Obituaries 12-06-2017

Anthony ‘Tinny’ ‘Tony’ Lopilato Jr.

U.S. Postal Service retiree whose total life was consumed with family and extended family

Anthony M. Lopilato, Jr., affectionately known as “Tinny” and “Tony” passed away following a long illness on Tuesday, November 28 at Brigham & Women’s Faulkner Hospital, Boston. He was 74 years old.

Born and raised in East Boston, he was a life-long resident of the city. He was a 1957 graduate of Sacred Heart Grammar School and a 1961 alumnus of Sacred Heart High School. He went on to attend Bentley College and later enlisted in the U.S. Air Force entering in February of 1965 and serving through October, 1968. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant. “Tinny” would often speak of his time with the Air Force as the “Very Best Time of My Life.” He was proud to have served, especially in the trenches of Vietnam. His stations included; Lackland Airforce Base, Macdill, (Tampa, Fla.), Cam Ranh Bay (Vietnam) and Chanute. “Tinny” – “Tony” was in charge of dispensing any and all parts and supplies pertinent to aircraft need.

Returning from the war, he became an ironworker as a welder and layout man for five years. He then sought a position at Suffolk Downs Race Track as a groomer, a position he thoroughly enjoyed for over 10 years.

In 1979, he began his career with U.S. Postal Service as a mail handler and coupled with his four year veteran’s service, completed 20 years with the U.S. Postal Service. He came to full retirement in 1995.

“Tinny” enjoyed life, especially his time with his beloved wife of 47 years, Constance “Connie” (DeFronzo) and the pride of his life, his only and devoted daughter, Julie A. Lopilato and her companion, Dennis Bernard – all lived together in the same home in East Boston. His total life was consumed with family and extended family.

He leaves his cherished brother Stephen P. Lopilato and his wife, Doris of Plymouth. He was the proud uncle of Michael Mayberry of West Palm Beach, FI., Matthew Mayberry and his wife, Julie of Plymouth, Myles Mayberry-Lopilato and his wife, Michelle of West Point, New York, Mindy Lopilato and her husband, Jared Kershner of Mashpee and many other nieces, nephews and great-grandnieces and great-nephews. He is also lovingly survived by his in-laws, Margaret “Peggy” Vitale-Intraversato of Revere and her late husband, David P. who passed on October 26, 2017, Donna DeFronzo of Chelsea, Denise and Dennis Thompson of Sanbornton, New Hampshire and John DeFronzo and his wife, Debra “Debbie” of Lynn.

Funeral arrangements were by the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to New England Center & Home for Veterans, P.O. Box 845257, Boston, MA 02284-5257 or to St. Jude Childrens’ Research Hospital, P.O. Box1000, Dept.142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. For additional information, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.

Josephine Tanner

Retired Executive Secretary for Metropolitan District Planning Commission

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, December 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107) Revere for Josephine C. (Camerlengo) Tanner who passed away following a brief illness on Thursday, November 10 at her Prospect House residence in Revere. Her funeral will be conducted from the funeral home on Saturday, December 9 at 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in the Immaculate Conception Church (Corner of Beach Street and Winthrop Avenue) Revere at 11 a.m.

A peculiar coincidence is that her passing came three days following the 75th anniversary (on November 27, 1942) of the infamous “Coconut Grove” fire in Boston’s Back Bay. Josephine was there and present –when her group arrived late for an evening at the club, they were seated in the small lounge at the front of the building and, most probably, the major reason why they survived the tragedy.

Born to humble Italian immigrants, Bernardino and Maria (Marone) Camerlengo in East Boston, the family settled in Revere when Josephine was a little girl. An outstanding student, she was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1937. She went on to Boston Secretarial school and was a graduate of the Class of 1939.

Josephine joined the US Navy (WAVES) in December of 1942 and served with the rank of Seaman 2nd Class until her discharge in January of 1946. She was a proud member of the military and a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post 61 of Revere.

