Marion Lucia Richards

Her energy, dedication, and leadership touched many lives

Marion Lucia (Olivieri) Richards, 94, passed away peacefully on December 19, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on November 21, 1931, to the late Rose and Angelo Olivieri, Marion was born and raised in East Boston, a place that forever held her heart. She proudly graduated from East Boston High School in 1949 and remained deeply connected to her community throughout her life.

Marion worked for many years at the Orient Heights Clothing Factory, but her true calling was serving others. She devoted herself to helping the youth of East Boston and was actively involved in numerous community groups and organizations. She volunteered countless hours, including serving as secretary for her daughter at the Beverly Richards Dance Center, and was instrumental in directing and running local pageants for Miss Massachusetts and Miss America. Her energy, dedication, and leadership touched many lives.

Marion shared 69 beautiful years of marriage with the love of her life, James M. Richards. Together, they built a life filled with love, friendship, and adventure. Marion especially cherished traveling with her longtime best friend, the late Elizabeth Bennett, and spent more than 20 years cruising around the world with her husband and close friends.

For over 25 years, Marion and Jim were proud “Florida Snowbirds,” living in Palm Beach Gardens, where she formed lifelong friendships and treasured her Florida community. Especially dear to her heart was her closest friend, Joyce Saurusaitis.

Above all else, Marion’s greatest joy was her family. She was the devoted mother of Beverly Richards Buckley and her husband, Michael of Peabody, and James Joseph Richards and his wife Colleen of Lynn. She was a loving grandmother to James Buckley and his wife, Katie Buckley and Jarrod Richards and a cherished great-grandmother to Emma and Tanner Buckley, and Joseph and Christine Richards. She held a special place in her heart for all her great-grandchildren, especially her beloved grandson, Jimmy Buckley.

Family and friends are invited to honor Marion’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston, on Sunday, December 28th, from 2 to 6 p.m. and again on Monday morning at 8:30 a.m., before leaving in procession to St. Michael the Archangel Parish (formerly St. John’s), Winthrop, for a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass. Services will conclude with Marion being laid to rest at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

Marion will be remembered for her warmth, generosity, tireless devotion to her community, and the love she so freely gave to family and friends. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she touched.

For more information visit www.ruggieromh.com.

George DiGenio

United States Postal Service retiree

George DiGenio, 68, of Saugus, formerly of East Boston, passed away peacefully on December 20, 2025, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, surrounded by his loving family.

George shared a beautiful 50-year romance with his wife, Lisa (Giuffre) DiGenio. In their 43 years of marriage, they built a home filled with happiness and laughter. He was a proud and devoted father to Jacqueline DiGenio and her husband, Jan Kvindis, Anthony DiGenio and Nicholas DiGenio. He adored his wife and children and was extremely proud of the life and family they grew together.

Born on August 11, 1957, he was the loving son of the late George and Ramona DiGenio of East Boston. George was a cherished brother to Colette DiGenio and her husband, Dennis Curzi, Monica DiGenio and her husband, Daniel Johnson and Joseph DiGenio and his wife, Patricia (O’Hara) DiGenio and a beloved nephew to his aunt, Anna DiGenio. He was also a treasured addition to the Giuffre extended family and a fond uncle to many nieces and nephews.

A dedicated United States Postal Service letter carrier, George completed a distinguished 40-year career, taking great pride in his work and the communities he served, particularly the towns of Milton and Malden. In his younger years, he worked as a Boston lobsterman alongside his brother. These pursuits fueled a lifelong love for the water and the outdoors that carried through into his retirement.

 Throughout his life, George found solace in the quiet beauty of nature. He loved long walks, bike rides, and early mornings spent exploring local trails and the beach. At home, he treasured spending time with his loved ones, looking forward to weekly card games, family board games, watching sports with his sons, and the occasional trip to the casino. An early riser even in retirement, he loved his morning routine of daily crosswords and word games and stayed busy with many projects around the house.

Family and friends are invited to honor George’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston, on Friday, December 26th, from 4 to 7 p.m. and again on Saturday morning at 8:30 a.m. before leaving in procession to St. Joseph – St. Lazarus Church for a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass.

The family is deeply grateful for the empathetic care provided by the staff at the Kaplan House. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in George’s name to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, or online at CareDimensions.org/Donate. To leave an online condolence, visit www.ruggieromh.com.