Obituaries – 05/20/09

Alice Upton

Member of Patriot Civic Club

Alice J. (Mello) Upton of North Andover, formerly of Revere, died May 18.

The loving mother of Marybeth Steele and her husband Colin, of North Andover and the late Thomas S. Upton, she was the dear sister of the late Edward Mello and the cherished grandmother of Colin T. Steele of Newton and Matthew Steele of North Andover.

She was a member of the Patriot Civic Club and graduate of Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School.

Her funeral will be held Friday at 9:30 p.m. from Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach St., Revere, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 a.m. in the Immaculate Conception Church in Revere. Family and friends may visit on Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn cemetery.

For directions and her guest book, visit www.vazzafunerals.com.

George Patti Jr., 64

Retired Probation Officer

George G. Patti Jr. of Revere, a former resident of Stoneham and Wakefield, died on May 15 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was 64 years old.

Born in Stoneham on December 15, 1944, son of the late George G. and Louise (Gallella) Patti, he was a graduate of Stoneham High School and Northeastern University, a US Air Force veteran of the Vietnam era and a retired probation officer for East Boston District Court.

He is survived by his two children, Michael A. Patti and his wife, Nicole Lamy, of Cambridge and Nicolette J. Berte` and her husband, Thomas, of Washington DC, his former wife, Minja (Yun) Patti, and his two sisters, Lorraine Patti of Wakefield and Barbara Langill of Stoneham. He is also survived by his two grandchildren, Calvin Patti and Mia Berte`.

His funeral service will be held in the McDonald-Finnegan Funeral Home, 322 Main St., Stoneham, today, Wednesday, at 1 p.m. Relatives and friends may call at the funeral home prior to the service, from 12 to 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Blinded Veterans Association, 477 8th St. Northwest, Washington, DC, 20001, or at www.bva.org.

Josephine Vella, 97

Retired stitcher

Josephine “Josie” (Cocozza) Vella of Revere, formerly of East Boston, died on May 14. She was 97 years old.

She worked as a stitcher for the MA State Coat Front Co., Boston, from 1925 until she retired in 2002 at the age of 92. She was a member of the Patriot’s Society, Revere, an avid card and Bingo player, and she enjoyed monthly trips to Foxwoods.

She was the beloved wife of the late Salvatore Vella, John Abreau, Charles Doucette and companion of the late Ron Puccio. She was born in East Boston and was the loving daughter of the late Domenic and Grace (Burnatta) Cocozza; dear sister of the late Rose DiGiovanni, Anna Zaino, Charles Cocozza, William Cocozza and Julia Marcotte and is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held from the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere, today, Wednesday, May 20, at 8 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary of The Assumption Church at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours are today from 8 to 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to: All Care Hospice 16 Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901. For her guest book, please visit: www.Buonfiglio.com.

Gloria Schifano, 81

Danvers resident

Gloria L. (Spagnolo) Schifano of Danvers, formerly of Peabody and Malden, died on May 13 at the Beverly Hospital, following a long illness. She was 81 years old.

She was born and raised in East Boston and lived on the North Shore, moving there 45 years ago. She lived in Peabody for more than 25 years and in Danvers the past 20 years.

Most of her working career was spent in the garment industry and she also was a clerk at the Princess Shop of Malden.

She was the wife of the late Alfonso “Al” Schifano, who died in February 2006; devoted mother of Sandra A. Rivers and her husband, William, of Peabody, Susan L. Kelsey and her husband, Robert, of Douglas, Stephanie McGeney and her husband, David, of Peabody and Sharon E. Morabito and her husband, John, of Norwalk, Conn.; cherished grandmother of Keith J. and Kendra D. Rivers of Peabody, Andrew R., Matthew R. and Lauren E. Kelsey, all of Douglas, Sharon K. and Emily A. McGeney of Peabody, Michael J. and John J. Morabito, both of Norwalk, and the late Maura L. McGeney; sister of the late Anna M. DiGiorgio and Vincent I. Spagnolo. She is also lovingly survived by her sisters-in-law, Claire Spagnolo of Orient Heights East Boston and Anna DeMarco of Medford, several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Vertuccio Home for Funerals, Revere. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Salem.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to American Lung Association, 460 Totten Pond Road, Waltham, MA 02451.

