Obituaries 10-31-2013

Kevin Keohane

Star Athlete at Chelsea High, Class of 1973

Kevin Keohane passed away suddenly in Melrose on October 25. He was 58 years old.

Mr. Keohane was born in Chelsea on June 28, 1955, and was raised in Chelsea. He graduated from Our Lady of Grace Grammar School and Chelsea High School, Class of 1973. Kevin was a star athlete at Chelsea High School and received the Boston Globe Award for football, hockey and baseball. He continued to play hockey for Merrimack College and finished his college degree at Boston State.

Mr. Keohane, who has been a resident of Melrose for the past 26 years, worked for the last four years as the Director of National Accounts for Stanley Black & Decker (previously Niscayah). Prior to that he worked for several companies, including First Securities Services in Boston for 13 years. He was a very well known coach in Melrose: in the Churchill American Little League, the Incarnation Church Little League, the Melrose Babe Ruth League and also for Melrose Pop Warner.

Kevin was very active with the Friends of Melrose Football and enjoyed playing golf with his friends. He was the ultimate family man – nothing brought him more joy than spending time with his family, extended family and friends. He loved his family trips to Ireland and the Outer Banks in North Carolina, enjoyed spending summers on Cape Cod or by his backyard pool, often with a nice cigar to end the night.

Kevin was the beloved husband of 34 years to Donna M. (Sullivan) Keohane; loving father of Ryan M. Keohane and his wife, Lauren of Framingham and Christopher M. Keohane and his loving girlfriend, Christine Bossalini of Melrose. He was the devoted brother of Alice Matarazzo and her husband, Jim of Winthrop, Eileen Regan and her late husband, Jack of Hingham, and the late Jackie Keohane; loving son-in-law of Doris and Larry Sullivan of Melrose; caring brother-in-law of Billy Sullivan of Melrose and Debbie Sullivan of Everett; cherished uncle of James Matarazzo Jr. of England, Susan and Jose Abrego of Lynnfield, Jennifer and Dan Murray of Hingham, Geoff and Dawn Regan of Topsfield and David Kevin Regan of San Diego, CA. He is also survived bysix great nieces and nephews and numerous close friends. His Funeral will be held from the Gately Funeral Home 79 W. Foster St. Melrose today, Thursday, October 31 at 8:45 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Interment will be at Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kevin’s name to the Joslin Diabetes Clinic, 1 Joslin Place, Suite 745, Boston, MA 02115. To send a message of condolence or view an online tribute please visit: www.gatelyfh.com

Edith Karas

Of Indiana, formerly of Chelsea

Edith (Cohen) Karas of West Lafayette, Indiana, formerly of Chelsea, died on Friday, October 25.

She was the beloved wife of the late Aaron Henry Karas; devoted mother of Dr. Barry Joel Karas and wife, Iris of West Lafayette, Indiana; loving daughter of the late Hyman and Dora Cohen; dear sister of the late Henry Cohen and loving grandmother of Adam B. Karas and Lauren A. Karas.

Services will be held at the Torf Funeral Chapel, 151 Washington Ave, Cary Sq. Chelsea on Monday, November 4 at 11 a.m. Interment will be in Linas Hatzedek Cemetery, 232 Fuller Street, Everett. Memorial observance will be held Monday evening at the Torf Funeral Chapel between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m. Remembrances in Edith’s name may be made to: Mazon- 10495 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 100, Los Angeles, CA 90025 or to www.mazon.org. Visit www.torffuneralservice.com for guest book and directions.

Raymond Gymziak, Jr.

Eastern Airlines Retiree

Raymond S. Gymziak, Jr., a retired employee of Eastern Airlines,  passed away on October 23 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston following a brief illness. He was 74 years old.

Born in Chelsea, he was the son of the late Raymond Sr. and Jennie (Malotepsza) Gymziak. He attended local schools and worked for over 30 years as a ramp agent with Eastern Airlines until he ended his career in 1991. He was a lifelong Chelsea resident and a parishioner of St. Stanislaus Church.

He was the devoted father of Susan Consoletti of Melrose, Jacqueline Silva and her husband, Stephen of Wilmington, Paul Gymziak and his wife, Darlene of Litchfield, New Hampshire, Patricia Chenel of Summerville, South Carolina, Edith Gymziak of Nashua, New Hampshire and the late Christine Gymziak; dear brother of John Gymziak of Georgetown and Ann Vozella of Salem, New Hampshire; loving grandfather of 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Stanislaus Church on Wednesday. Services concluded with Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Anthony Memorial / Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Homes.

Charlotte Stone

Owned and Opeerated Hattie’s of Chelsea, founded by her Mother

Charlotte C. Stone of Swampscott, formerly of Chelsea, died on October 23 in the Grosvenor Park Nursing Home in Salem.

Born in Chelsea, she graduated from Chelsea High School and was the daughter of the late Jacob and Hattie Singer. She owned and operated Hattie’s of Chelsea which was founded by her mother in the 1930’s.

