Obituaries 10-05-2011

Josephine Butera

Chelsea resident

Josephine Butera, a 50 year resident of Chelsea,  died on October 2 at the Rosewood Nursing Care Center in Peabody. She was 88 years old.

She was the devoted mother of Russell Butera and his companion, Lil, Phillip Butera and Janice Coolidge and her husband, Al, all of Peabody. She was born in Boston, the daughter of the late George and Ida Santarpio and sister of the late Adaline Marotta; cherished grandmother of Lisa and Marc, Dana and Mark and great grandmother of Thiago, Alicia, Gillian, Lillian, Jarod and Jeremy.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend her Funeral from the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Avenue, Chelsea on Thursday, October 6 at 8 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway, Chelsea at 9 o’clock. Visiting Hours in the Smith Funeral Home are today, Wednesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Services will conclude with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. To send a message of condolence to her family, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com.

S. Rita Touet

Stoneham resident

S. Rita (Sbraccia) Touet of Stoneham, formerly of Somerville, died on September 30. She was 88 years old.

She was the beloved wife of Josef Touet; devoted mother of Maria Touet of Stoneham and Karl Touet and his wife, Lisa of N. Reading; dear sister of the late Lilian Ceresi, Louis Sbraccia, and Eleanor Sbraccia; daughter of the late Alfred Sbraccia and Mary (Guercio) Sbraccia and is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Her Funeral will be held from the Barile Family Funeral Home, 482 Main St. (RT 28) Stoneham today, Wednesday at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass celebrating her Eternal Life in St. Patrick Church, 71 Central St. Stoneham at 10 a.m. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Mausoleum, Malden. Please honor her by making memorial donations to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. For directions or to send a memorial condolence www.barilefuneral.com.

Michael Ruggiero

Member of VFW

Michael E. Ruggiero of East Boston died on October 1.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of  VFW Post 6712, he was the beloved husband of the late Teresa (Schifino) Ruggiero with whom he shared 68 years of marriage; loving father of Jo Ann Peroni and her husband, John of Newburyport, Michael Ruggiero and his wife, Celeste of Lynn, Joseph Ruggiero of Revere and his late wife, Kathleen and the late Marianne Ruggiero; dear brother of Alfred Ruggiero of East Boston and the late Helen Naso, Beatrice Bruker, Rose Hamond and Salvatore Ruggiero; cherished grandfather of six and great grandfather of eight.

His Funeral will be held from Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach St., Revere today, Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the Immaculate Conception Church, Revere at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the VA National Cemetery, Bourne at 1:30 p.m. Remembrances may be made to Massachusetts Chapter of Homeless Veterans, 17 Court St., Boston MA 02108. For directions and guest book www.vazzafunerals.com.

Jean Calhoun

East Boston resident

Jean E. (Smith) Calhoun died in East Boston on October 2.

She was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1931 and Bryant and Stratton School.

She was the beloved wife of the late George W. Calhoun and mother of Katherine Calhoun of East Boston.

Funeral arrangements were by the Magrath Funeral Home, East Boston. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.. MagrathFuneralHome.com.

Adam Lao

Kennedy Day School student

Adam Lao died on September 21 at the Children’s Hospital in Boston after a long illness.  He was 14 years old.

A student at the Kennedy Day School in Brighton, he was born in Malden, the beloved son of Nereida Vega of Winthrop and Diego Lao of Chelsea; step-son of Raimundo Baquero of Winthrop; dear brother of Diego D. Lao, Jr. of Winthrop; grandson of Concepcion Santiago of Florida, Lucy Diaz of Chelsea, Diego Lao of Boston and the late Victor Vega; nephew of Judy Lao of Chelsea, Jolanda Rodriquez of Florida, Maria Lao of Weymouth, Betty Vega of East Boston, Iris Castillo of Dorchester, Victor Vega of Pennsylvania, Diego Lao of Lynn and Danny Lao of Boston. He is also lovingly survived by numerous cousins.

