Michelena Ortega

Michelena “Lena” Ortega (Santigato) passed into eternal life on Saturday, March 3, at Bristol Glen in Newton with her family by her side. She was 91 years old. Lena was born in Jessup, PA, to Fernando and Marie Santigato (Cerulli). She resided for 59 years in Sparta prior to moving to Newton a year ago. During her life, she was employed by Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway, before becoming a wife and mother. Predeceasing Lena is her beloved husband, Manuel, in 1962, and daughter, Frances Bowersox, in 2004. She is survived by two daughters; Mary Robinson of Nashua, NH, and Dolores Tremper and her husband Stephen of Wantage; son, Manuel Ortega, and his wife Geraldine of Boonton; sister, Helen Dill of PA, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The ceremony was at St. Thomas of Aquin Roman Catholic Church in Ogdensburg. Interment followed in the church's cemetery.