Obituaries 03-31-2010

Robert DeVito

Member of P.A.V. of Chelsea

Robert S. DeVito passed away at the Annemark Nursing home in North Revere on Wednesday March 24 after a brief illness.

Born and raised in East Boston, he was the son of the late Salvatore and Elvira (Puya) DeVito. He graduated from East Boston High School and immediately enlisted in the US Army during World War II. He served in the European Theater with the 2266th Quartermaster Truck Co. and was honorably discharged in 1947 at the rank of Tech. 5th grade.

He settled in Everett and worked as a foreman for NASCO bedding in Chelsea until his retirement. A Chelsea resident for the past 30 years, he was a longtime member of the P.A.V. Post 13 Chelsea.

He was the beloved husband of 22 years of Helena (Piecha) DeVito, who died in 1998; the dear brother of Joseph DeVito of Everett and the late Marie Vecchione, Armando and Anthony DeVito. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

His Funeral was celebrated in Our Lady of Grace Church on Tuesday. Burial with full military honors was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett For online guestbook, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Home.

 

Marie Holland

East Boston resident

Marie (Ciampa) Holland of East Boston died on March 25.

She was the loving mother of Donna, Lisa and Frank Holland, all of East Boston; cherished grandmother of Ashley Holland; beloved friend of Frank and Joni Holland of Chelsea and best friend of Phyllis Bushey of Lynn.

Funeral arrangements were by Vazza’s East Boston Funeral Home. Committal was private. For guest book, please visit: www.vazzafunerals.com

 

Adelle Egan

Chelsea resident

Adelle (Starr) Egan of Chelsea, formerly of Watertown, died on March 29. She was 83 years old.

She was the beloved wife of the late Seymour Egan; devoted mother of Dr. Harwood Egan and his wife, Monique Johannet, of Watertown and Stuart Egan and his wife, Renee, of Yardley, PA; loving grandmother of Lena, Nicole, Iman and great-grandmother of Logan; dear sister of Melvin Starr of Chelmsford and the late Arnold Starr.

Services will be held at the Levine Chapels, 470 Harvard Street, Brookline today, Thursday, April 1 at 10 a.m. Burial will be at the Chevra Tillim of Boston Cemetery, 232 Fuller Street, Everett. The family will be at the home of Harwood Egan and Monique Johannet today following the burial until 8 p.m., Friday from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday evening and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the United Cerebral Palsy of MetroBoston, 124 Watertown Street, Suite 2F, Watertown, MA 02472, www.ucpboston.org

 

Marie Fama

Saugus resident, formerly of Chelsea

Marie (Magazzu) Fama of Saugus, formerly of Chelsea, died suddenly on March 26. She was in her 69th year.

She was the beloved wife of Joseph Fama; devoted mother of Diane Giovannucci and her husband, Joe, of Revere and Maria Ciampa and her husband, Nicolas, of Saugus; dear sister of Grace “Dolly” Limardo and her husband, Jim, Lillian Lekas and her husband, Christopher, and the late Anthony Magazzu and his surviving spouse, Mary; adored grandmother of Matthew, Amanda and Briana.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero-Mazzarella Memorial Home, (Orient Heights) East Boston. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.

 

Anthony Pedi Sr.

Retired Chelsea Police Patrolman,

Decorated Veteran

Retired Chelsea Police Patrolman Anthony D. Pedi Sr. passed away Thursday afternoon March 25 at the Chelsea Soldiers Home where he has been receiving supportive care for the past few months.

Born and raised in Chelsea he was the son of the late Domenico and Pauline (Destefano) Pedi.  He attended local schools and was an amateur boxer. As a young man he worked as a Welders Helper at the Hingham Naval Shipyard.  He enlisted in the US Army in 1943 and soon gained his expert infantry badge.  As a heavy machine gunner he was deployed to the Asiatic Pacific Theater with the 34th Infantry, his heavy machine gun squad fired and serviced .50 caliber machine guns to destroy enemy vehicles, installations and lines of communication from fixed and mobile positions.  He received the Purple Heart for combat wounds and was awarded two Bronze Service Stars. He was honorably discharged in January of 1946 at the rank of PFC. 