Ricardo Restrepo

Restaurant Cook

Ricardo Restrepo of East Boston died at home on May 9, surrounded by his family.

Born in Colombia, he was a cook in local restaurants.

He was the beloved husband of Alicia (Jaramillo) and is also survived by many loving children in Revere and East Boston.

Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park.

Robert Carapellucci, 62

Of Somerville, formerly of East Boston

Robert R. “Bobby” Carapellucci, a 15-year resident of Somerville, formerly of East Boston and the West End of Boston, died May 9, after a long illness. He was 62 years old.

Born October 9, 1946, he was the son of Josephine and Rosario Carapellucci.

In his prime, he fought fires, sorted metals and operated large bulldozers in Lynn for the old Lynn incinerator. Everything interested him, including fixing electronics and cars.

He enjoyed caring for his aquarium and breeding fish, fishing in fresh water and salt water, even though he couldn’t swim. He also enjoyed painting and building model ships, and old movie characters, among whom was his favorite, “Phantom of the Opera”.

He was a jack of all trades and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

He was the companion of Linda Romanowski of Somerville; father of Sarah Romanowski and her husband, Rico, of Saugus and Robert Carapellucci and his wife, Tanya, of Chelsea; brother of Carmella Carapellucci of Wrentham, Peter of East Boston and Frank Storace of Allston, Anna Carapellucci of East Boston, Rocky Carapellucci of Revere and the late Anna Storace; grandfather of Sophia Luberice and Robert Carapellucci Jr. and Aiden Veile. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, Somerville. For more information, please visit dohertyfuneralservice.com.

Vitale ‘George’ DiGiorgio, 90

Retired Machinist, worked until age 85

Vitale “George” DiGiorgio, of Stoneham, formerly of Revere and Malden, died on May 17 at home, after a brief illness. He was 90 years old.

Born, educated and raised in East Boston, he and his wife, Mildred (Barletta) DiGiorgio, who had preceded him in death, moved to Revere in 1950. In 1979, they moved to Granada Highlands of Malden and remained there until 2000, when they made their final move to Stoneham.

An expert machinist and technician, he worked for Beacon-Morris Co. of Boston for more than 40 years. Upon retirement, he returned to the workforce, working for his son until he was 85 years old.

Mr. DiGiorgio is the father of Domenic DiGiorgio and his wife, Gaye, of Stoneham; grandfather of Carla Mattuchio and her husband, Steven, and Michael DiGiorgio, all of Reading, and Alexandra T. DiGiorgio of Stoneham; and the cherished great-grandfather of Jordan A. Mattuchio of Reading. He was the brother of the late Anthony S. DiGiorgio and his late wife, Anna M. (Spagnolo) DiGiorgio.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Thursday, May 21, from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Vertuccio Home for Funerals, Revere. His funeral will be held from the funeral home on Friday, May 22, at 10 a.m., followed by a funeral service in the chapel at Holy Cross Community Mausoleum, Malden at 11 a.m. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Community Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the VNA of Middlesex East and Visiting Nurse Hospice, 607 North Avenue, Wakefield, MA 01880.

Gladys Lake, 89

Of Maine, formerly of the Admiral Hill Retirement Community in Chelsea

Gladys F. Lake died unexpectedly in Camden, Maine, on May 17 at the Corey Hill Retirement Community. She was 89 years old.

Born, raised and educated in Chelsea, Mrs. Lake was a lifelong Chelsea resident and a member of the Admiral Hill Retirement Community until moving to Camden, Maine five years ago with her only child, Barbara A. Moore, and her husband, John R. Moore, of Camden.

She was the wife of Attorney Frederick G. “Ted” Lake, who died on May 20, 1959. Attorney Lake was a popular Chelsea native, personality and politician. For many years, Mrs. Lake was an active member of the Chelsea community and St. Rose’s Church.

