Cristina Martelli-Dira

Cristina Martelli Dira, passed away on August 30, 2026, in Anaconda, Montana, at the age of 96.

Cristina was born on August 17, 1930, in Cantalupo Nel Sannio, in the Province of Isernia, Italy to parents Antonio and Angela Martelli She was raised and attended school in Italy, where the importance of family and the traditions of her Italian heritage became a foundation she carried with her throughout her life.

Cristina’s journey to Anaconda began with a love story. A young man from Anaconda named Sam Dira saw a photograph of Cristina and was so taken with her that he traveled to Italy to meet her. The two fell in love and were married in 1950. Together, they made their way to Anaconda, Montana, where they established their home and became part of the community.

Above all else, Cristina was devoted to her family. Family was at the center of her life, and she made it her mission to ensure that relatives, whether near or far, remained connected to one another. With a very large Italian family spread across many places and generations, Cristina became the family historian and a treasured link between relatives.

Whenever Cristina received family photographs, she carefully wrote the names of everyone pictured, along with the date the photograph was taken. She would make copies and send them to other family members, making certain that everyone knew who belonged to each branch and generation of the family. She remembered birthdays and seemingly never forgot a person she had met—or their family members. When visiting with someone, she would often remember their relatives by name and ask how each of them was doing.

She was and always will be like a second mother to those of us who were fortunate enough to be surrounded by her and that love continued through the generations to her great-nieces, great-nephews, and beyond. She wanted each generation to know the others and to understand the family they came from. As technology changed, Cristina embraced new ways to maintain those connections. Through her online portal and the internet, she delighted in seeing family members, visiting with them, and remaining involved in their lives despite the miles between them.

A woman of many talents, Cristina was a wonderful cook and baker who shared her love through the meals and treats she prepared. She was also a gifted seamstress and made many beautiful garments over the years, including bridesmaid dresses for family members. Her creativity extended to crocheting and knitting, and she could often find a resourceful way to make or create whatever was needed.

Cristina also worked for a time at Warm Springs Hospital, where she helped prepare meals. She was a member of Holy Family Catholic Parish.

Gentle, caring, giving, and deeply empathetic, Cristina had a remarkable ability to accept people for who they were. She was tolerant and understanding and always tried to see the good in others. She looked for the positive, welcomed people with kindness, and genuinely cared about what was happening in their lives.

Cristina will be remembered as a creative, friendly, resourceful, and compassionate woman, but perhaps most of all, she will be remembered as the heart of her family. She understood that family was not simply about being related, it was about knowing one another, caring for one another, staying connected, and making certain no one was forgotten.

For Cristina, distance never diminished the importance of family. Whether loved ones were across town, across the country, or across the ocean, she found a way to keep them close. The connections she so lovingly nurtured throughout her 96 years will remain an enduring part of her legacy.

Cristina is preceded in death by her husband, Sam Dira, her parents, Antonio and Angela Martelli, siblings; Anna Martelli Cutone, Salvatore Martelli, Gabriela Carmela Martelli, Umberto Martelli, and Fiore Martelli and her nephews, Tony Martelli, Sabatino Martelli and Tom Cutone.

She is survived by her beloved nieces and nephews, Antonietta (John) Bolles, Elena (Wayne) Fredricksen, Marianna (Tom) Ruprecht, Gina Martelli (Pasquale Gaglia), Angiola Martelli, Filomena Martelli (Nicola DiGregoria), Addolorata Martelli (Rocco Paoliello), Christine Salvio, Annette (Rob) Ranallo, Bart (Carol) Martelli, and Angelo (Cindy) Martelli.

Also surviving Cristina are Marie Elena Goss and Theresa Eastman, nieces of Cristina and Sam Dira, as well as her many cherished great-nieces, great-nephews, and extended family members.

Cristina leaves behind a family connected in no small part because of her lifelong devotion to keeping them close. Her kindness, gentle spirit, generosity, and unwavering love for family will continue to live on through the many generations whose lives she touched.

Memorial donations in Cristina’s memory may be made to Holy Family Catholic Community, St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Trek Hospice or Smelter City Meals on Wheels.

A viewing will be held beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2026, at Longfellow, Finnegan, Riddle Funeral Home in Anaconda. A Vigil Service will follow at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Anaconda. Following Mass, Cristina will be laid to rest at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home is privileged to care for Cristina and her family.