He returned to Chelsea and briefly worked at the Watertown Arsenal before applying to the Chelsea Police Department. He was first appointed as a Reserve Officer in 1952 by former Mayor Andrew Quigley and was made a permanent officer in 1956 by former Mayor Hugh McLaughlin.  He served as a member of the Traffic Bureau, Motorized Equipment Officer and the Cell Block Officer.

He was honored many times for his quick action which saved the lives of despondent and sick prisoners while in his charge in the cell block.  But Officer Pedi is most remembered for his more than 20 years of service as a traffic officer at the corner Garfield and Bell Streets where thousands of youngsters were guided by this kindly and loving man. 

He received  an Associate’s Degree in Criminal Science in 1982 and retired from the Chelsea  Police Department in 1985 with 32 years of service as one of the most respected and popular officers of his time. 

He was married to Jennie (Presti) for nearly 30 years and together they raised their family of six sons and two daughters here in Chelsea. He was sadly predeceased by his beloved wife, Jennie, in 1977.  A widower at a young age with a young family still at home, he joined a widow/widowers support group.  While attending socials with that group, he was introduced to his second wife, Mary Sanborn, with whom he has shared the past 30 years making his new home in Woburn. 

Since his retirement, he has spent winters in Interlachen, Florida, where he was a member of the Lions International and the American Legion. On his return to Woburn, he was an active member of the Woburn Senior Center where he was best known for his talents as an amateur singer bringing his own karaoke machine to entertain his fellow seniors.

He was the beloved husband of Mary  (Nett)  Pedi of Woburn, and the late Jennie (Presti) Pedi; devoted father of Don Pedi and his wife, Jean, of North Carolina, Anthony “Andy” Pedi Jr. and his wife, Mary, of Florida, Joan Santeusanio and her husband, Lance, of Marblehead, Edward Pedi and his wife, Linda, of No. Andover, Paula Jimenez and her husband, Johnny, of Chelsea, Richard Pedi and his wife, Lauren, of Wilmington, Robert Pedi and his wife, Lisa, of Lynn, William Pedi and his wife, Christine, of Vermont; loving step father of Linda Sanborn of Woburn, Arlene O’Melia and her husband, John, of Wilmington and Mark Sanborn and his wife, Claire, of Woburn; dear brother of Dottie Stetson and June Finneran, both of Florida, and the late Mary Ottabin, Netti Pedi, Edward Sr., Frank and Joseph Pedi; cherished grandfather of Johnny Jr., Jennie and Maria Jimenez, Christopher and Dominic Pedi, Alex Ardito, Benjamin and Sarah Pedi and adored great-grandfather of Tyler Francois. He is also survived by 10 step grandchildren, seven step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Michael the Archangel Chapel at Chelsea Soldiers Home on Tuesday. Services concluded with full Military Honors and burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. 
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to the Chelsea Soldier’s Home Recreation Fund, 91 Crest Ave., Chelsea, MA 02150. For online guestbook, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Home.

 

Molly Barruw

Retired Bookkeeper

Molly (Smith) Barruw died on March 29 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. She was 97 years old.

Born in Russia, she resided in Medford for many years. She was educated in the Malden schools and retired as a bookkeeper. She was a member of Temple Shalom of Medford-Hadassah and an auxiliary member of the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home.

She was the beloved wife of the late Arnold Barruw; the devoted mother of Joan Petroni and her husband, Vincent, and David Barruw and his wife, Phyllis; the loving daughter of the late Dora (Katz) and Samuel Smith; the loving grandmother of Mark and Jean, Dana, Sharyn and Robert, Andrea and Patrick, Susan and Barbara, Janice and Mark, Amy and Paul, Brenda and Jay, Marcy and Scott, and Natalie and Kevin. She is also survived by 15 great grandchildren.

Services will be held at Temple Shalom of Medford, 475 Winthrop St., Medford today, Thursday, April 1 at noon with Rabbi Braham David officiating. Burial will follow in Everett. The family will receive visitors at the home of Joan and Vincent Petroni following the burial and on Friday from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Temple Shalom of Medford. For directions and online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website at www.torffuneralservice.com

 

Lyon Buendia

Arborist

Lyon V. Buendia, a two year resident of Somerville, formerly of Chelsea, died unexpectedly on March 22. He was 31 years old.

