Lillian Bostrom
She Will Be Truly Missed by All Who Knew and Loved Her
Lillian M. (Flot) Bostrom, a lifelong resident of East Boston, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 13 at 99 years of age.
Lillian lived in East Boston all her life and was a longtime parishioner of Sacred Heart Parish. Lillian adored her family, spending time together and cooking for the holidays. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her.
The beloved wife of the late Walter Bostrom, she was the devoted mother of Geraldine “Dolly” Natale and her husband, Ralph, David L. Bostrom and his wife, Anita, Richard “Dickie” Bostrom and his wife, Diane, Darlene LoNano and her husband, Salvatore and the late Walter “Chucky” F. Bostrom and Marie P. Catanuso; cherished grandmother of 16 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grand children. She was predeceased by her grandson, Brian Bostrom and great-granddaughter, Sofia Catanuso.
Family and friends honored Lillian’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, (Orient Heights) East Boston, on Monday, December 19 before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Parish, East Boston for a Funeral Mass celebrating Lillian’s life. Services concluded with Lillian being laid to rest with her beloved husband, Walter at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. May they rest in peace.
Following Lillian’s way of giving, please omit flowers and perform an act of kindness, giving back to those around you. To leave an online condolence visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Rino DiCenso
Of East Boston
Rino DiCenso of East Boston, formerly of Italy, passed away on December 19.
The beloved husband of Anna Maria (Scannella), he was the devoted father of Anthony DiCenso and his wife, Anna of Saugus, Fabio DiCenso and his wife, Wendy of East Boston and Concetta Carenza and her husband, Benedetto of Peabody; dear brother of the late Maria and Anna; cherished grandfather of Rino, Sadie, Fabianna, Nico and Jeweliana and adored great grandfather of Elijah.
Family and friends will honor Rino’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street (Orient Heights) East Boston, on Thursday, December 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Friday at 8:30 a.m. before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church in East Boston for a 10 a.m. mass celebrating Rino’s life. Services will conclude with Rino being laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. To leave an online condolence visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Mary Stefano
Hairstylist, Beauty Merchandiser and Winthrop Town Meeting Member
Mary Paula (Gravallese) Stefano, 80, passed away on December 14 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Born in Malden, the beloved daughter of John M. and Camille M. (Casella) Gravallese, she was raised in East Boston, where she attended Fitton. She later obtained her hair dressing license and was employed as a stylist and teacher at Solari Hair Salon in Winthrop. She married Frederick Stefano, Jr., in 1964, after a seven-year courtship, and enjoyed almost 60 years of marriage. The couple started their life together on St. Andrew Road in Orient Heights and then moved to Winthrop, where they raised their daughters. Mary was well known in the community and was busy working from home, cutting, coloring, and perming the hair of her friends and neighbors. She enjoyed all the community had to offer, including being a town meeting member, spending days at Winthrop Beach with friends and family and riding her bike, alongside the other moms, with her toddler daughter on the back. She eventually became a beauty merchandiser for Revlon and later represented Lancôme at Macy’s. Everyone who knew her admired her impeccable style and beauty. Family brought Mary happiness. She and her daughters were very close, and she found further joy with the birth of her grandchildren. She was fortunate to have many lifelong friends from childhood, in addition to those she made throughout her life. Mary was the number one fan of her husband’s artwork. Above all, she loved to travel throughout North America and Europe. In later life, she was her husband’s companion in his golf cart, riding around the course at the Winthrop Golf Club, and on many days, Mary and Fred could be spotted walking along the shore of Constitution Beach in East Boston. Mary took pleasure in spending time at her daughter’s New Hampshire lake house, so it was fitting that for her final years, she was cared for with love and dignity by the wonderful staff at Grace House in Windham. Mary was the cherished wife of Frederick of Winthrop; devoted mother of Lisa Stefano of Winthrop and Jennifer and Brian Becker of Pelham, New Hampshire; dear grandmother (“May May”) of Elizabeth and the late Kathryn Haggerty of Winthrop and Andrew and Aiden Becker, both of Pelham, New Hampshire. She was the treasured sister of John J. Gravallese and his late wife Roberta, both of Wakefield and the late Richard Gravallese. Mary is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours at Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107), Revere, on Wednesday, December 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. Funeral services will begin from the funeral home on Thursday, December 29 at 10 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Joseph-St. Lazarus Church, 59 Ashley Street, East Boston, at 11 a.m. Interment will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in her name may be made to Uncommon Threads (uncommonthreads.org/monetary-donations; specify Mary’s name in the comment section). Online condolences may be made by visiting vertuccioandsmith.com. Funeral arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals, Revere