Obituaries 10-06-2021

Anthony Penzabene

Retired Machinist

A private Graveside Service was held in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett for Anthony R. Penzabene, who died on Friday, October 1 at the Lighthouse Nursing Care Center in Revere following a long illness.  He was 81 years old.

Born and raised in East Boston, he was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1958. All of Anthony’s working career was spent as a machinist. He lived in Waltham for over 20 years, later moving to Revere, residing on Revere Beach at the Seaview Towers, where he has been for the past 30 plus years.

Anthony was a proud bachelor who loved to dance. He was a jack of all trades and a sports enthusiast who especially loved all the local teams.

The beloved son of the late Frank Penzabene and Lena (Bellitti) Penzabene, he was the loving brother of Crissa Nichinello and her husband, Joseph A. of Revere and the late Anne Marie Penzabene; cherished uncle of the late Lori Ann Nagle and grand uncle of Justin J. Gomes of Sturbridge and Korey J. Gomes of Revere.

To send online condolences, please visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com. 

The staff at Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals is honored to have assisted the family in completing funeral arrangements.

Josephine “Tootsie” Margareci

Bank Retiree

Josephine P.  “Tootsie” (Palermo) Margareci of Saugus, formerly of East Boston, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on  October 1.  

Josephine was a former employee of the Boston Five Savings Bank and East Boston Savings Bank for over 35 years.  

The devoted wife of over 68 years to Michael Margareci, she was the beloved mother of Paula Margareci of Saugus,  Michael Margareci and his wife, Susan of New Hampshire; dear sister of the late Guiseppina  Palermo, Agrippino Palermo, Ignazio Palermo, Vincenza Colangeli, Pauline Dorazio and Joseph Palermo; cherished grandmother of Michael and his wife, Andrea, Nicholas, Haley, and Joseph and adored great-grandmother of Elora.  She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and her lifelong friend Celia Strangie.  

Family and friends are respectfully invited to a Funeral Mass honoring  Tootsie’s life in the Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Summer St. Saugus, today, Wednesday, October 6 at 11 a.m. (Please go Directly to Church. Ushers from the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home will be at church to assist family and friends.)  Josephine was a former employee of the Boston Five Savings Bank and East Boston Savings Bank for over 35 years.   Services will conclude with Josephine being laid to rest in the Versailles Mausoleum in Woodlawn Cemetery.

In honoring Tootsie’s life, in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Care Dimensions 75 Sylvan St Danvers MA, 01923.  

For more information or to sign Tootsie’s online guest book please visit www.ruggieromh.com. Arrangements with the personal care of the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home. 

Rosemarie McSweeney

Of Winthrop

Rosemarie (Carrozza) McSweeney of Winthrop, formerly of Lynnfield, passed away surrounded by her loving family on September 28 at the age of 82.

Rosemarie was a long time devoted parishioner of St. Joseph’s Church in Wakefield.

Rosemarie was born in Boston to Mario and Viola (Mosco) Carrozza on October 16, 1938. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert McSweeney, devoted sister of Robert Carrozza  and Brenda Carrozza, both of Winthrop and the late Thomas Carrozza, Susan Sheehan and Joseph Russo and is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.ruggieromh.com.

James Cali

Past member of Local 805 and the Orient Heights Civic Club

James V. Cali of East Boston passed away peacefully on October 4.

 James was a longshoreman at the Charlestown Navy Yard throughout his life. He is a past member of the Local 805 and the Orient Heights Civic Club.

The beloved husband of Alberta (Tramonte) Cali, he was the devoted father of James Cali of East Boston, David Cali and his wife, Jodi of East Boston and Deborah Cali; dear brother of Thomas, Frank Jr., Robert, Jeanette and the late Philip, Catherine, Rocco, Benjamin, Rose and Gloria and cherished grandfather of Tucker, Charlee and Alexander. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor James’ life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home,   971 Saratoga Street, Boston 02128 , on Friday, October 8 from 4 to 7 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, October 9 at Sacred Heart Parish, East Boston, at 10 a.m. PLEASE MEET DIRECTLY AT CHURCH. Services will conclude with James being buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

In accordance with the City of Boston Five-Point Plan for the Delta Variant of COVID-19, face masks are required at all times when indoors.

To leave an online condolence please visit   www.ruggieromh.com.

Theresa Recupero

Great Baker Who Loved to Play Bingo and Watch the Boston Red Sox

Theresa (Fantasia) Recupero of Revere died on October 3 at the age of 88. 

Theresa enjoyed the holidays when the entire family would get together. She was a great baker who loved to play bingo and watch the Boston Red Sox.  Theresa was a member of the Revere Senior Center. 

Born in Chelsea on January 11, 1933 to the late Cosimo and Virginia Fantasia, she was the beloved wife of 38 years to the late Frank Recupero; devoted mother of Raymond Recupero of Lynn and the late Donna Montalto and her surviving husband, Mark; cherished grandmother of Marko and Franki Montalto and dear sister of the late Doris Arrigo, Margaret Lifrierri, Salvatore Fantasia, Fannie Keller, Jennie Zullo and Mary Colarossi.  She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. 

A visitation will be held at the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home 128 Revere St,  Revere on Wednesday, October 6 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church in Revere at 11 a.m.  Relatives and friends are kindly invited.  Interment Woodlawn Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Theresa’s name to the Jimmy Fund P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or at  www.jimmyfund.org/gift. 

For guest book please visit  www.buonfiglio.com.

Rev. Flavian D. Mucci O.F.M.