Funeral arrangements were by the William R. Carafa & Son Home For Funerals, Chelsea. Burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Mattapan.

Louise Erickson

Chelsea resident

Louise C. (Baretta) Erickson died in Chelsea on October 2.

She was the beloved wife of the late Francis E. Erickson. mother of Thomas Erickson of Melrose, Corinne St. Laurent of Revere and Ellen Modica of Chelsea; sister of Lenore Mazzei of Tewksbury and is also survived by five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Her Funeral Service will be held in the Magrath Funeral Home, 325 Chelsea St. [at Day Sq] East Boston today,  Wednesday, at 1:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting will be today from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. MagrathFuneralHome.com.

Rose Grande

Of Woburn, formerly of East Boston

Rose P. (Giardullo) Grande of Woburn, formerly of Lincoln and East Boston, died on September 29.

She was the beloved wife of the late Orlando S. “Ollie” Grande; devoted mother of Stephen J. Grande of Wayland and Teresa R. Osiecki and her husband, Theodore J. “Ted” of N. Andover; dear sister of Carmella Baroni of Woburn and the late Mary Plagenza, Josephine Centofanti, Ann Carrozza, Anthony Abbatessa, Abby Manfra, and Frances Scrima; loving grandmother of Stephen J. Grande, Jr., Alyssa and Kristin Osiecki, and the late Kelley Jean Grande, and great-grandmother of Kelsea Grande and Adam and Alexandra Beth Childress. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by the Lynch-Cantillon Funeral Home, Woburn. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Assn., 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701. Obituary and guest book at www.lynch-cantillon.com.

Dolores Tennerini

East Boston resident

Dolores A. “Dodie” (Marcella) Tennerini died in East Boston on September 25.

She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph T. Tennerini; sister of Marilyn A. Ford, Charles J. and Kenneth Marcella, all of East Boston, Marybeth Osgood of Salem, NH. Virgina Sprague of Malden, Karen Giardullo of Saugus, Maureen Sprague of Virginia and the late Helen Bono, Robert, Richard and Charles B. Marcella; sister-in-law of Anna Luciano of Chelsea and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Memorial Services were held in Grace Church Federated, East Boston. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory to Grace Church Food Bank, 760 Saratoga St., East Boston, MA 02128 would be appreciated. MagrathFuneralHome.com.

Paul Lyons Jr.

East Boston resident

Paul J. Lyons, Jr. of East Boston died on September 28.

The beloved husband of Esperanza (Gomez) Lyons with whom he shared 40 years of marriage, he was the loving father of Gloria, Lucrecia and Digna Lyons, all of East Boston and the late Ferdinand Lyons; dear brother of Miriam Grenier of New Hampshire, Patricia and Ronald Lyons of East Boston, Julie Guerrero of Revere, Richard Lyons of Westminister and Stephen of California, cherished grandfather of Priscilla and Jonah and fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery. For guest book www.vazzafunerals.com.

Julia Lally

Melrose resident, formerly of East Boston

Julia (Mazzarino) Lally of Melrose died on September 27.

Born on December 2, 1922 in Sicily, Italy, one of three daughters of the late Sebastian and Paolina (Mazzone) Mazzarino, she was raised and educated in East Boston and received a degree from the Burdett School of Business. For many years, she worked as a manager for Tupperware Home Parties. She also worked as a statistician for Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Melrose-Wakefield Hospital Auxiliary, the Italian Club in Winchester and Bellevue Golf Club in Melrose

The beloved wife of the late Walter F. Lally with whom she shared 41 years of marriage; she was the devoted mother of Adeline Thistle and her husband, Edward of Middleton, Paula O’Brien of Haverhill, and Robert Lally of Andover; dear sister of the late Ann S. Damigella and Angelina Monello; cherished grandmother of Edward Thistle, Todd Thistle, Courtney Thistle, Kimberly Lawson and her husband, Ronald, and Erin Francescone and her husband, Daniel; loving great-grandmother of Chloe Lawson, Jack Francescone and Tyler Francescone.

