Obituaries 12-12-2012

Andrew Schena

Member of Founding Family of Revere Beach’s “The Banana Boat”

Andrew J. Schena died unexpectedly at his Revere home on December 3. He was 49 years old.

Born in Everett, he lived his entire life in Revere and graduated from Revere High School, Class of 1981. Most of his working career was with the International Union of Laborers of North America, Local 22. He was the beloved son of the late Anthony and Ann (Panara) Schena, founders of “The Banana Boat” in 1977, one of the last operating concession stands at Revere Beach. The concession is still  family run and owned. Andrew spent many a hot summer at the concession with his mom, dad, brother and sisters.

He was the devoted father of Andrew Dallesandro of Saugus; the cherished brother of Anthony Schena, Jr. and his wife, Sharon of Plymouth, Avri A. Schena of Revere and Amora A. Schena-Callahan and her husband, Revere Police Sergeant Charles ‘Chuckie” Callahan of West Peabody and the beloved nephew of Robert Panara and his wife, Maureen of Saugus. He is also lovingly survived by two nephews, two nieces and several grand nieces and grand nephews.

Family and friends are invited to visit with the family on Saturday, December 15 from 5 to 8 p.m.in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107) Revere. His Funeral service will follow the visiting hours at 8:15 p.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701-9376.

Josephine ‘Jossie’ Forgione

Of North Reading

Josephine L. “Jossie” (Voto) Forgione of North Reading died on December 9.

She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Forgione; devoted mother of Mary Ann Arnold and her husband, Stephen of New Jersey, Patricia Deming and her husband, Richard and Sandra Frongillo, all of North Reading and Anthony Forgione and his wife, Donna of West Roxbury; daughter of the late Antonio and Antonetta Voto; beloved grandmother of Allison, Aaron, Beth, Michelle, Michael, Jacqueline, Christopher, Brittany and Brian; great grandmother of Dylan, Leah, Aviva, and Neely; dear sister of the late Angelo, Fred and Salvatore Voto and Jenny Kelleher, Mary Cioffi, Peggy Celata and Antonetta Ruggerio.

Her Funeral will be held from the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St. (corner of Park St. and Rt. 28), North Reading, at Reading line, today, Wednesday, December 12 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St. (Rt. 62), North Reading at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the VNA of Middlesex-East Sawtelle Hospice House, 320 Haverhill St., Reading, MA01867. www.cotafuneralhomes.com

Anthony Ventresca

Of Beverly, formerly of East Boston

Anthony Ventresca of Beverly, formerly of East Boston, died on December 8. She was 67 years old.

The son of the late Anthony and Yolanda “Marotta” Ventresca, he was the loving brother of Richard Ventresca and his wife, Elaine of Saugus, Marie Auger and her husband, Jim of Saugus, and Linda Keegan and her husband, Larry of East Boston and is also survived by several loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Her Funeral will be held from The Kirby-Rapino Memorial Home, 917 Bennington Street, East Boston today, Wednesday, at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in Sacred Heart Church, Brooks Street, East Boston at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. For online condolences, please visit www.rapinomemorialhome.com

Palmina ‘Pamela’ D’Errico

Of Revere, formerly of East Boston

Palmina “Pamela” (Casaccio) D’Errico of Revere, formerly of Saugus and East Boston, died on December 7. The beloved daughter of the late Joseph and Carmela (Sasso) Casaccio, she was the loving mother of Frederick M. Naumann Jr. and his wife, Denise of Saugus and Eric Naumann of Wakefield and also leaves her former husband Frederick M. Naumann, Sr. of Revere. She was the dear sister of the late Angelo D’Errico; cherished grandmother of Brittney, Brianna and Brandon Naumann. Funeral arrangements were by Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in her name to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Ave, Brookline, MA 02445. For guestbook. www.vazzafunerals.com.

John Ferrante, Jr., M.D.

Physician, formerly of East Boston

John J. Ferrante, Jr. M.D. passed away on December 6. Dr. Ferrante, son of the late John and Ida (Ballerini) Ferrante, was born in 1930 and raised in East Boston. He then lived in Dedham, East Sandwich and Sanibel Island, Florida for the last 40 plus years.

A graduate of English High School in 1948, he earned first his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from New England College of Pharmacy, and then his M.S. from the University of Wisconsin. While working on his Ph.D., he changed his academic pursuit to medicine, and graduated from Boston University School of Medicine in 1962. He completed his Internship and Residency at Carney Hospital in Dorchester where he stayed for almost 40 years to practice his chosen profession. He shared his expertise with Marian Manor, as well as many other skilled nursing and medical facilities in the area.

A man of mild demeanor and determined optimism, Dr. Ferrante was recognized among his peers for his outstanding talent in medical diagnosis and patient care. He showed a genuine concern and the utmost respect for everyone he encountered. Serving his community as a member of Carney Medical Group, and a staff member of the Milton Hospital, as well as a solo practitioner, he stood as a beacon of professionalism in the medical field, and as a physician totally devoted to those entrusted to his care. For his outstanding achievements and excellence, he received the Seton Award from the Daughters of Charity, the founders of Carney Hospital. He was also a Knight of Don Orione, a charitable organization supporting the Don Orione Home and Shrine.