He attended Chelsea Public Schools. He worked in construction demolition and later worked as an arborist for a local tree company until his sudden death.

He was the beloved son of Maria Buendia of East Boston and Lionel Lee of Florida; father of Gary, Lyon, Logan and Spencer; dear grandson of Louis and Aurora (Sanchez) Buendia of Florida, Gwendolin Lee of West Medford and the late Lionel Lee and is also lovingly survived by aunts, uncles and 26 cousins.

Funeral services will be conducted in The William R. Carafa & Son Home for Funerals, 389 Washington Ave, Chelsea today. Thursday, April 1 at 10 a.m. with Pastor Jonathan Del-Turco of the International Family Church of North Reding officiating. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, 185 Lake St, Peabody, MA.

 

Frances Staffiery

Chelsea resident

Frances M. (Hurley) Staffiery of Chelsea died on March 21.

The devoted wife of the late Anthony Staffiery, she was the beloved mother of Stephen Staffiery and his wife, Janice, of New Hampshire, Anthony Staffieri of New York, Dorothy “Chee-Chee” VonHandorf and her late husband, Chelsea Fire Dept. Deputy Chief Joseph E. of Saugus, Janyce Misley and her husband, Timothy, of Oregon; loving sister of the late Jack and Joseph Hurley; cherished grandmother of Stephen, Christopher, Erin, Taylor and the late Lauren and is also lovingly survived by her great grandchildren, Jason, Alexander, Anthony, Joseph and Kailey as well as many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Expressions of sympathy may be made to Franciscan Campaign 2010, St. Anthony Shrine, 100 Arch Street, Boston, MA 02110-1100 or to Elder Services, MGH, 55 Fruit Street 02114. www.smithfuneralhomes.com

 

Helen Jasniewski

Retired Secretary

Helen Jasniewski, a retired insurance company secretary, died suddenly at the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett on March 24. She was 75 years old.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, her family then settled in Chelsea and she has been a lifelong Chelsea resident since. She attended St. Stanislaus Elementary School and was a graduate of Chelsea High School. She worked as a secretary for many years for the Employees Group Insurance Company which was located in Boston.

She was the loving daughter of the late Walter and Helen (Halko) Jasniewski; dear sister of Ronald Jasneski and his wife, Davina, of Rochester, NH, Walter Jasniewski and his wife, Mary, of Sumner, ME and Robert Jasniewski of Chelsea.

Her Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Stanislaus Church on Monday. For online guestbook, please visit www.AnthonyMemorial.com. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Anthony Memorial Funeral Home.

 

Edward McNeil

Of Mississippi, formerly of Chelsea

Edward G. McNeil of Ashland, Mississippi, formerly of Chelsea, died on March 29 in Atoka, Tennessee. 

He was a retired US Navy Chief Petty Officer, a Vietnam veteran and also retired from the U.S. Postal Service.  He attended the Bluff City Baptist Church. 

Mr. McNeil is survived by his wife Edith McNeil; daughters, Sheila Woods of Hernando, MS, Mary McNeil Wade of Atoka, TN; sons, John McNeil and Ron McNeil of Millington, TN; sisters, Mary Martin, Dorothy Kallahar, Patricia Gatta, Harriet Santiago and Josephine Santiago.  He is also survived by 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.  Mr. McNeil was the brother of four late siblings.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, at the Forest Hill East Funeral Home, Memphis, TN

 

Richard Ross

East Boston resident

Richard Ross of East Boston died on March 26.

He was the beloved husband of Nicolina (Capuano) Ross; beloved father of Nicole Ross and Antonio Ross, both of East Boston; cherished grandfather of Giovanni Ross of East Boston; dear brother of Andrew of Pepperell, Wayne of Chelsea, William of Pepperell, Theresa Ross of Saugus, Marie Baker and Cathy Smith, both of Chelsea. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by The Rapino Memorial Home, East Boston. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For online condolences, visit: www.rapinomemorialhome.com

1 comment for “Obituaries 03-31-2010

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *