating from Hingham High School in 1950 before attending The Chamberlain School of Retailing in Boston, from which she graduated in 1952.
Dolly met the love of her life, Fausto “Emo” Tocchio, in 1956. The two met at a nightclub on Nantasket Beach and spent the next 48 years dancing together. They filled their life with many travels, lots of laughter, and the joy of raising their daughters and grandchildren. They had many dear friends and family with whom they shared their love of Italy and made lifelong friends on every vacation they took.
At a young age, Dolly joined the family business, Conte’s Dress Shop in Hingham Square, established by her mother and father. She worked after school and on weekends and loved every minute of it. When Dolly’s parents were ready to retire in 1965, Dolly and Emo purchased Conte’s. Dolly was wonderful with people and loved both her staff and her clientele, many of whom became lasting friends. She had a deep understanding of what her customers wanted and a keen eye for what would suit them. Her honesty and thoughtfulness made going to Conte’s special. On her buying trips to New York and Atlanta, she would jot down customers’ names on the orders she placed. Before the orders had even arrived, Dolly had already phoned her clients, letting them know she had found the perfect outfit for them and that it would be set aside for them to try on. Dolly’s sharp fashion sense and her natural gift for working with people meant that Conte’s flourished into an iconic business. In her high school yearbook, Dolly wrote that her goal was to “make Conte’s famous,” and she certainly achieved that! The saying goes that “if you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” If that’s the case, Dolly didn’t work a single day, she loved every minute of her time at Conte’s.
When Dolly wasn’t working, she was cooking. She woke up every morning thinking about what she would have for dinner. Dolly loved cooking for her family, friends, and even strangers. She always made enough to share and would open her table to anyone who wanted to join.
Family was everything to Dolly. For her family, Dolly was a rock in the most challenging times and the biggest cheerleader in moments of triumph. Her daughters, Donna and Valerie, enjoyed a loving childhood rich with memories: horseback riding, Sunday afternoon drives, trips to Florida to see their family, and swimming in the backyard pool, which became a haven for all the neighborhood kids. She was a mother not just in title but in every sense of the word. Through her sacrifices, resilience, and care, she left a mark on the lives she touched. Her legacy will continue through the strength and love she passed on to her family. She created traditions, built memories, instilled values in her daughters that have shaped who they are.
Dolly was an incredible Nana to her three grandchildren: Alessandra, Samantha, and Cole. She made countless trips to Maine to see every basketball game, concert, and hockey game she could. She was there for every graduation and birthday, never missing the opportunity to celebrate. She played a pivotal role in their lives and loved sharing her passions with them, from cooking and family traditions to stories of her own childhood. She spent time teaching them how to cook her recipes, which will forever be cherished as part of their family heritage.
Dolly was the wife of the late Fausto “Emo” Tocchio, daughter of the late Antoinetta and Omero Conte, sister of the late Emilio and Dominic Conte, and mother-in-law of the late Chris Greeley.
Dolly is survived by her loving daughters, Donna Gormley Greeley of Bangor, Maine, and Valerie Tocchio Cahill and her husband, Michael, of Hingham; her grandchildren Alessandra Gormley, Samantha Gormley, and Cole Greeley. She is lovingly remembered by Valerie’s stepchildren, Sean Cahill, his wife Nicole, Lindsay Lapointe, her wife Kristy, and Valerie’s grandchildren Owen, Olivia, Ethan, and Emma. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and cousins who enriched Dolly’s life and brought her so much joy.
The last weeks of Dolly’s life were filled with phone calls from Italy to Texas. We would like to thank the family and friends who were able to visit from far and wide to make her last days truly special. Dolly relished the opportunity to reminisce about the good times, the old days, meaningful relationships, and the importance of family. She was the glue that kept everyone connected.
Dolly’s family would like to thank her caregiver, Tina, for the unparalleled love, care, and friendship she provided, as well as Gentiva Hospice, with special gratitude to her nurse Lori, who helped guide the family through Dolly’s final journey.
Those who wish to remember Dolly are warmly invited to join the family for visiting hours on Wednesday, September 25, from 4-8 p.m. at Keohane Funeral Home in Hingham. Friends and family will gather at the funeral home on Thursday, September 26, at 9 a.m., prior to a funeral mass at St. Paul’s Church in Hingham at 10 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dolly’s honor can be made to one of her favorite causes: the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Fiorinda “Dolly” (Conte) Tocchio, please visit our flower store.
In memory of Fiorinda “Dolly” (Conte) Tocchio, please consider making a donation to one of the following charities:
Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospita