Obituaries 05-17-2018

Patricia Pierce

Retired Teacher

Patricia Pierce of Peabody, formerly on Chelsea, died on Wednesday morning, May 9.

Born in East Boston over 90 years ago, Patricia passed away at Rosewood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Peabody where she was receiving supportive care.

Patricia grew up with her family on Spencer Avenue and received her education in Chelsea. Upon graduation from High School, she entered the Sisters of Providence convent where she took her final vows. After 27 years, with the passing of her sister-in-law, she left religious life to care for her brother. In the ensuing years, she continued as a teacher in the Malden School System until her retirement. In the years that followed teaching, she resided at 5 Admirals Way continuing to minister as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Rose Parish and St. Mary’s Parish in Revere, also bringing Communion to homes as well as to the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home.

The devoted daughter of the late John F. and Ella (McKevitt) Pierce, she was the beloved sister of the late Francis Pierce, Elizabeth Smith, Loretta McCormack and Sister Eleanor Pierce, SP. She is also lovingly survived by many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. Services will conclude with interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

The family suggests that memorial contributions in her name be made to the Sisters of Providence-Mission Advancement Office, 1 Sisters of Providence Road, St. Mary-of-the-Woods, IN 47876 or at www.spsmw.org/donate.

Frederick ‘Fred’ Nowicki

Retired Chelsea Firefighter nationally recognized for heroism

Frederick A. “Fred” Nowicki, a lifelong Chelsea   resident and retired Chelsea   Firefighter, passed away Wednesday morning May 16 at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home where he has been receiving supportive care for ongoing illnesses. He was 77 years old.

Born and raised in Chelsea, a son of the late Anthony Nowicki and Louise (Kozolowski) Nowicki-Hurley, he attended local schools and graduated from Chelsea High School in 1959. Fred was a member of the Chelsea High School Football team beating Everett in 1958.

He continued his education at Dodge City Jr. College and was awarded a full scholarship to Arizona State. Foregoing the scholarship, Fred returned to Chelsea with his young bride, the former Beverly Renfrew to support and raise his family.

Fred began working as truck driver for Monarch Foods.

He was appointed to the Chelsea Fire Department in 1968. He was nationally recognized for heroism in 1972 for retrieving a bomb from the Chelsea Naval Hospital.   He was also a veteran of the Chelsea Fire of 1973. Fred was a member and Past-President of Chelsea Firefighters Local 937 and was honored to be named President Emeritus of the local. He was a longtime member of the Fire Department Color Guard and was one of the original organizers of Chelsea Firefighters Memorial Sunday held annually on the first Sunday of June. He retired from fire service in 2003.

Fred also worked for many years as a foreman withTravaco Laboratories in Chelsea, retiring in 1996. He was a member of the Cary Square Associates and the Winnisimmet Social and Athletic Club.

Fred was recently widowed in December with the passing of his beloved wife of 56 years, Beverly J. (Renfrew) Nowicki. He was the devoted father of Scott C. Nowicki of Revere and Paul R. Nowicki and his wife, Tracy M. Nowicki of Chelsea; cherished grandfather of Mia V. Nowicki, Christina H. Nowicki and John Paul Nowicki; dear brother and brother-in-law of Linda and Frank Sobelewski of Dennisport and Roger A. Nowicki of Billerica and his late wife, Linda, the late Janice Nowicki, Paul Renfrew and his wife Sue Ellen of Southborough and cherished uncle of Brenda Sobolewski-Finn, John Sobolewski, Elizabeth Renfrew-Birkemose, Douglas Renfrew, Adam Nowicki and Rachel Hall.

Funeral from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Tuesday, May 22, at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea at 10:30 a.m. Services will conclude with Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Welsh Funeral Home on Monday from 4 to p.m. Funeral Home fully handicap accessible, ample parking opposite Funeral Home. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com.

Anthony Memorial – Frank A. Welsh & Sons Chelsea, 617-889-2723

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