Obituaries 08-05-2020

Mary Ann Rich

Of Revere

Mary Ann (Pokornicki) Rich, 83, of Revere, formerly of the West End of Boston, passed away on August 3.

The beloved wife of the late Peter Rich, Sr., she was the loving mother of Peter

Rich Jr., of Revere, Brian Rich of Everett, Glen Rich, Deputy Fire Chief Revere Fire Department and his wife, Bernadette of Saugus, Gary Rich of Revere and the late John R. Rich, who passed away on June 14; dear sister of Michael Pokornicki of Gardener, IL, Linda McLain and her husband, Richard of Dorchester, Edward Pokornicki and his wife, Pauline of Uxbridge and Stephen Pokornicki and his wife, Cheryl of Waltham and the late Joseph Pokornicki, Stanley Pokornicki, Catherine McLain and John Pokornicki; adored grandmother of several grandchildren and great-grandchildren and also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will honor Mary Ann’s life by gathering in Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach Street, Revere on Thursday, August 7 from 4 to 8 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. Friday morning before leaving in procession to the Immaculate Conception in Revere for a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in her honor at 10 a.m. Interment will be private. In accordance with state and CDC guidelines, please wear a mask and practice social distancing. For online guest book and directions, please visit www.vazzafunerals.com

Karl ‘Wolf’ Warren

Will Be Missed by the Friends He Made Across the United States

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Funeral Mass on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 1 p.m. in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 250 Revere St., Revere for Karl E. N. “Wolf” Warren who died on Saturday, July 25 at the Big Bend Hospice House in Tallahassee, Florida following a second battle with cancer. He was 54 years old.

Karl was born and raised in Revere and was a graduate of Pope John XXIII High School, Class of 1984. Karl enrolled at the Bolivar Aviation Academy where he studied aviation and became a licensed Pilot. It was one of many goals he achieved by following his passions.

For most of his life, Karl lived “on the road” whether he was driving a truck or a tour bus. Karl worked for Swift Trucking for many years and later for Senator Tour Company. He worked with many popular celebrities and bands while they were touring the country and had the privilege of driving for Elton John, One Direction, Heart, Metallica, Chris Robinson Brotherhood, just to name a few.

Karl loved being on the road and he was known as “Wolf.” He was remembered by whomever he worked with as being a very generous and giving friend. He was kind to anyone he met and treated everyone as he wanted to be treated. His kind personality was what defined him as a person. If you were Karl’s friend, then you were blessed with his genuine and kind heart.

Karl’s biggest passion was being a “lover” of country music, he wasn’t just a fan, he was a super fan who lived it. He will be missed by many of the friends he made on the road across the United States.

He was the proud and beloved son of Edward D.N. “Ned” and Emily F. (Cafarelli) Warren of Revere, devoted life partner of Michael Quick of Tallahassee, FL, loving brother of Eric J. Warren and his wife, Sandra of Nahant and Nicole W. Nichols and her husband, Brian G. of Swampscott; cherished uncle of Joseph, Dean and Eva Warren, all of Nahant and Camron, Vienna M. and Garrett B. Nichols, all of Swampscott. He was also loved by many aunts and uncles, both living and deceased.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114. 

Funeral Arrangements are entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals.To send online condolences, please visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com.

Jean Fornari

1933 — 2020

Jean V. (Leonardi) Fornari of North Revere, 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 23 surrounded by her loving family: her three sons, Charles and his partner, Mark of Winthrop, Gary and his wife, Dawn of Plymouth and David of Revere.  Jean was the loving wife of the late Edward M. Fornari who passed away in 2015.

Born on February 15, 1933, Jean was the daughter of the late Pasquale and Emma (Moriello) Leonardi of North Revere. Jeannie leaves her sister, Patricia (Patty) Nazzaro of North Revere and her two nephews: George Nazzaro of North Revere and her nephew, Karl Nazzaro and his wife, Danna of Boxford and his two children, Giuliana and Karl P.  Jean loved being invited to holiday gatherings at their home and enjoyed interacting and playing with the children.  Jean was the sister-in-law of the late George Nazzaro, also of North Revere.

Educated in the Revere school system, Jean was a member of the National Honor Society at Revere High School and went on to earn an Associate’s degree in Business Administration at Boston University in the early 1950’s.  During that time, she also worked in her father’s business, The Franklin Park Hay and Grain for many years prior to her marriage to Eddie in November, 1957. 

Jean was a loving wife and protective mother and caregiver, her most important goals always! 