Josephine “Auntie Joe” began her career at Forbes Lithograph and remained there until 1952 when she began her tenure at the Metropolitan District Planning Commission where she rose to the position of “Executive Secretary,” a position she held for 33 years until retiring in 1985. To her death, she still had several friends from her days at the MDPC.

In November of 1977, she was widowed by the untimely and unexpected demise of her dear husband, Louis A. Tanner, Jr. The couple was childless and Josephine soon became the “surrogate” Mom, Grandmother and Great Grandmother to her many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews and great grand nieces and great grand nephews, a position on which she thrived.

Her fraternal associations were several, The Daughters of Italy (Ladies Lodge) at the Giuseppe Mazzini Lodge of Revere, the Winthrop Improvement & Historical Association, the Dante Alighieri Society of Massachusetts and the Revere Society for Cultural & Historic Preservation, Inc.

However, keeping in mind that Josephine was an ardent and proud member of the “Greatest Generation,” she regaled in detail the responsibilities that one assumes when joining fraternal organizations, i.e., supporting the society physically and monetarily. Her days were filled with meetings, luncheons and planning activities that often occupied her schedule until late in the evening. Her lifestyle made a change about two years ago when she moved to “Prospect House.”

She was the dear sister of the late Mildred Gargiulo and her late husband, Gerald H., Ann A. Savoia and her late husband, Charles and William B. Camerlengo and his late wife, Claire; the devoted aunt to: Angela Howell of Cape Coral, Florida, Richard Giglio and his wife, Joanne of Raleigh, North Carolina, Beryl Segal of Wainae, Hawaii, Carl Savoia of Revere, Geralyn A. Gargiulo and her husband, Brian Parrell of Revere and North Conway, NH, Meryl Sachs of Pacific Grove, California, Maria Camerlengo of Salem, NH, Lawrence “Larry” Powers of Winthrop, Louis Powers of Southboro, MA and Joanne Grimes and her husband, Paul of Olney, Maryland.

She is also lovingly survived by her God-daughter, Patricia Hazzard and her husband, Robert of Worcester and by many faithful and respectful grand nieces and grand nephews and great grand nieces and nephews.

For over 45 years, Josephine was a Winthrop resident before moving back to Revere at the Prospect House.

Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Legion Post 61 “Restoration Fund,” 249 Broadway, Revere, MA 02151. For additional information, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.

Domenic Poli

Retired mechanical draftsman

Domenic S. Poli passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 26 at Hancock Park Nursing and Rehab Center in Quincy where he has been receiving supportive care for the past two years.  He was 90 years old.

Born and raised in East Boston, one of 11 children of the late Ottavio and Teresa Poli, he enlisted in the US Army during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1947.  He returned home, courted and married his beloved wife, Anna C. (DiMichele).  Together they raised two sons and shared 62 years of marriage until the time of her passing in 2015.

He supported his family working for Raytheon.  He began working in building and property services and was soon encouraged to further his education and pursue a career as a draftsman.  He completed 33 years with Raytheon as a Mechanical Draftsman and continued his full time career taking a position with CODEX.  In his semi-retirement years he also worked for Logan Airport Security Services and would frequently attend Mass at the airport in the Our Lady of the Airways Chapel.

Domenic enjoyed swimming, spending summer vacation in Falmouth, playing board games and following all Boston sports, favoring the Red Sox and Patriots.

In addition to his beloved wife and parents, Domenic was also predeceased by nine elder siblings.  He is survived by his two devoted sons and their wives; Mark Poli and his wife, Priscilla of Quincy and Dean Poli and his wife, Judy of Melrose. He was the cherished grandfather of Domenic Poli and his wife, Jennifer of Greenfield and Nicholas Poli of Weymouth and the dear brother and brother-in-law of Teresa Feulo and Ida DiMichele of East Boston.

Funeral arrangements were by the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Hancock Park Alzheimer’s Memorial Fund, 164 Parking Way, Quincy MA 02169.

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