Mary Ellen Welch
Long time East Boston educator and community activist
Mary Ellen Welch, a lifelong East Boston resident, teacher and community activist, passed away on March 7.
Mary was a graduate of Emmanuel College where she earned her teaching degree. She was totally committed to her community. First and foremost, she was extremely proud to be a school teacher for 47 ½ years, mostly serving the East Boston community at the O’Donnell Elementary School.
Mary was predeceased by her brother, Charles Welch and survived by her sister Eleanor MacMullen and her husband, Gary, brother Jack Welch, sister in law, Joanne Welch, nieces Bridget Hennen and her husband, Mark, Amy Battisti and her husband, Steve, Carrie Palmer and her husband, Michael, nephews, Timothy and Brendan MacMullen, grand niece and grand nephew, Madeline Battisti, and Sam Battisti.
Services will be private. People who wish to remember her may donate to either the East Boston Greenway or the Piers Park Sailing Center.
Ida Cennamo
Of East Boston
Ida Cennamo of East Boston passed away on March 10.
The loving daughter of Salvatore and Gaetana (LaSala) Cennamo, she was the dear sister of the late Louise Iannaccone, Fanny Meola, Mary Cennamo, Lucy Pignatone and Anna Cennamo and is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews and two very special great great nieces. Family and friends will honor Ida’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, East Boston on Monday, March 18 from 4 to 8 p.m. and again Tuesday morning, March 19 at 10 a.m. for a prayer service before leaving in procession to St. Michael’s Cemetery, 500 Canterbury Street, Roslindale where Ida will be laid to rest. For more information, please visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Viola Mercurio
Of East Boston
Viola A. Mercurio of East Boston passed away on Feb. 24 surrounded by her loving family at the age of 92.
The beloved wife of the late Thomas F. Mercurio, she was the devoted mother of Dolores Lombardi of Cambridge and John R. Mercurio and his wife, Gail of Wakefield; dear sister of Robert Caristo and his wife, Ann, Rita Petrozzelli and her husband, Pat and the late Rocco Caristo; cherished grandmother of John T. Mercurio and his wife, Lauren and Melissa Lamarche and her husband, Chris and adored great-grandmother of Callie and Christopher Lamarche and Julia and Norah Mercurio. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held. For more information, please visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Dora Ieni
Of East Boston
Dora (Paradiso) Ieni of East Boston passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Feb. 27 at the age of 88.
She was the beloved wife of the late Anthony Ieni, loving daughter of the late Enrico and Maria (Capone) Paradiso; devoted mother of Vincent Ieni of East Boston and Marie Russo and her husband, Michael of Saugus; dear sister of the late Samuel, Angelo, Ernest Paradiso and Flora Restain; cherished grandmother of Christine Capachietti and her husband, Michael and Lauren Cerbone and her husband, Emilio and adored great-grandmother of Arianna Cerbone. She Is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston. Services will conclude with Dora being laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Anthony at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. For more information, visit ruggieromh.com.
Sebastiano Pignato
Longtime owner of Busty’s Barber Shop in East Boston
Sebastiano Pignato, born Oct. 19,1924 in Caltanissetta, Sicily, passed away peacefully at home with his loving family by his bedside on March 6.
Sebastiano was a barber by trade for many years and owned Busty’s Barber Shop in East Boston.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Maria Grazia “Grace” (D’Anca) Pignato and his five children: Charles Pignato and Rosemarie and her husband, George Gordon, all of East Boston, Lillian and her husband, Robert LeBlanc of Waltham, Joseph Pignato and his wife, Lynne of Winthrop and Gina Pignato of Revere. He was the loving son of the late Rosa and Calogero, loving brother of Domenica and the late Giuseppe, Maria, and Teresa, all of Sicily. He is also survived by eight grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor Mr. Pignato by gathering on Thursday, March 14 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, (Orient Heights) East Boston, and again on Friday morning at the Sacred Heart Church, Brooks Street, East Boston for a Funeral Mass in celebration of Mr. Pignato’s life at 10 a.m. (Please go directly to the church.) Services will conclude with Mr. Pignato being laid to rest in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Lake Street, Peabody.
The funeral home is handicapped accessible. Children’s lounge available. Courtesy valet parking and ample off street parking with attendants in our several off street parking lots. For more information, please visit www.ruggieromh.com.
Michael James Rauseo
Of Revere
Michael James Rauseo of Revere, formerly of Winthrop and East Boston, passed away unexpectedly on March 7. The loving son of the late Frank and Mary (Buonopane) Rauseo, he was the cherished brother of Anthony Rauseo of Winthrop and his twin sister, Deanna Rauseo of Saugus and is also survived by his many other relatives and friends.
Family and friends will honor Michael’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga Street, (Orient Heights) East Boston, today, Wednesday at 8:30 a.m., before leaving in procession to St.Joseph- St.Lazarus Church, 59 Ashley Street, East Boston, for a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass in honor of Michael’s life. Services will conclude with Michael being laid to rest in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section.) For more information, please visit: www.ruggieromh.com.
Virginia Forgione
Retiree of the former Cool-Ray Inc. of Chelsea
Family and friends are invited to attend Visiting Hours today, Thursday, March 14 in the Vertuccio and Smith, Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107) Revere from 4 to 8 p.m. for Virginia M. (Russo) Forgione who passed after a brief illness on Sunday, March 10 at Care One at Essex Park Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing of Beverly.
Her funeral will be conducted from the funeral home on Friday, March 15, at 10 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 250 Revere St., Revere at 11 a.m. and immediately followed by interment at Calvary Cemetery, Winchester.
Mrs. Forgione was born in Winchester almost one hundred years ago on September 22, 1919. And she was a packer for the former “Cool Ray Inc.” of Chelsea for over 30 years.
She spent most of her adult life in on Carroll St. in Chelsea before moving to the Victory Gardens of East Boston. Her joy was time with her family and a luncheon date or early supper date with family. Virginia also belonged to the Chelsea Senior Center, where she enjoyed many a social functions.
Her beloved late husband, George J. Forgione, Sr., passed on April 21, 1993; she was the cherished mother of George J. Forgione, Jr. and his wife, Janet of Boxford and Joan F. DeNapoli and her husband, Paul R. DeNapoli; the devoted grandmother to Kristina E. Forgione and her husband, Fahd Cynndy of Saudi Arabia and Korinne G. Bryant and her husband, Kyle Bryant of New Hampshire; the dear sister of the late Victor Russo and his late wife, Louise Russo and the late James Russo. She is also lovingly survived by four great grandchildren, Faris, Tariq, Ziyad and Brody. A fifth eagerly anticipated great grandchild is due in May. Several nieces and nephews also survive Virginia.
For more information, please visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com.