He was the beloved husband of 59 years to Irene (Addesa) Ferrante; loving father of Dr. John Ferrante III and his wife, Lori of Milton and Rajani (Rene) Ferrante of Myrtle Beach, SC, and cherished grandfather of Ariana, Chiara, and John IV, of Milton.

Funeral arrangements were by the Dolan Funeral Home, East Milton Square. Burial was private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Dr. Ferrante to any of the following: Marina Bay Skilled Nursing Facility, 2 Seaport Drive, Quincy, MA, 02171; Don Orione Home, 111 Orient Avenue, East Boston, MA 02128; or Marian Manor Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, 130 Dorchester Street, South Boston, MA 02127. For more information, visit www.dolanfuneral.com.

Leo Bureau

Of Revere, formerly of East Boston

Leo J. Bureau of Revere, formerly of East Boston, died on December 5.

A US Air Force veteran of World War II, he was the beloved husband of Barbara (Muise) Bureau with whom he shared 43 years of marriage; loving father of Jean Nowlan and her husband, James of Revere, Steven Bureau of Maryland and the late Keith Bureau; dear sister of Larraine Southe of Malden and the late Albert and Claire Bureau.

Funeral arrangements were by Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere. Burial with military honors was at the VA National Cemetery, Bourne. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made in his name to the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472. For guest book: www.vazzafunerals.com.

Rose Cerabone

Former Revere School Lunch Mother and Avid Dancer

Rose (Gullifa) Cerabone, a resident of Revere for 60 plus yeras, previously of Medford, died on December 2 at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Medford following a long illness. She was 94 years old.

Born in Boston, she served as a lunch mother for several years at the Whelan School in Revere where she was most popular with the children she served as she went far above her duties. She treated all the children as her own and was certainly loved by many. Both she and her late husband, Michael J. Cerabone were avid dancers and socializers, especially patronizing the “Wonderland Ballroom.”

She was the beloved mother of Robert M. Cerabone and his wife, Elaine Lord of Winchester and Leonard J. Cerabone and his wife, Linda of Hallendale Beach, Florida; cherished grandmother of Vickie Stagliola and her husband, Mark of Billerica, Leonard Cerabone of East Boston and Roy V. Cerabone of North Andover; dear sister of Baldassaro “Bob” Gullifa of Malden, Jean D’Angelo of Newton and the late Grace Keller and Ludovico “Ludi” Gullifa. She is also lovingly survived by her great grandchildren, Alexandra and Brian Cerabone and Marina and Andrew Stagliola and by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Remembrances may be made to the Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923. For further information: www.vertuccioandsmith.com

William Wilson

Of Saugus, formerly of Revere

William L. Wilson of Saugus, formerly of Revere, died on December 9.

A US Navy veteran of World War II, he was the beloved husband of the late Concetta (LaPorta) Wilson with whom he shared 65 years of marriage; loving father of Diane Palermo and her husband, Domenic and Mark Wilson and his wife, Lisa, all of Saugus; dear brother of Patricia Willoghby of Texas and the late Lois Wilson; cherished grandfather of Melissa Kane Palermo, Renea Kane Palermo, Rhonda Palermo and William and Kelly Wilson and great grandfather of Jonathan Palermo, Wayne Smith and Isabella Palermo.

His Funeral will be held from Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach Street, Revere on Thursday at 10 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St Anthony’s Church, Revere at 11 a.m. Family and friends may visit today, Wednesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Entombment will be in the Mausoleum at Holy Cross cemetery Malden. For directions and guest book. www.vazzafunerals.com

Gail Gentile

Floral Designer of Arizona, formerly of Revere

Gail A. (Bellino) Gentile, formerly of Revere, died unexpectedly at the Banner Boswell Medical Center of Sun City, Arizona on November 13. She was 63 years old.

Mrs, Gentile was born and raised in Revere and a 1967 graduate of Revere High School. She moved to Arizona with her husband, Joseph (who died in 2006) 14 years ago.

For several years she worked as a receptionist for a group of Everett doctors. She had an innate sense of style and design, especially for floral design and home decorating. When her sister, Carole A. Alexander opened Alexander’s Floral Lane on Broadway, Revere in 1973 and then reopened the shop under “Carole’s Floral Boutique” on Park Avenue, Gail assumed the role of designer and manager of the shoppe for more than 10 years.

Gail was a victim of the 1954 “Polio Epidemic” and subsequently, after many years of enjoying good health, became a statistic in the numbers of those who developed “post-polio syndrome.” This necessitated the move to Arizona where the climate was dry.

Mrs. Gentile leaves her devoted son, Dason Gentile of Bangor, Maine. She was the dear sister of Carole A. Alexander and her husband, Alfred “Fred” Alexander of Point of Pines, Revere and James R. Bellino of Sun City, Arizona; cherished aunt of Dr. Scott C. Alexander, PhD, Ed., and his wife, Karen L. Alexander of Chicago, Ill and their son, Myles S. Alexander of Chicago, Illinois. She was the daughter of the late James G. and Marie A. (Carco) Bellino. She is also lovingly survived by several cousins in the Revere, Malden, East Boston and surrounding communities.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated in November at St. Clement of Rome Church, Sun City, Arizona. Burial was in Arizona. Remembrances may be made to “The Jimmy Fund” at Dana Farber, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. For more information visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com

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