She was the beloved wife of the late Louis P. Stone; devoted mother of Harvey R. Stone and his wife, Jannifer Stone of Baltimore, MD, Elinor and her husband, Mike Weiner of Mendota Heights, MN and David N. Stone of Marblehead; loving sister of Bernard Singer of Chile; cherished grandmother of Andrea Ptaszek, Stewart Weiner, Heather Cort-Stone, Kayla Stone and great-grandmother of Abigail, Lura, Adam, Adalynn and Eli.

Graveside Services were held in the Pride of Lynn Cemetery,  Lynn. Memorial Observance was private. Expressions of sympathy in her memory may be donated to the American Cancer Society, 43 Nagog Park, #110, Acton, MA 01720. For more information: www.StanetskyHymansonSalem.com

Rose Prag

Former Resident of Chelsea and Revere

Rose (Kritchmar) Prag entered into rest on October 4. She was 91 years old.

An active member of many local organizations, Rose was a former resident of Chelsea and Revere. She was the daughter of the late Morris and Gussie Kritchmar; beloved wife of the late Milton Prag; devoted mother of Inez and Joseph Cole of Revere, Faith Taylor and Richard Caprio of Saugus, Scott and Nancy Prag of Saugus and is also survived by her sister, Susan “Suki” Cohen and  twin sister of the late Belle Pearlswig; Grammie” to grandchildren, Jason and Heather Cole, Pamela Cole and Jenny Prag; “Great-Ammie” to Elyssa and Halen Cole and Aunty Rose to her many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services took place at Chessed Shel Emeth Cemetery, Danvers. Memorial donations can be made to Epoch Senior Healthcare of Melrose, 15 Green St. Melrose, MA 02176 or to a charity of one’s choice.

Stanislawa Mroz

Of Peabody, formerly of Chelsea and Poland

Stanislawa Mroz of Peabody, formerly of Chelsea and Polans, died on October 20. She was 83 years old.

Stanislawa came to the United States from Poland in 1961 settling in Chelsea where she raised her family. She was employed for many years at American Optical and was an active member of St. Stanislaus Parish for many years.

The beloved wife of the late Jozef, she was the devoted mother of Joseph Mroz and his wife, Alina of Peabody and the late Theodore and Charles Mroz and is also survived by seven loving grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home,  Revere. A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Stanislaus Church, Chelsea and interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery. For guest book please visit www.Buonfiglio.com

Diran Stambolian

Late Executive Director of Chelsea YMCA

Diran Stambolian of Peabody, formerly of Chelsea, died on October 27 at the age of 102.

A US Army veteran of World War II, he was the late Executive Director of the YMCA in Chelsea and a late member of the Chelsea Lyons Club and Rotary Club.

He was the beloved husband of Elisabeth “Lisa” Stambolian; loving stepfather of John T. Lyons and his wife, Dr. Natalie of New York, Linda J. Locatelli and her husband, Dr. Peter of Hawaii; brother of the late Mehron Stambolian, Rosie Bogosian, Susan Shenloogian, Alice Najarian, Sid Tashjian, Mary Samuelian and Victoria Najarian. Diran is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, and four generations of great nieces and great nephews.

Funeral services will be held from the William R. Carafa & Son Home For Funerals, 389 Washington Ave., Chelsea on Saturday, November 2 at 12 Noon. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will precede the service from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations in Diran’s memory may be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House 78 Liberty St. Danvers, MA 01923

Richard Kelley, Sr.

Owned Richie’s Furniture in Chelsea

Richard D. Kelley, Sr. of Chelsea died on October 28. He was 85 years old.

The owner of Richie’s Furniture in Chelsea, formerly Dad’s Furniture and Charlestown Home Furniture during the 1980s, he was a US Navy veteran of World War II. An avid golfer, Richard also enjoyed softball and bowling.

He was the beloved husband of Cheryl M. (Enos) Kelley and the late Irene (Ivory) Kelley; devoted father of Patricia A. Furtado and her husband, Gerard of Chelsea, Richard D. Kelley Jr. and his wife, Susan of Danvers, Linda M. Nelson and her husband, Donald of North Carolina, Kathleen S. Flaherty and her husband, Thomas of Winthrop, Betsy Kelley Hoffman and her husband, Glen of Milton, Lauren E. Kelley of Revere; dear brother of Bruce Kelley of Arizona, Doreen Rasicott of Florida and the late Harold B. Kelley, Wayne Kelley, Beverly Sargent and Paul Kelley. He is also lovingly survived by 15 grandchildren and one great granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at the St. Michael Arch Angel Chapel, Chelsea Soldier’s Home, 91 Crest Ave., Chelsea on Friday, November 1 at 10 a.m. Visitation will take place in the Cardinal Cushing Pavillion, adjacent to the Chapel from 9 to 10 a.m. Interment will take place in the Upper Plain Cemetery in Bradford, VT on Saturday, November 2 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Patient Activity Fund, Chelsea Soldier’s Home, 91 Crest Ave., Chelsea, MA 02150. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the William R. Carafa & Son Home For Funerals in Chelsea

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