Gloria Vacca
Auto accident victim
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours today, Wednesday, March 7 beginning at 10 a.m. through 11:45 a.m. in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway, Revere for Gloria M. (Repetto) Vacca who passed away on Thursday, Feb. 28 at Boston’s Mass. General Hospital as a result of injuries sustained as a pedestrian in Revere earlier in the day. She was 86 years old.
Her funeral service will be held in the funeral home following the visitation at 12 noon immediately followed by interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.
A Revere resident for 55 years, she was born and raised in East Boston and was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1948. She worked as a secretary for First National Bank of Boston and also worked for the Veterans Affairs Office at Boston University for several years. After her children were born, she became a homemaker.
She was the wife of the late Pasquale A. “Pat” Vacca who passed in January of 2002; the cherished mother and best friend to Susan M. Vacca and her husband, Harry G. Orcutt of Greenwood, Maine and the late Paul A. Vacca who passed in November of 2014. She was the sister of the late Nicholas and Salvatore Repetto and Ann Ewing and is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nephews, grand nieces and by many loving, caring and kind neighbors.
For additional information, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.
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Thomas DeFreitas, Sr.
AKA “Tom the Bomb” – former East Boston Football Star
Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Saturday, March 10 in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route107) Revere beginning at 12 noon through 2 p.m. for Thomas E. DeFreitas, Sr., who passed away following a long illness on Friday, March 2. He was 77 years old.
The funeral service will be conducted in the funeral home following the visitation at 2:15 p.m. Interment will be private.
Born, raised and educated in East Boston, he was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1957. Because of his extraordinary athleticism and academic achievement, he was awarded an early graduation in 1957 rather than in 1958. As Captain and Quarterback of the East Boston High School Football Team, he earned the nickname, “Tom the Bomb,” a title that he maintained for the rest of his life.
For over 10 years, in the 1970’s and 1980’s, Tom worked as a youth counsellor for “Project Yes,” and more recently as a sales associate at the White Hen Pantry. Tom was a member of the Cary Square Club of Chelsea and the Bartolo Club of East Boston.
The beloved father of Thomas E. DeFreitas, Jr. of Arlington, he was the cherished brother to retired Revere Patrolman Harold Clark “Clarkie” DeFreitas of Revere, Robert DeFreitas of Rhode Island and William DeFreitas of Medford and the late John DeFreitas. He is affectionately remembered by his first wife, Marylou “Lulu” (Corkum) DeFreitas of Arlington, the devoted friend in recent years to Mary Walsh Durant of Peabody, dear uncle to many nieces and nephews and the esteemed and trusted friend of Evelyn P. Morris of Revere.
The family gratefully acknowledges the extraordinary care rendered to Tom by caregivers at Rosewood Rehab of Peabody, the staff of Care Dimensions Hospice and the Clinicians at Salem Hospital.
For additional information, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.
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David Murphy
Retired self-employed commercial cleaner
David R. Murphy of Winthrop passed away on March 1 at the age of 82.
David was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a member of the former East Boston Knights of Columbus. Prior to his retirement, he was self-employed as a commercial cleaner and janitorial service provider.
The beloved husband of the late Marie (Palladino) Murphy, he was born in Boston, the son of the late David and Catherine (Conley) Murphy. He was the devoted father of Susan M. Murphy and her husband, Matthew Buehler of Winthrop and the late Joanne Pinabella; adored grandfather of John F. Arpino and his fiancée, Glenna of Beverly, Christopher A. Arpino of Norwood and Nicole M. Pinabella and her companion, Frankie of East Boston; loving great-grandfather of Alana Marie Arpino and Barrett Terwilliger and the dear brother of the late Marie Park.
Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop. Memorial donations can be made to the Robert A. DeLeo Senior Center, 35 Harvard St., Winthrop, MA 02152. For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Roberto Rendon
Of East Boston
Roberto J. Rendon of East Boston died peacefully on March 2.
