Ann Fougere
Longtime East Boston High School Parent Coordinator
Ann L. (Cestroni) Fougere of East Boston died on August 21.
Ann was born and raised in East Boston and was a member of Our Lady of the Assumption Drum Corps in her youth. She worked for many years as a Parent Co-ordinator at East Boston High School.
The beloved wife of the late Thomas J. Fougere Sr., she was the loving mother of Lisa Diorio and her late husband, Joseph, Thomas J. Fougere Jr. and Stacy Fougere, all of East Boston and Michelle Seccareccio and her husband, Rick of Pelham, NH; grandmother of Thomas J. Fougere III and Nicole Walker; sister of the late Clara Lipscomb, Amelia Deveau, Anthony, Mario, Carmen and Edward Cestroni and is also survived by many nieces and nephews and her grand-fur babies, Isabella and Chloe.
Her Funeral will be held from the Magrath Funeral Home, 336 Chelsea St [at Day Sq] East Boston on Thursday morning, August 26 at 11:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in the Sacred Heart Church at 12:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours will be today, Wednesday, August 25 from 4 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ann’s memory to the Kaplan Family Hospice House would be appreciated. Please leave messages of condolence for Ann’s Family on her Tribute Page at MagrathFuneralHome.com.
Ralph J. Colarusso
Carpenter’s Union President, Director of the Carpenter’s School in Worcester and Former East Boston High School Football Standout
Ralph J. Colarusso, 83, of Saugus, formerly of East Boston, he was born March 18, 1938 in East Boston where he attended high school and was a football standout.
A member of the Carpenters Union Local 33, he was elected Union President and became director of the Carpenter’s School in Worcester.
He was a resident at the Rubin House in Saugus where he passed after a brief illness. He was a son of the late Ralph and the late Irene F. (Haverty) Colarusso, both formerly of Tewksbury; brother of the late Peter Colarusso, formerly of Halifax and the brother of Thomas Colarusso of Dracut, Eleanor Joyce and her husband, Stephen of Roslindale, Lisa Talbot and her husband, Don of New Hampshire and Paula Bain and her husband, David of Lowell; father to Jodi Madelini and her husband, Andy, of Malden, Robin Colarusso and her late husband, Barry of Wakefield, William Colarusso and his wife, Kelly of Maine and Ralph Colarusso, Jr. and his significant other, Janet of Saugus. He is also survived by several grandchildren, great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were held on Saturday, August 21, at Tewksbury Funeral One, One Dewey St., Tewksbury, 978-851-2061 followed by a funeral service and burial in Tewksbury Cemetery. Please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com to send the family your condolences at any time.
Rita J. (Staropoli) McDonald
Formerly of East Boston
Rita J. (Staropoli) McDonald, passed away on June 20, in Albuquerque, New Mexico at the age of 84 after courageously struggling for over 3 years with lung cancer. Her last days were spent under Hospice Care at her home with her husband ever-present and her son, daughter and other family members there to help. Rita was born in East Boston, MA, the daughter of Italian immigrants, the late Giuseppina and Giuseppe Staropoli. She was predeceased by a brother Michelangelo (Mikey) and a sister Delia (Della). Siblings Anthony (Tony) and Jean are still living in East Boston. Rita is survived by many nieces, nephews and friends. She leaves her husband of 51 years, Michael C. McDonald with whom she shared many adventures. Rita and Mike married in California and then went to Colorado, Wyoming Massachusetts and New Mexico. Rita also leaves her children Michael J. McDonald and Jill Stape. Michael and his wife Bridget and their children Michael. Oliver and Alexander live in Westford, MA. Jill and her husband Dominic and their children Mia, Talia, Olivia, Edward and Sergio reside in Albuquerque, N.M. Rita was so very proud of her 2 children and her 8 grandchildren and recognized the unique and special qualities of each. On her journey, Rita was a devout Catholic. Her faith led her to Bible study classes and other church activities. It also led her to becoming even more loving, caring and considerate of others. She had a passion for things Italian; from cooking, to traveling, to tracing her Calabrese roots, to learning to read, write and speak the Italian language. Rita’s journey took her to a career in Education of over 35 years as an elementary school teacher. She began teaching in Norwalk, Connecticut and soon became known as a teacher “par excellence”. She continued in her chosen field in California and other places where she lived until spending several years at schools in Durango, Colorado. In retirement, Rita settled in Albuquerque, New Mexico where there was always something new to learn or continue to pursue: piano lessons, painting, knitting, traveling, and always reading and of course shopping. Rita lives on in all the lives she touched. She is always in our hearts but is now on a journey to a place, where we, her family members and friends, look ahead to meeting again. On July 12, 2021 Rita had a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The family invites you to attend a Memorial Mass at Sacred Heart Church at 303 Paris Street East Boston, MA on Thursday, August 26th at 11:00 AM. Rita had requested a return to her childhood parish. Please consider a donation in Rita’s memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at 800-805-5856 or at Stjude.org or if you wish a contribution to the Pan Mass Challenge where a family member is riding: http://pmc.org/egifts/PT0078. To leave an online condolence please visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Anthony Pagliuca
Long Time Employee of General Ship in East Boston
Anthony L. Pagliuca, 88, of East Boston, passed away on Wednesday, August 18.
A lifelong East Boston resident, he was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean War and worked at General Ship in East Boston for most of his career.
The cherished son of the late Nicola and Maria ( Festa) Pagliuca, he was the loving father of Mark and Victor Pagliuca, both of Winthrop and Paul Pagliuca and his wife, Kerri of Lynnfield; adored grandfather of Nykole, Allison, Jennifer, Ashle, and Joseph Pagliuca; former husband of Analia (Travassos) Pagliuca; dear brother of the late Josephine Jones and Phyllis Marchese and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
At the family’s request, funeral services are private.
www.vazzafunerals.com.
Ronald Lyons
Of East Boston
Ronald F. Lyons died unexpectedly in East Boston on August 18.
The beloved husband of Judith A. “Judy” (Duggan) with whom he shared 51 years of marriage, he was the loving father of Karen Osarenkhoe and her husband, David of East Boston, grandfather of Christina Clauson of Florida, son of the late Caroline (D’Agresto) and Paul J. Lyons Sr., brother of Miriam Grenier and her husband, Hermel of New Hampshire, Patricia Lyons of East Boston, Julie Guerrero of Groton, Richard Lyons and his wife, Charleu of Westminster, Stephen Lyons and his wife, Pamela of California, the late Paul J. Lyons Jr. and his surviving wife, Esperanza of East Boston; brother-in-law of the late Kathleen Morani and her surviving husband, Robert and Eleanor Mooney and her late husband, William. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
His funeral was held from the Magrath Funeral Home, 336 Chelsea St [at Day Sq] East Boston last Saturday and interment was at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Ron’s memory to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
Please leave messages of condolence for the family on Ron’s Tribute Page at MagrathFuneralHome.com.