When her own mother, Emma, suffered failing health, both she and her sister took superb care of her at home.  Likewise, when her husband, Eddie was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer, Jean worked hard to provide the best care at home before Eddie had to be transferred to the Veteran’s Hospice Center in Bedford. 

Jean maintained her motherly role with her three sons all of her life ensuring what she knew and believed was the absolute best for us.  Thank you, Mom!

Jean loved her family and embraced the Italian tradition.  She loved the holiday gatherings conferring with my brothers on the menu– the seven fishes at Christmas and bow tie cookies and at Easter, the famous Pizza Chiena and stuffed artichokes, always on the menu. She thoroughly enjoyed seeing everyone enjoy what she would call a bountiful feast!  Not only was tradition important to mom but her Catholic faith was equally important as well. She was always lending a helping hand at St. Anthony’s Church, Revere where she was married.  Daily mass, Tuesday night St. Anthony novena, Lady’s Sodality, the Annual Summer Fiesta, fashion show fundraisers and church bazars kept her socially involved. 

Jean was also an accomplished pianist, giving her first formal recital in Jordan Hall, Boston, at the age of 12!  She had a deep love and appreciation for classical music and enjoyed her Fischer baby grand piano at home playing daily in between work and meal preparation.  

Jeannie had a second passion:  her extraordinary passion for high fashion clothes with particular attention to millinery.  From her earliest recollection, she loved fancy hats.  She would have a different hat always for Sunday best each season sporting some eye catching hats to highlight her total look!  She had quite the collection. 

Jean, or as her sister, Patricia (Patty) called her “Jeannie,” shared a very close relationship since their early 20’s.  Talking on the phone many times a day, they were always together doing everything and forever discussing food, recipes, fashion, and politics– the Dan Ray show too!  Jeannie will be missed but not at all forgotten!

The family would also like to express deep appreciation to the staff at Care Dimensions, Danvers for the loving at home care during Jean’s last days. 

Services were private at Bisbee Porcella Funeral Home and a mass at St. Anthony’s Church was held for the immediate family due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. For condolences, please visit www.BisbeePorcella.com.

John Mello

Former Owner of ‘The Blues Diner’

John “Jackie” J. Mello, 59, of Revere, passed away on Friday, July 24.

Jackie was the former owner of “The Blues Diner” in Revere and Melrose and was also a former member of the Orient Heights Yacht Club.

He was the cherished son of the late John A. Mello, son of Diane Keeble and her husband, Donald, former spouse of Kelley Razzino, loving father of Andrea Mello and her fiancé, MK Mogan of Wakefield and Alyssa and Ava Mello, both of Revere, longtime partner of Ann Marie Jenkins and caring brother of Anthony Mello and his wife, Courtney of Grafton, Donna Starrett of Lexington, Robert Mello and his wife, Mindy of Los Angeles, Marissa Petschull and her husband, David of Germany and the late Phillip Mello. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral arrangements were by Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere. Interment was at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. For guest book, please visit  www.vazzafunerals.com.

Frances T. Fisher

Of Revere

Frances T. (Elliott) Fisher, of Revere, passed away on July 21, 2020 at 90 years of age. She was the beloved wife of the late Arthur W. Fisher, cherished mother of Robert Fisher, David Fisher, both of Billerica, Keith Fisher, of Revere, and the late Kevin, Arthur and Gail Fisher. Adored grandmother of 11 and great-grandmother of 13.

Due to the ongoing restrictions with COVID-19, all services will be held privately and under the direction of the Paul Buonfiglio Funeral Home, 128 Revere Street, Revere, MA 02151. At the family’s request, in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Fran’s memory to Mass Eye and Ear at The Foundation of the MEEI, Inc., 243 Charles Street, Development Office, Boston, MA 02114 or via https://www.masseyeandear.org/online-donation-form. For guest book please visit www.buonfiglio.com.

Joan Savignano

Retired RN, Member of Revere Women’s Club and ICC Immaculata Guild

A Funeral Mass was celebrated on July 31 in the Immaculate Conception Church for Joan H. (Arnold) Savignano, who passed on July 27 after a long illness. She was 91 years old.

Joan was a 1947 graduate of St. Rose High School of Chelsea and an alumna of the Chelsea Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, a member of the Revere Women’s Club and the Immaculata Guild at ICC.