He was the beloved husband of Rosalba Valencia, devoted father of John Freddy Holguin Valencia, Edwin Rendon Valencia and Elizabeth Rendon Valencia, dear brother of Antonio and Gabriela Rendon, cherished grandfather of Sean and Mia Donahue, Kevin and Samuel Rendon, Michelle Ruiz and Juan Jose Holguin. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga St. (Orient Heights) East Boston. For more information, visit: www.ruggieromh.com.
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Loretta English
Of Danvers, formerly of East Boston
Loretta T. (Luti) English in Danvers, formerly of East Boston, died unexpectedly on Feb. 28.
Loretta was a founding member of Mount Carmel Church’s Confraternity of Christian Mothers Group.
She was the beloved wife of the late Michael P. English, devoted mother of Michael J. English and his wife, Cheryl of Peabody and the late Loretta M. Cahill and her surviving husband, John of Salem; dear sister of the late Carol Cronin. cherished grandmother of Eric and Paige English and Andrew and Conor Cahill and adored great-grandmother of Emilia Cahill.
She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, (Orient Heights) East Boston. Loretta was laid to rest with her beloved husband, in St. Michael’s Cemetery, Boston. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Loretta’s memory to Dana Faber Cancer Center, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or www.dana-faber.org/gift or National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel St., Newton, MA 02458. For more information, visit: www.ruggieromh.com.
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Arthur ‘Jay’ Murphy
Of East Boston
Arthur J. “Jay” Murphy died in East Boston on March 1.
Jay was veteran of the U.S. Army and the Army National Guard.
He was the beloved husband of Louise G. “Lulu” (Fagone) Murphy, father of the late Darrell Murphy and brother of Phyllis Stewart of Weymouth and several siblings in Canada.
Memorial Services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are by the Magrath Funeral Home.
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Teodolinda Moniello
Retired seamstress
Teodolinda (Ferraro Caruso) Moniello of Revere died on Friday, March 2, after a long and courageously fought illness. She was 83 years old.
The loving wife of Michele Moniello with whom she shared 64 years of marriage, she was born in Tocco Caudio, Italy, the daughter of the late Giovanni Battista Ferraro Caruso and Maria Teresa Spitaletta. She was predeceased by five siblings and survived by three.
A resident of the United States for 49 years, Mrs. Moniello lived in Chelsea, where she worked as a seamstress at the Emerson Textile Co. She later moved to Revere.
She is survived by four children: Concetta (Tina) Rivellini and her husband, Anthony of Saugus, Gina Luongo and her husband, Robert of Destin, Fla., Teresa Pedicini and her husband, Robert of Lynnfield and John Moniello and his wife, Patricia (Stone) of Barrington, NH. She also leaves eight grandchildren: Lena Giordano and her husband, Anthony, Michelle Napoli and her husband, Joseph, Mark Luongo and his wife, Terra, Adam Luongo and Shawn and Robert Pedicini, as well as four great-grandchildren: Evelynn, Francesca, Gavin and Daniela and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the American Liver Foundation – New England Division, 188 Needham St., Suite 240, Newton, MA 02464 or at https://www.liverfoundation.org/for-patients/donate-now/ For guest book, please visit www.Buonfiglio.com.
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Louise Fiantaca
Of Peabody, formerly of East Boston
Louise (Porrazzo) Fiantaca of Peabody, formerly of East Boston, passed away on Thursday, March 1. She was 95 years old.
The cherished daughter of the late Louis and Maria Porrazzo, she was the beloved wife of the late Salvatore “Sam” Fiantaca, loving mother of Albert Fiantaca, Lorraine Reddinger and her husband, Thomas and Diane Goggin and her husband, James; adored grandmother of Craig Reddinger and his wife, Natasha, Scott Reddinger and his wife, Jennifer, Meghan Reddinger, Michelle Thompson and her husband, Terry and Steven and Janine Goggin; great-grandmother of Vera, Nicholas and Gianna and caring sister of the late Joseph, Michael, Edward, Albert and Armando Porrazzo. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor Louise’s life by gathering in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach St. Revere today, Wednesday, March 7 at 9:30 a.m. before leaving in procession to Sacred Heart Church in East Boston for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in her honor at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Louise’s memory to the Trask Adult Day Health Program c/o Torigian Senior Center 75R Central St. Peabody, MA 01960. For guestbook and directions please visit www.vazzafunerals.com
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Luigina Scalcione
East Boston activist for the elderly and disenfranchised
Luigina J. “Gina” (LaVita) Scalcione of East Boston passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at Boston’s Mass General Hospital. She was 77 years old.