In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, she leaves her cherished grandchildren, Cara Read and her husband, Brad, of Middletown, Rhode Island, John R. Moore Jr. of Maui, Hawaii, Heidi Tucker and her husband, Michael, of Bath, Maine and Joshua F. Moore and his wife, Kristin Sidwell, of Camden, Maine. She was the dear sister of John Snow of Chelsea and the late Grace E. Bagley, Ruth S. Vahey, Edna Lewandowski, Henry W. Snow and William W. Snow Jr. and is also lovingly survived by many devoted nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

Family and friends are invited to gather at the front gate of Woodlawn Cemetery, Elm Street, Everett, on Thursday, May 21, at 10:15 a.m. to attend a graveside funeral service at 10:30 a.m. Funeral arrangements are by the Vertuccio Home for Funerals of Revere.

Remembrances may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114-2931.

Sitheng Bou, 48

Revere resident

Sitheng Bo of Revere died on May 14 at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She was 48 years old.

Born in Cambodia, she was the beloved wife of Bun Leng Heng; devoted mother of Kelly Heng, Bunly Heng and Sitheth Heng, all of Revere; loving daughter of Eng Kri of Maine; and the dear sister of Thol Bou, Sokborn Bou and Thy Gallant.

Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere.

Clifford Jones

Revere resident

Clifford Jones of Revere, formerly of Somerville, died at the Massachusetts General Hospital on May 16.

Born in Maine, he lived most of his life in Somerville, before moving to Revere.

He was the beloved husband of Diane (DeLeo), son of the late Lawrence and Mildred Jones and the dear brother of the late Kenneth and Lawrence Jones.

His funeral will be held from the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere, at 10 a.m. Friday, May 22, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are kindly invited.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Boy’s Town National Research Hospital Development Office, 55 N. 30 St., Omaha, NE 58131.

Joseph Reid Jr., 53

Carpenter for Muise Construction Co. of Saugus

Joseph R. Reid Jr. a two-year resident of Revere, formerly of Londonderry, NH, died at home on May 14, after an illness of two weeks. He was 53 years old.

Born in Chelsea, he attended Chelsea schools and was a carpenter for Muise Construction Co. in Saugus for 25 years.

He was the dear husband of Kristi L. (Moulaison) Reid; beloved father of Christopher Thompson, Steven Reid, Mark Reid, Joseph Reid, Jonathan Langis, Joshua Langis, Jordan Langis, Shannon Langis and Haley Langis; dear son of Joseph and Mary (Gehue) Reid of Chelsea; brother of Lisa Brickley and her husband, William, of Everett, Susan Passerello of Gloucester, Michael Reid, Christine Reid, Shana Holden and her husband, Severiano, all of Chelsea, and the late Kevin Buckley. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Nicholas, Cheyanne, Steven, Lyric, Baiden and Brandon, and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated today, Wednesday, May 20, at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, 489 Broadway, Everett, with the Rev. Gerry Osterman, pastor, officiating.

Arrangements are by the William R. Carafa & Son Home for Funerals, Chelsea.

Kathleen Bundrick, 87

Of Tewksbury, formerly of Revere

Kathleen T. (Callahan) Bundrick of Tewksbury, formerly of Revere, Malden and Derry, NH, died on May 14. She was 87 years old.

She was the beloved wife of the late Mike E. Bundrick; devoted mother of Patricia Willis of Ozona, Fla., Geraldine Goldrick and her husband, John J. Goldrick III of Tewksbury and the late Nancy E. Richardson, formerly of Everett; sister of Rita Carifio of Revere and the late John T. Callahan, formerly of Tewksbury, Thomas Callahan, formerly of Malden, Elizabeth Fillinger, formerly of Groveland and Mary Lombardo, formerly of Medford; sister-in-law of Evelyn Callahan of Malden, Ann Legere of Billerica and the late Lawrence Fillinger, formerly of Groveland, Albert Carifio, formerly of Revere, and Carmen Lombardo, formerly of Medford; grandmother of Donna Johnstone of Springfield, Mo., Leo Moccia of North Andover, Michael Mackie of Everett, Dianna Deferrari, Scott Deferrari and Christine Wilson, all of Palm Harbor, Fla., John L. Goldrick of Weare, NH, Juliann Knoops of Tewksbury and Jay J. Goldrick of Lincoln, RI. She also leaves 15 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, Tewksbury. Burial at Forest Hill Cemetery, Derry, NH will be held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, 48 Boylston St., Boston, MA 02116-4718 are greatly appreciated. For her obituary, see www.farmeranddee.com.