The beloved wife of 58 years of the late Ferdinando D. “Fred” Savignano, she was the devoted mother of Dr. June S. Savignano-Bowman, ED and her late husband, Dr. James F. Bowman, ED of Newton, Mary Ellen Savignano Wilson and her late husband, Robert J. Wilson of Revere, Paul S. Savignano of Revere and Jo-Ann Woodland and her late husband, Stephen J. Woodland of Hudson; cherished grandmother of Brian P. Savignano and his companion, Caitlin Nackley of Everett, Jake S. Bowman and his wife, Angela of Braintree, Chelsey E. Bowman and her fiancée, Peter Schmidt of Queens, NY, Marissa A. Savignano of Everett, James T. Wilson of Revere and Olivia J. Woodland and her husband, Andrew C. Larson of Bellingham; adored great grandmother of James “Jamie” Bowman; dear sister of John Arnold and his wife, Laurie of Walpole and the late Thomas, Dorothy, Elizabeth, Evelyn, Irving and Jean Arnold. She is also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals. Remembrances may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Liberty St., Danvers, MA 01923.To send online condolences, please visit vertuccioandsmith.com

Thelma Mae Bugbee

Of Revere

Thelma Bugbee, a native and long time resident of Revere, passed away on June 29.

She was 91 years old and had been in declining health for several years. Thelma and her husband, Benjamin H. Bugbee, Jr., had two children, Gordon, an artist and community mental health worker, and Keith, Head Lacrosse Coach and Assistant Professor at Springfield College.

Thelma was born at Revere Memorial Hospital, April 17, 1929, to Bessie Mae Borden Hudson Smith and Joseph Gordon Smith, both of Revere. She lived in Revere most of her life, and most of that in the family home on Olive Street. Her husband’s work took the family to New Jersey at the beginning of her marriage and to western Massachusetts where Ben was a supervising engineer on the new Massachusetts Turnpike, but they always returned to Revere.

Thelma graduated from Revere High School and Boston’s Trade School for Girls where she acquired the skills she put to use as a seamstress in several Boston bridal shops. She never lost her love of sewing and retained her professional eye for a well turned seam. She took special pride in the sewing interests and skills of one of her granddaughters.

Thelma and Ben’s home was always open to visitors whether it was a new minister at their church, their sons’ high school friends, college classmates looking to settle in Boston or stray graduate students without family or friends nearby.

Thelma was a faithful and devoted member of the First Congregational Church on Beach Street in Revere from her high school years. She and Ben were married there in April of 1950 and remained pillars of the church for the next 50 years. Grown from seeds planted as a teenager, Thelma’s faith deepened as the years went by. She prayed and read devotional literature daily and drew strength from biographies and memoirs of other people of faith. She donated monthly to the American Bible Society for decades and regularly to various missionary societies, and she lent her presence and support to several women’s organizations including the Women’s Fellowship at her church and the North Shore Christian Women’s Club.

Nothing gave Thelma more joy than being surrounded by her grandchildren and marveling at their energy and accomplishments. As dementia unraveled Thelma’s memories, recollections of weekends with her grandchildren on Olive St or their timeshare in NH were  among the last to fade.

However much she loved her home, she also loved traveling. She and Ben logged thousands of miles in their car, exploring historical and cultural sites in the the northeast, mid  west and middle Atlantic states and the Canadian maritimes.

In retirement, they headed overseas visiting Britain several times, Egypt, Iceland, Malta, and Germany. Not ready to settle down after Ben died, Thelma joined tours to China, Russia, and Turkey.

Like many of us, Thelma was a complicated individual –  curious and open to new and interesting people and places and firm in her ideas; gracious and courteous and unapologetically candid; industrious and creative and deeply insecure; demure and frail and tough as nails.

Those acquainted with Thelma casually, through church connections or chance encounters on one of Thelma and Ben’s many trips, were often struck by her gentility, generosity, and eager intelligence. People who knew her well had to reckon with her perseverance, rectitude, and willingness to speak her mind. Those who knew her best honored and wrestled with her intense devotion to family, her privateness, and her scrupulosity.

Thelma is survived by her younger sister, JoAnn Smith D’Agostino, her two sons and their spouses, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Her eldest granddaughter, Lindsay Jane Bugbee Crosby, died in July 2018 from complications following childbirth.

Arrangements for a memorial service have yet to be worked out.

Over Thelma’s bed was a large family tree she designed and embroidered, and next to it, over her bedside table, was a small black and white photograph of Revere Beach in the 1940’s or 50’s. When all is said and done, that sums up Thelma quite well     –  a devoted daughter of Revere whose greatest pleasure came from being surrounded by her family.

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