Born and raised in Mirabella-Eclano, Italy, she and her family came to the United States when “Gina” was a young woman. The family settled in East Boston where she met and married, John F. “Jack” Scalcione 53 years ago.
Very early in her working career, she was a master seamstress. Later, she delved into the world of social activism and helping mankind where needed most. Ever conscious of the ever encroaching “expansion of Logan Airport,” she became most interested in citizens’ rights and logistics. She was the foundress of the Gove Street Citizens Association of East Boston and the East Boston Citizens Against a Third Harbor Tunnel. She was a devotee of the former Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish of East Boston and one of the first to volunteer as a vigil watcher at the famed church for well over four years.
She was passionate regarding her convictions and focused on their successful executions. She worked for the East Boston Neighborhood Medical Center within the scope of their “Elder Plan” where she found herself immersed in helping the elderly — and that she did — above and beyond the call of duty.
In the middle 1990s, she worked as the East Boston liaison to Congressman Joe Kennedy, helping everyone who sought her assistance. She will be long-remembered for her jovial personality and for the firm positions with which she approached her work.
She was the beloved wife of 53 years to John F. “Jack” Scalcione; the adored mother of Lisa M. Dreitlein and her husband, Kenneth “Kace” of Newton, Tia J. Scalcione and her wife, Barbara Boone of Wellfleet, John F. Scalcione, II of Greenville, South Carolina and Tonia Scalcione-Tassinari and her husband, Max J. Tassinari of East Boston; the adored grandmother of Mira, Matthew, Boone, Anna, Ella and Argus “Gus.”; the dear sister of Angiolina Pizzicannella of East Boston, Giuseppina “Giosi” Cimildoro and her husband, Faustino of Milton, Michele LaVita of Derry, N.H., and the late Luigi LaVita. She is also lovingly survived by her daughter-in- law, Christina Scalcione of Greenville, South Carolina, her sister-in- law, Carol LaVita of Milton and by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For additional information, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.
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Edward Crane
A kind and compassionate soul who deeply loved his friends and family
Family and friends are invited to attend funeral services on Saturday, March 10 at 10 a.m. from the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Rte 107) Revere for Edward L. Crane who passed away on Feb. 16. The funeral home service will be followed by a Memorial Funeral Mass in the Most Holy Redeemer Church, 72 Maverick St., East Boston at 11:30 a.m. Interment will be held privately.
Born on Sept. 23, 1940, the son of Joseph A. and Mary E. (Wallace) Crane, Mr. Crane graduated from B.C. High and attended Boston College. After serving in the United States Air Force as a Medical and Surgical Technician, Ed spent most of his career in the hospitality industry; including the Magic Pan and Bostonian Hotel in Boston, the Charles Hotel in Cambridge and the Chanticleer Inn on Nantucket, where he loved meeting and learning about people from around the world. His love of people and the arts also extended to his work at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and as an instructor at Arthur Murray Dance Studios. He enjoyed travel, spending time with family, especially at the beach in Kennebunk, Maine, and with his many friends at BK’s and Bill Ash’s in Revere.
He is survived by his beloved sister, Sheila A. (Crane) Sweeney, whom he adored, his niece, Kathleen Sweeney of Chelmsford, and nephews, Joseph Sweeney of North Andover, Timothy Sweeney of Boston, Connor Murphy of Boston and Reilly Murphy of Chelmsford.
Ed will be lovingly remembered as a sponge of knowledge about the world around him and a gentle, kind and compassionate soul who deeply loved his family and friends. For additional information, please visit
www.vertuccioandsmith.com.