Eleanor Napolitana

Revere resident

Eleanor (DiCesare) Napolitana of Revere died on May 11.

She was the beloved wife of the late John and loving mother of Pat Napolitana and his wife, Michelle, of Florida and the late Ann Marie Geer; beloved sister of the late Fred and Anthony DiCesare. She is also survived by six loving grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Salvatore Rocco & Sons Funeral Home, Everett. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.

Roberta Beebe, 73

Registered Nurse

Roberta H. (Hoyt) Beebe died at the Annemark Nursing Home on May 7, after a long illness. She was 73 years old.

Born in Boston, she was a registered nurse, formerly employed at the Whidden Memorial Hospital.

She was the beloved wife of Craig A. Beebe, devoted mother of Sherry Giordano of New Hampshire and Gary Giordano of Maine and the dear sister of Dee Hoyt of Stoneham.

Funeral arrangements were by the Caggiano Funeral Home, Winthrop. Burial was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody.

Norman Leet

Florida resident

Norman E. Leet of Wesley Chapel, Florida, died in Florida at the Baldomero Lopez Veterans Nursing Center on March 9, after a long illness. He was 80 years old.

Born in Winthrop, son of the late Sadie (Prior) and George Leet, prior to his retirement, he was employed as a clerk in a tool rental business. He was a US Army veteran of World War II.

He is survived by his sister, Barbara Bland Pooler, of Wesley Chapel, Fla. and several other relatives. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were by the Caggiano Funeral Home, Winthrop.

Mildred Fooks, 88

Retired Buyer for R.H. Stearns

Mildred Fooks of Revere died on May 14. She was 88 years old.

Born in Cambridge, she was educated in the Boston schools and worked as a buyer of women’s clothing for R.H. Stearns before retirement.

She was the loving companion of the late Cecil Deskin; loving daughter of the late Abraham Fooks and Gertrude (Lambert) Fooks; dear sister of the late Clara Covitz and the late Hyman Covitz; and the dear aunt of Sheila Garnick, Bennett Covitz and his wife, Connie, Dr. Wesley Covitz and his wife, Sharie, and Lisa Tetreault.

Funeral arrangements were by Torf Funeral Service, Chelsea.

Donations in her memory may be made to All Care Hospice, 16 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901. For her online guest book, please visit www.torffuneralservice.com.

Rosann Donato

Of Medford, wife of State Rep.

Rosann M. (Fantasia) Donato of Medford died on May 13.

She was the beloved wife of State Rep. Paul J. Donato; devoted mother of Paul J. Donato Jr. and his companion, Maryann Serfes, of Revere, Kim Burgess and her husband, Chris, of Manchester, NH; loving grandmother of Paul III, Cassandra, Christopher, Nicholas, Zachary and Parker; cherished daughter of Carmella “Millie” Fantasia of Stoneham and the late Samuel Fantasia; dear sister of Susan Brown Savarese of Medford and Marie Piccoli and her husband, Anthony, of Stoneham.

Funeral arrangements were by the Dello Russo Funeral Home, Medford. Burial was at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in her name to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, 269 Hanover Street, Bldg. 3 Hanover, MA. 02339, or to the Kiwanis Foundation of New England Inc., 118 Union Ave. PO Box 613, Framingham, MA 01704. For her obituary and guest book, visit dellorusso.net.

Elizabeth Casazza, 74

Former Eagle Bank employee

Elizabeth M. (Savino) Casazza of Revere, formerly of Everett, died on May 12 at the Melrose Wakefield Hospital. She was 74 years old.

A former employee of Eagle Bank of Everett, she was born in Boston and lived most of her life in Everett before moving to Revere.

She was the beloved wife of John A.; devoted mother of Donna M. Grieco and her husband, Gerardo, of Revere, John C. and his wife, Jeanne, of Saugus and Corinne L. Casazza of Arizona; loving grandmother of Carla Grieco and Gina Casazza; and the dear sister of Marie Reid of Hyannis.

Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in Glenwood Cemetery. For her guest book, visit www.Buonfiglio.com.

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