Robert Dion, Sr.
Retired Chelsea Firefighter and Fire Inspector; led Chelsea Fire Department Color Guard; Served on Pop Warner Board of Directors
Robert R. “Sarge” Dion, Sr. of Huntington Beach, California, formerly of Chelsea, passed into eternal rest with his loving family at his side on July 25 at Long Beach Veterans Hospital in Long Beach, California. He was 85 years old.
He was a US Marine who fought in Korea and was one of the “Chosin Few Members” from the “Chosin River Battle.”
“Sarge” retired from the Chelsea Fire Department as a Fire Inspector in March of 1982. He was the founder and leader of the Chelsea Fire Department Color Guard established in 1970 and served on the Pop Warner Board of Directors in 1972-1973.
He was the loving husband of Joan (Forti) Dion with whom he shared 55 years of marriage; the father of Robert, Jr. and his wife, Paula of Los Angeles, California, Michael and his ife, Yvette of Menisee, California, Dennise Dion Merhoff of Hungtington Beach, California and the grandfather of six: Montana (USMC), Madison, Michelle, Mason, Dominque and Mitchell.
Services were held at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Huntington Beach on August 1. Private burial will be held at a later date at the Riverside Veterans Cemetery in Riverside, California. Memorial donation may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.
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Angelo Romano
Proprietor of Romano Roofing
Angelo Romano of Chelsea died on August 17 after a brief illness. He was 69 years old.
Angelo was the proprietor of Romano Roofing, a member the Revere Loyal Order of Moose 1272, the Sons of Italy and the VFW Mottolo Post.
He was the husband of Doris (Smith) Romano; beloved father of Maria Romano and Leslie Crespo of Revere, Angelo J. Jr. of Peabody, Alison Addario and her husband, Steven of Boxford and Janine Romano of Chelsea; loving son of the late Guiseppe and Maria (Salemi) Romano; dear brother of Carlo of Maryland and Anthony “Pino” of California; loving grandfather of Steven III, Isabella, Matthew, Ayla and an expected grandson in October. Angelo was the proprietor of Romano Roofing.
His Funeral will be held from the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, 128 Revere St., Revere today, Thursday, August 21 at 9 a.m. Followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Anthony’s Church at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Angelo’s memory to the charity of your choice. To share a memory or condolence or to sign the online guestbook, please visit www.Buonfiglio.com
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Armando Lopez
Of Chelsea
Armando Lopez passed away in his Chelsea home on August 6.
He was born and raised in Honduras and has been a Chelsea resident for many years. He is survived by his wife, Juana Lopez of Chelsea, his children, grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Rose Church on Wednesday, August 20. Interment followed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Home.
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Robert ‘Bob’ Wasson
Retired deisel mechanic, Member of VFW and International Brotherhood of Machinists
Robert W. “Bob” Wasson passed away on Monday, August 18 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington after a suffering a major stroke days earlier. He was 81 years old.
Born in Chelsea, he was the beloved son of the late Vernon L. and Florence J. (Ryan) Wasson.
Bob was raised in Everett where he attended and graduated from Everett High School. Immediately after graduating from high school, Bob enlisted in the USAF serving during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1956 at the rank of Sergeant. He returned to Chelsea where he married Jeanette E. “Mitzie” (Richard) and together they began raising their family in Chelsea before settling in Saugus nearly 50 years ago.
Bob was preceded in death by his beloved wife “Mitzie” in 2007 after sharing 54 years of marriage. He worked as a diesel mechanic for Clark & Wilcox in Allston for 30 years, repairing cranes, bulldozers, tractors and other types of heavy earth moving equipment. He was also employed as the onboard diesel mechanic aboard the “Gunners Mate” a private 55’ vessel docked in Revere. He later worked for Deck House manufactured homes in Alton, NH from the mid 80’s until retiring in 1997. He was a member of the V.F.W. Post 2346 Saugus and International Brotherhood of Machinists.
Bob took great pride and pleasure repairing various types of motors and machines; He loved time spent outdoors in northern New England, Maine and New Hampshire and sharing time with his grandchildren. He was the devoted father of Michael Wasson and his wife, Angela, Mark Wasson and his wife, Paula, all of Billerica and John Wasson and his wife, Debbie of Peabody; dear brother of Maureen and Patricia; cherished grandfather of Tyler, Daniel and Bobby Wasson. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and his canine companion “Mischief.”
His funeral services will be conducted from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Friday, August 22 at 10 a.m.Services will conclude with interment at Evergreen Cemetery in Pembroke, New Hampshire. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Welsh Funeral Home today, Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. The Funeral Home is fully handicap accessible, ample parking opposite Funeral Home. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to “My Brothers Table” 98 Willow St., Lynn, Ma 01901. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com
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Jesus Iraola
Former meat cutter at Colonial Provisions
Having endured lung cancer for the past two years, Jesus Iraola passed away at the age of 68 on Saturday, August 16 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.
Jesus, who was born and raised in Arroyo Puerto Rico, was the beloved son of the late Faustino and Evarista Vega Iraola. He received his early education in Puerto Rico.
As a young man he settled in Boston’s South End before moving to Chelsea nearly 30 years ago. He worked as a meat cutter at Colonial Provisions in Dorchester and received a disability retirement several years ago.
He is survived by his beloved companion and fiancée Flor Vega also of Chelsea. He was the dear father of Jesus R. Iraolaand his wife, Gladys of Whitman, Ricardo Iraolo of Chelsea, William E. Iraolaof Hyde Park and Noeida Gamarra and her husband, Jonathan of Oceanside, New York; the dear brother of Benito, Antonio, Angel Luis and Lucia Iraola, Maria Adela Irizarry, Norma Iris and the late Gilberto Iraola. He is also survived by his former wife Virginia Lebron, 15 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
His funeral will begin from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, August 21 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway, Chelsea at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com.
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Bernice DeRoche
Talented seamstress; worked at Standard Box and waitressed at French Club in Chelsea
Bernice (Arsenault) DeRoche passed away on August 14 at the Bear Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Stoneham where she has been receiving supportive care for the last eight months. She was 94 years old.
Born and raised in Chelsea, she was the beloved daughter of the late Emile and Jenny (Perry) Arsenault. She attended local schools and was married to Hector DeRoche,they settled and resided in Chelsea for many years. Her husband passed away in 1982.
Bernice worked outside of her home as a machine operator for Standard Box. She was also a talented seamstress and produced custom made slipcovers and pillowcases from her home. She also worked as a waitress at the French Club in Chelsea. She retired from Standard Box and waitressing but she continued her custom sewing well into her eighties.
In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her son, Robert DeRoche in 2003; her sister, Eva Polito; her brothers, Tilmon Arsenault, Edward Arsenault and Larry Arsenault. She is survived by her daughter in law Joan DeRoche of Alton Bay, NH, a son, Stephen Corder DeRoche of Danvers; her sisters: Dorothy LeGeres of Canada, Marie Garrett of Lafayette LA, Noel Arsenault of South Carolina, Theresa O’Driscoll of Chelsea, Lorraine Barnacle of Missouri, Doris Doucette of Reading and Margaret Porrazzo of North Carolina. She is also survived by five grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, four great great-grandchildren and many nieces nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Mary of the Assumption Church in Revere on August 19. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory can be made to the “Activity Fund” at Bear Hill Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 11 North St., Stoneham, MA 02180. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Home. To send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com.