Lydia Maddalena Saunders

Lydia Maddalena (Tenaglia) Saunders passed away peacefully, gently, July 22, 2026, with family by her side, four weeks shy of her 91st birthday. Born August 18th, 1935, in Orsogna, Italy, her life was shaped by her strength, her faith, and love.

Her father, Antonio Tenaglia, sought work in the United States before the onset of the Second World War, but Lydia endured the war’s hardships in Italy with her mother, Filomena, older brother Alfred, and grandmother, Maddalena. With her mother and brother, she emigrated to the United States after the war and settled in the Boston area, working hard, raising her younger siblings, Lido and Rita.

In 1959, her brother Alfred introduced her to a good friend, college and medical school classmate Francis Saunders. They married on June 24, 1961. Lydia worked as Fran completed his medical training, relocating to Great Britain, Hanover, New Hampshire, and Newington, Connecticut before he joined a practice in Danbury, CT, where they settled in 1965.

There, they adopted two sons, Brian and Scott. Lydia stayed home to raise them, finding time to continue to take classes and pursue gardening and flower arranging, at which she excelled, volunteering at soup kitchens and church, and teaching catechism. The family traveled often together, enjoying sun and snow.

After Fran’s retirement they relocated to Washington State, following their sons, and settled seaside in Sequim, where they continued to enjoy gardening and volunteered with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. Fran and Lydia traveled extensively and eventually began splitting their time between Palm Desert, California, and Sequim, then Edmonds, and finally Mukilteo, WA.

Lydia was studious and intelligent, a dedicated and loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, and friend. She laughed and smiled easily, with a dry but generous sense of humor. An awkward, skinny child, she grew into a beautiful and vibrant woman. She was a gracious host, an excellent cook and baker from adolescence, building on traditional family recipes and embracing the culinary revolution that began in the 1960s and ‘70s. She gamely joined her husband and sons in their pursuits, enjoying tennis, skiing, fly-fishing, and even gaining an appreciation of football, baseball, and hockey. She stayed active in her local church throughout her life. She spoiled her dogs.

Lydia was predeceased by Francis and Scott, as well as her brother, Alfred. She is survived by her son, Brian, Scott’s wife, Karyn, her brother Lido and sister Rita Iocco, many, many cousins, nieces, nephews, and other members of her extended family, and Rocky, her beloved shadow. Throughout her life, she was buoyed by her faith in God and love for and from her family and friends, giving her the strength that defined her and carried her through her many struggles and blessings. In lieu of flowers, please donate to or volunteer at your local soup kitchen, food bank, or homeless shelter.