A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 21, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Brendan’s Church, Â 310 S. Van Ness, for Loredana “Mamma” Cecchinato, the “Mamma” behind Melrose’s popular Osteria Mamma restaurant.
Cecchinato, 70, passed away on December 7, after a short battle with cancer.  She was born in Padua, Italy and opened her first restaurant, Osteria La Buca, with her children in 2004, before moving on to focus more on her rustic Italian fare, from the Veneto region of Italy, at the newer enterprise in 2010.  Both restaurants remain neighborhood favorites.
She always treated us well at the restaurant. Will miss her.