Funeral arrangements were by the Robinson Funeral Home, Melrose. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For online tribute or to express condolences visit: www.RobinsonFuneralHome.com.

James Francis Gillis

Retired Suffolk County Sheriff’s Dept. Lieutenant

James Francis Gillis of Danvers, formerly of East Boston, Revere and West Peabody, died on September 27. He was 70 years old.

Born in Revere, the son of the late James and Eleanor (Marley) Gillis, he was raised and educated in Revere and  formerly lived in West Peabody and East Boston.

He served his country as a member of the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and was employed in law enforcement as a Deputy Lieutenant in the Suffolk County Sheriff Department, Boston, until the time of his retirement.

Mr. Gillis was a devoted father who was actively engaged in his sons’ endeavors. He volunteered his time by coaching youth baseball and basketball as well as the Pop Warner Football in East Boston.

He and his dedicated wife enjoyed spending time together at their homes in Maine and Florida. He was an avid bass fisherman with a larger than life personality and was known for his quick humor and contagious smile. He will be sorrowfully missed.

He was the beloved husband of 41 years of Annette S. (Vozzella) Gillis; proud father of David J. and his wife, Judianne Gillis, and Adam J. Gillis, all of Danvers; dear grandfather of Isobella and Aiden Gillis; brother of Peter Gillis of Georgia; brother-in-law of Naomi Gillis of Rhode Island and uncle of James Gillis of Rhode Island.

Funeral arrangements were by the Peterson-O’Donnell Funeral Home, Danvers. Burial was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.. Expressions of sympathy may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association , 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. To share a memory, offer a condolence or for full life story; visit: www.odonnellfuneralservice.com.

Mario Ferro

Retired Boston Police Officer

Mario M. Ferro of Lynnfield, formerly of East Boston, died on September 26.

A US Army veteran of World War II and a retired Boston Police Officer, he was the beloved husband of the late Angelina “Angie” (Spolsiono) Ferro with whom he shared 60 years of marriage; loving father of Carmela D’Antonio and her husband, Peter, Jr. of New Hampshire and the late John Ferro and his wife, Marilyn of Tewksbury and the late Michael Ferr; dear brother of Vincent “Jim” and Rita Ferro of Orient Heights East Boston, Salvatore of Florida and the late Anthony, Nancy, Frances, Anna and John Ferro and Carmella Sala; cherished grandfather of Adrianna Principe and her husband, Steven, Peter D’Antonio and his wife, Megan and Alyson Ferro and Kristyn Oliveiro and her husband, Andrew and his great grandchildren, Sophia, Tyler and Mason.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Vazza’s Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lynn. For guest book: www.vazzafunerals.com.

Emily DeMattia

Lifelong Beachmont Resident

Emily E. (Venturelli) DeMattia, a lifelong resident of the Beachmont Section of Revere, died on September 27 at Epoch of Melrose Nursing Home in Melrose following an extended illness. She was 88 years old.

Mrs. DeMattia was born in Malden on October 29, 1922 to the late Amadeo and Philomana (Ciampa) Venturelli. She grew up in Malden for a short time and attended Malden Public Schools before moving to Revere and graduating from Revere High School in 1939. She was a homemaker most of her adult life and loved sewing, knitting, cooking and gardening. She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Ladies Sodality in Revere and the Beachmont P.T.A.

She was the beloved wife of the late John E. DeMattia; devoted mother of Jane Thompson and her husband, John of Melrose, Rachael Deschene of Saugus and John DeMattia of Marblehead. She is the loving Nanni to Joshua Cambria, Dr. Amanda Thompson-Avila and her husband, Edgar, Jack Thompson, Noah Ferrandi and Olivia Ferrandi; the beloved sister of Loretta Giuffre of East Boston; the loving aunt of Jeannie Damato, Davy Venturelli and many other nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Carr Funeral Home, Melrose. To send a condolence message, please visit www.carrfuneral.com.

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