(Dominic “Dee” Mucci)

Rev. Flavian D. Mucci O.F.M. passed into Eternal Life on September 25 in El Salvador, Central America.  

Born Dominic J. Mucci in East Boston on March 1, 1935,  Fr. Flavian was the beloved son of the late Camillo and Laura (Gaglini) Mucci, cherished brother of the late Marie Mucci O’Shea of East Boston, George (and Joan) Mucci of Revere, Camille Mucci Selvitella of Winthrop and Joseph (and Elaine) Mucci of Laconia, New Hampshire. He is aAlso survived by loving nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

After graduating from East Boston High School in 1952, Dominic Mucci studied for the priesthood and was ordained to the Order of Franciscan Friars of the Province of the Immaculate Conception in 1963, taking the religious name of Flavian.  After serving in the missions in Honduras and Guatemala, Father Flavian spent the next 54 years serving the people of El Salvador.  He founded the SOS Children’s Village for abandoned children and the Associacion of AGAPE of El Salvador.   Facing Christmas alone in a new country, Fr. Flavian decided to invite all the homeless people living in the streets to join him for Christmas dinner.  This inspired him to open the first soup kitchen, which has continued to feed the poor for the past 54 years.  This was the beginning of AGAPE, which grew from a small soup kitchen into one of the largest humanitarian services in the country.     For the spiritual needs of the people, AGAPE includes a Church, a Chapel of Divine Mercy and a 24 hour prayer request hotline.  For the humanitarian needs of the people, AGAPE includes soup kitchens, homes for the elderly, medical and dental clinics, including the most recent Dialysis Clinic and Covid Clinic, a day care center, after-school programs, workshops teaching over 25 trades, a radio station and a TV station, bringing religious programming to the people in rural areas.  To defray the costs of the humanitarian projects. AGAPE operates a restaurant, a hotel, and function rooms staffed by people who have been trained in the workshops.  AGAPE also operates primary schools, secondary schools and schools for children with special needs.  Food for the poor is distributed daily at AGAPE and trucks deliver food to people in rural areas.  

When El Salvador was in a civil war in the 1980s, the Rebels issued a statement saying, “If the government did as much for the people of El Salvador as Fr. Flavian Mucci, an American, we would lay down our arms.”  

For 54 years, through many natural disasters and a civil war, Fr. Flavian remained steadfast in serving the poor of El Salvador.  During this time, he has received hundreds of awards,  from the Pope, the government, the people of El Salvador and other countries for his humanitarian works, including the Most Meritorious Son of El Salvador,  the highest honor ever given to a civilian.   His biography has been published in Spanish, translated “FLAVIAN MUCCI.  Act Without Rest.  Love Without Condition.”  We thank everyone who has helped in any way to allow Fr. Flavian to achieve his dream and be of service to a country in need.  

A talented baseball player in his youth, Fr. Flavian remained an avid Red Sox fan.  He traveled, gave interviews and served his people, always wearing a Boston Red Sox baseball cap.

A three-day mourning period has been declared in Sonsonate, El Salvador and all flags are being flown at half-mast.  A delegate from the Pope is scheduled to bless his tomb. 

Due to Covid restrictions, Memorial Masses will be held in the future in Boston and El Salvador.

Alicia Jeanne Opidee

With Her Golden Heart, She Touched the Lives of Every Person She Met

Alicia Jeanne Opidee of Revere, formerly of East Boston, died on September 25.

The cherished daughter of Noreen Opidee and the late Eugene J. McDonald, she was the beloved Godchild of Paula Opidee, loving Godmother of Brandon Rella and is also survived by several special aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and her wonderful students at the Shore Educational Collaborative.

Alicia was born and raised in East Boston, attended school at East Boston Central Catholic and graduated Savio Prep in 1998.  She continued her education at Salve Regina University and received her Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work in 2002.

Alicia was the Program Director at Shore Educational Collaborative, prior to that she was Assistant Manage at The Sargent House. She was also a therapist-counselor for Bay State Community Services/Quincy Courts.

Alicia recently became a licensed Realtor and partnered in her family business-Advantage Realty. Alicia, with her golden heart, touched the lives of every person she met.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Alicia’s memory to Salesian Boys and Girls Club, 150 Byron St., East Boston 02128 would be greatly appreciated.

Please leave messages of condolence for the family on Alicia’s Tribute Page at  MagrathFuneralHome.com.

Susan Guarino

Of Revere, formerly of East Boston

Susan (Sacco) Guarino of Revere, formerly of East Boston, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 2 at 56 years of age. 

Susan was born in Boston to the late Anthony and Rose (DeLeo) Sacco on November 1, 1964. She graduated from Pope John High School in 1982.

Susan will be missed by all who knew her. May she rest in peace. 

The beloved wife of John Guarino, she was the devoted mother of Princess Victoria Guarino and her boyfriend, John, dear sister of Karen Bryant and her husband, Fred of Winthrop; cherished aunt of Sean Bryant and his wife, Elizabeth, Ryan Bryant; Connor Bryant and his wife, Maya, Chanel Frammartino and her fiancé, Ryan, Anthony D’Angelo and Ashlyn Mackenzie; loving great aunt of Ulla, Violet and Albee. 

Family and friends will honor Susan’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, (Orient Heights) East Boston, on Thursday, October 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. A Prayer Service will be held in our Serenity Chapel at 7:30 p.m. Committal services will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be in Susan’s name to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241. 

In accordance with the City of Boston Five-Point Plan for the Delta Variant of COVID-19, face masks are required at all times when indoors. To leave an online condolence please visit  www.ruggieromh.com.

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