Obituaries 03-14-2018

Sophie Catanese

Long active in the East Boston community

Sophie (Villani) Catanese, a lifelong resident of East Boston, passed away on March 6 at the age of 97.

Sophie was very active in East Boston community for many years, and she will be sadly missed by all that knew her.

The family would like to thank the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home for the wonderful care she received.

The beloved wife of the late Anthony “Tony” Catanese, she was the cherished daughter of the late Joseph and Antonetta (Barbarisi) Villani, loving mother of the late Anthony Catanese, dear sister of the late Jennie LaCorte, Rose Villani and Pellegrino, Charles, Alfred and Jerry Villani. She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor Sophie’s life by gathering in Vazza’s “ Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach St., Revere, today, Wednesday, March 14, from 9 to 10:30 a.m., before leaving in procession to the Sacred Heart Church, 45 Brooks St., East Boston, for a Funeral Mass in celebration of Sophie’s life at 11 a.m. Interment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For online guestbook and directions please visit

www.vazzafunerals.com.

Michael D’Avolio, Esq.

Retired member of the House of Representatives and advocate for East Boston

Michael A. D’Avolio, Esq. of Swampscott, formerly of East Boston, passed away peacefully surrounded by the comfort of his loving family on March 10 at the age of 92.

Michael served his country in the U.S. Air Force during World War II. He attended Suffolk University and Suffolk Law School and served three terms in the House of Representatives in the 1960s. One of Michael’s accomplishments for his constituents of East Boston was his steadfast opposition to Massport expansion. He was also awarded Man of the Year for his dedication and counsel in representing the Don Orione Home in East Boston. He was later appointed as director of corporations under Secretary of State Jack Davoren.

Michael practiced law at his Meridian Street office for over 50 years. He leaves behind his devoted partner, Anna R. DiMaria who was part of his successful law practice.

Michael was an avid golfer and member of the Winthrop Golf Club. He was affiliated with the VFW in Beachmont where you could find him every Saturday. Michael lived a full and remarkable life touching all of us in many ways. His greatest traits were his generosity, modesty and compassion for others.

He was the loving son of the late Angelina and Domenic and was formerly married to Helen (Mustone) D’Avolio of Palm Beach, Fla. He was the cherished father of Michelle D’Avolio and her husband, Nicholas Baldo of Wakefield, Dominic D’Avolio and his wife, Jane of Middleton, Renee Cappucci and her husband, Louis of Medfield and Michael D’Avolio of Mission Viejo, Calif.  He was the cherished grandfather of seven grandchildren: Dominic Jason D’Avolio and his wife, Jessica, Michael Cappucci and his fiancé, Courtney, Kristin D’Avolio, Caprice Cappucci, Louis Cappucci, Bradley D’Avolio and Matthew D’Avolio and  the great-grandfather of Jordan D’Avolio.  He was a devoted grandfather, never missing an event, game, activity or graduation. He always expressed the value of education.

He was the dear brother of Norma Maiullari, Anthony D’Avolio, Hon. Ronald D’Avolio (ret. associate justice) and Gerald D’Avolio (ret. counsel to the Archdiocese of Boston).

Family and friends will honor Michael’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga St., East Boston, today, Wednesday, March 14. from 4 to 8 p.m. and again on Thursday morning at 9:30 before leaving in funeral procession to St. Joseph – St. Lazarus Church Ashley St., East Boston for an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass in celebration of his life. Services will conclude with Michael being laid to rest at Woodlawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923. For more information or to sign Michael’s online guestbook visit ruggieromh.com.

Regina Caggiano

Longtime organist and soloist at St. Joseph-St. Lazarus Church in East Boston

Regina L. Caggiano of Peabody, formerly of Beverly and Winthrop, passed away at the Lahey Clinic in Burlington on March 10. She was 87 years old.

Born in Boston, the beloved daughter of the late Carmen A. (Bianco) and Michael S. Caggiano, for many years she worked as a group coordinator in the travel industry most notably working for Alitalia Airlines. An accomplished musician, she was the organist and soloist at St. Joseph-St. Lazarus Church in East Boston for many years.

She was the dear sister of Adrienne Maglio and her late husband, Deacon Robert of Peabody and formerly of Lynnfield. She is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are cordially invited to attend the funeral service in the Chapel at Brooksby Village, 100 Brooksby Village Drive in Peabody on Friday, March 16, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow the service in the Cross Street section of Winthrop Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop. Memorial donations may be made to Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Ave., N.E., Washington DC 20017-1566 or go to www.nationalshrine.com. For directions or to sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

James Rogowicz

Of Winthrop

James J. Rogowicz of Winthrop, passed away on March 2.

The beloved husband of the late Esther (Vieira) Rogowicz, he was the loving father of Christine Pizzicannella and her husband, Luigi of Winthrop, Gail Noel and her late husband, Ray of Billerica and James J. Rogowicz, Jr. of Billerica; cherished grandfather of Kristina Pizzicannella-Murphy and her husband, Daniel, Jennifer Harrison and her husband, Tom, Julie Rogowicz and Lauren Rogowicz and the adored great-grandfather of Dominic Luigi Pizzicannella-Murphy and Ben Harrison.  He was the dear brother of Ann Novick of Saugus, the late Stella Mangino, Julie Palladino, Helen Scaramella, Charles Rogowicz, and Joseph Rogowicz and brother-in-law of Marie Rogowicz of East Boston and the late Joseph Vieira.

Funeral arrangements were by the Boston Harborside Home, 580 Commercial St., North End, Boston.  Interment was in Winthrop Cemetery.  For online condolences, please visit: www.bostonharborsidehome.com.

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