Norma Meola
Of East Boston
Norma (DiStacio) Meola of East Boston, 91, passed away on Thursday, December 9.
The cherished daughter of the late Louis and Pauline (Lomanno) DiStacio, she was the adored aunt to Donald Di Nicola and his wife, Pamela, Louis Di Nicola and his partner, Rudy Gallucio, Lisa DeFelice and Kim Richards and also survived by many of her grandnephews and grandnieces. She was the dear sister of the late Anthony Louis DiStacio and his surviving wife, Betty and Marie Wonoski.
Family and friends will honor Norma’s life by gathering in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach Street, Revere today, Wednesday, December 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. and again on Thursday at 9 a.m. for a Funeral Service in our Chapel of the Resurrection at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.
For additional information, visit: www.vazzafunerals.com.
Paolo Scimemi
Late Member of the Danvers Fish and Game Club
Paolo Scimemi of Chelsea. formerly of Salemi Sicily, Italy died on December 10.
Paolo served in the Italian Military before coming to the United States in April of 1966. He enjoyed hunting, gardening, cooking and spending time with his family and friends. He was a late member of the Danvers Fish and Game Club.
The devoted son of the late Giuseppe and Crocifissa (Guciarde), he was the beloved husband of the late Tina (Tranquillo), dear brother of the late Francesca Marino and her late husband, Antonio, Maria Ferrante and her late husband, Gregorio, Salvatore and his late wife, Filippa and Mario and his surviving wife, Liberata. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and great nieces and great nephews.
Funeral from the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, 128 Revere St, Revere on Saturday, December 18 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church, Revere at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Masks will be required when entering the Funeral Home and St. Anthony’s Church. Entombment will be in Woodlawn Mausoleum. For guest book please visit www.Buonfiglio.com.
Irene Rizzo
Graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1963
A Funeral Service was held on December 11, in the First Congregational Church of Revere for Irene A. (LaRocca) Rizzo, who died on Tuesday, December 7 at the North Shore Medical Center in Salem following a long illness. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.
Irene was born in Boston and was a lifelong resident of East Boston. She was educated in Boston Public Schools and was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1963.
She married her husband, Ronald Rizzo, and together they raised their two daughters, while they remained in East Boston.
Irene began a career as a “Meter Maid” for the City of Boston’s Parking Enforcement Division, later becoming a Senior Supervisor. Her career spanned 29 years. During her time working for the city, Irene made many friendships along the way. She loved her family unconditionally. Her family was her greatest joy in her life, and she was a very proud East Bostonian. She was also a long time and faithful member of the First Congregational Church of Revere.
She was the beloved wife of 47 years to the late Ronald J. Rizzo; loving mother of Melissa A.
Jones and Kenneth of Peabody and Christine J. Palladino and her husband, Rocky of Dracut; cherished and proud grandmother of Micaiah H. Jones, Alanna I. Palladino, Nathan A. Palladino, Keenan R. Jones, Alexa T. Palladino and Caleb R. Jones, all living at home; dear sister of Nancy Melchionda and her husband, Alfred of Amesbury, Deborah L. Kalligheri and her late husband, Armand of West Peabody and the late John G. LaRocca and his surviving wife, Marilyn of Chelmsford. She is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Remembrances may be made to the Food Pantry at the First Congregational Church of Revere, 230 Beach St., Revere, MA 02151.
The Staff at Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals, is most honored to have assisted the family in completing funeral arrangements. To send online condolences, please visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com
Nancy Barbero
Lifelong East Boston Resident
Nancy L. (Socci) Barbero died unexpectedly on December 9 at the age of 91.
The beloved wife of 66 years to John A. Barbero of East Boston, she was the most loving and caring mother of Catherine L. (Barbero) Liberatore and her husband, Robert R. of Wilmington and cherished and adoring grandmother of Anthony J. Liberatore of Boston’s North End.
Mom was born on January 8,1930 in East Boston where she grew up in a loving and close family. Her parents were the late Stephen Socci and Lucia (LaFratta) Socci. She was the youngest of seven children and the dear sister of the late Paul N. Socci, Mary Guarnera/DiVincenzo, Carmen Socci, Austin Socci, Ann C. McNulty and Antonio Socci. She is also lovingly survived by her dear sister-in-law, Gilda Albanese and many beautiful nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Mom and Dad met at the Central Theatre in East Boston when they were teenagers. She was taken with his black curly hair and usher’s uniform and he, her beauty. They fell in love and married in 1955, both at the age of 25.
As a young woman, Mom worked in millinery on Kingston Street in Boston where she made hats for various department stores. She also enjoyed her time working in the giftwrapping department at R.H. White’s Department Store in Boston.
In later years, Mom was active with the senior program at the East Boston Social Center where she enjoyed gathering with friends, playing bingo, going on an occasional field trip and participating in the various holiday luncheons at Spinelli’s.
Mom and Dad were both so elated the day their grandson, Anthony was born. Mom absolutely adored and loved him with all her heart, not to mention how proud she was of him. Her face would light up at the sight of him or the sound of his voice on the phone.
Throughout her life, Mom cherished and enjoyed her time spent with family and friends, sharing in so many beautiful memories with them. It was her love of family and friends, her caring and generous nature and wonderful sense of humor that were contagious. As a daughter writing this I can only say, my precious angel here on earth has left us, leaving a great emptiness. May she be at peace and at the heights of heaven with God, joyously reunited with her dear family and friends who have gone before her. God bless you and rest your soul, Mom. Until we meet again, I will carry you forever in my heart. With all my love always, Cathy. Funeral Services were conducted in the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals, Revere on December 14. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or MSPCA Office of Development, 350 So. Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02130-9923. To send online condolences, please visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals.