Obituaries 01-12-2011

Joanne Ford

East Boston resident

Joanne M. Ford of Saratoga Street, East Boston died at the Chelsea Skilled Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on January 9 after a long illness. She was 75 years old.

Born in Boston, she was the beloved daughter of the late Pia and Bruno DiTroia;  the beloved wife of the late Robert Ford and the loving mother of Gale Valliere of Winthrop, Robert Ford of East Boston and Tracey Ford of Winthrop; dear sister of the late Robert DiTroia. She is also survived by five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held from the Ernest P. Caggiano and Son Funeral Home, 147 Winthrop St., Winthrop on Saturday, January 15 at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. Memorial donations may be made to the MSPCA-Angell, ATTN: Donations, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130. For directions or to sign her online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

C. Mildred Agneta

Everett resident

C. Mildred (DiMauro) Agneta, a long time resident of Everett, died on January 6 at the Annemark Nursing Center in Revere. She was 98 years old.

Born in Sicily, Italy, she was a homemaker an the beloved wife of the late Nicholas R. Agneta; dear and devoted mother of Nicholas R. Agneta, Jr. and his wife, Helen, of Peabody and the late Conrad R. Agneta; sister of Mary O’Connell of East Boston; loving Grandma of Rachel, Robert, Nicholas, and Kenneth Agneta and great-grandmother of five great-grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, Everett. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Contributions in her memory to The Community Family, 106 Wyllis Ave., Everett, MA 02149 would be sincerely appreciated.

Vittorio Ciavattone

East Boston resident

Vittorio Ciavattone of East Boston died on January 6.

He was the beloved husband of Giuseppina (Ciacia); beloved father of Joe Ciavattone and his wife, Tricia, of Milton and Anna Franklin and her husband, Eric, of Tewksbury; cherished grandfather of Olivia, Victoria, Daniel, Lauren and his canine companion, Tina. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.

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

Mitchell Rosenberg

East Boston resident

Mitchell J. Rosenberg of East Boston died on January 7 of lung cancer.

He was the beloved son of Charlotte (Alpert) Rosenberg of Bridgewater and her late husband, Myron “Mike” Rosenberg; loving father of Michael and Nicole of Rhode Island; loving brother of Jill Geller and her husband, Steven, of Bridgewater; dear uncle of Michelle and former husband of Joyce Kelly of Rhode Island. He is also survived by many caring friends.

Arrangements were by Schlossberg Solomon Memorial Chapel, Canton. Burial was at Sharon Memorial Park, Sharon. Remembrances may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place West 6th floor, Brookline, MA 02445. Schlossberg -Solomon Chapel www.SchlossbergChapel.com 781-828-6990_

Rose Marie DiPiero

Of Wilmington, formerly of East Boston

Rose Marie (Perron) DiPiero of Wilmington, formerly of East Boston, died peacefully on January 5 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was 64 years old.

The beloved wife of the late Ernest DiPiero, she was the loving daughter of the late Henry and Lillian McDonagh of Brighton; devoted mother of Lorraine Amato and her husband, John, of Wilmington, Ernest DiPiero and his fiancé, Liz Kanofsky, of Revere and the late Joseph Paul Borden of Revere; second mother to Raymond Borden of Winthrop. Her life was dedicated to her grandchildren who meant the world to her. She was the adoring grandmother of Angelina, Michael, Christina, Brandon, and Daelan; loving sister of Catherine Stehr and her husband, Richard, of New York, Mary Garbarino and her husband, James, of Rhode Island, and the late Joseph McDonagh of Brighton. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., Wilmington. Burial was in Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington. www.nicholsfuneralhome.com.

Virginia Kratman

East Boston resident

Virginia M. (Greene) Kratman died unexpectedly in East Boston on January 4.

She was the beloved daughter of the late Elmer and Mary (McDonough) Greene; devoted mother of Susan and her husband, Albert Bono, of Colorado, Allan Kratman and his fiancé, Megan Reynolds, of Florida, Janet and her husband, Paul Bunnell, of New Hampshire, Linda and her husband, Raymond Etheridge, of East Boston, Mark Kratman and his wife, Denise, of East Boston; and Diane Kratman of East Boston; adored grandmother of Kyle, Robert and Addison Kratman, Amanda Nolan, Jonathan and Andrew Bunnell, Jason, Joseph, Jennifer, Raymond, Christopher, Michael, Jacqueline, Jarrett, Dylan, Gabrielle and Luke Etheridge, Mark, Nora and Burke Kratman and Robert Iacoviello; great-grandmother of Gianna Iacoviello and Domenic Giunta; sister of the late Joseph and Nancy Greene.

Funeral arrangements were by the Magrath Funeral Home, East Boston. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations in her memory to Sacred Heart Parish, 303 Paris St., East Boston, MA 02128 would be appreciated. MagrathFuneralHome.com.

Mary Tranquillo

East Boston resident

Mary (Robbins) Tranquillo of East Boston died on January 1.

She was the beloved wife of the late Paul; devoted mother of Cheryl Trainito of Winthrop and the late Paul Jr.; dear sister of Madeline Gould of Florida and sister of two late brothers and two late sisters; cherished grandmother of  Brianna and Bianca and the late Jeremy Marchesi and adored great grandmother of Jacob and Emma.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Mazzarella Memorial Home, (Orient Heights) East Boston. For more information or to send an online condolence to the family, please visit: www.ruggieromh.com.

Antoinette D’Agresto

Of Revere, formerly of East Boston

Antoinette “Toni” D’Agresto of Revere, formerly of East Boston, died on January 4. She was in her 98th year.

She was a member of the Third Order of St. Francis and a 1932 graduate of Fitton High School.

The cherished daughter of the late Domenic and Liberata (Diiovanni) D’Aresto, she was the dear sister of Louis of Bridgewater and the late James J., Camilla Martin and Caroline Lyons; fond aunt of many nieces and nephews.

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

Anthony DeFelice

Newspaperman, sports enthusiast and consummate family man

Anthony “Lefty” DeFelice, newspaperman, sports enthusiast, consummate family man and a very prominent and respected man in his community, died from natural causes on December 30 at his Winthrop home.  He was 99 old.

Mr. DeFelice was born in East Boston on September 18, 1911 and moved to Winthrop in 1942. He graduated from East Boston High School in 1927 at the age of 15.  He was in the printing profession and worked in the newspaper business (Record American, Boston Herald, and Boston Globe) for more than 50 years. He was a member of the International Typographical Union.

“Lefty” loved sports, especially baseball.  He was a left-handed first baseman and outfielder and his teammates dubbed him with the nickname “Lefty” when he was about 12 years old. He played semi-professional baseball for the Boston Typos for years and later became the team’s business manager.  He played handball from his childhood on, and with his trademark finesse and skill, was the New England Handball Champion in the 1940s. He played twice a week at the Paris Street Gym until age 75.

His passion for sports was undeniable and he had the great pleasure of following his sons’ athletic careers in football and baseball as players and then later as coaches.  He attended every Winthrop High School football game until his early 90s when he could no longer see the players on the field.  He became a fixture at the grill from the inaugural Winthrop Vikings Father’s Day Football Pancake Breakfast and as a rare invited guest on the team football bus.  His support of student athletics and his popularity in the town earned him the informal title of “Mr. Winthrop” in 2000.

“Lefty” was one in a million – a gracious and warmhearted man, a generous and guiding spirit, a loyal friend, a good neighbor and citizen, and above all, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who wove faith, principles, integrity, hope, and humor into the framework of his family.

He loved the beach, his famous tomato garden and sitting on his porch in his white rocker.  Until his death, he was seen regularly in Winthrop Center having a cup of coffee and attending daily mass at St. John’s Church.

Anthony DeFelice lived a long and happy life.  He was beloved by his family, the members of his church, his town and myriad friends of many generations.

The son of the late Leonardo and Lucia (Frisoli) DeFelice, he outlived all his siblings: Peter, Leo, Gus, Michael and Dominic and sister, Rocchina Granese.  He was married to the love of his life, Eleanor Cataldo, for 66 1/2 years and is survived by his sons, Francis of Swampscott and Robert of Winthrop; his daughter Susan, of Winthrop; seven grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

His funeral was conducted from the Ernest P. Caggiano and Son Funeral Home, Winthrop on Monday followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Rev. Peter Graziano celebrated the mass and offered prayers at the burial in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery. To sign his online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com. Memorial donations may be made in his name to Saint John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop Street, Winthrop, MA 02152.

Rhonda Falzone

Fought Multiple Sclerosis for 19 years

Rhonda M. (Cianciulli) Falzone of East Boston died on December 30 following a 19 year battle with Multiple Sclerosis  and surrounded by the love of her family at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She was 52 years old.

Her family and their love surrounded her all through her illness.

She was born in Winthrop and lived in East Boston all her life. She was a 1976 graduate of East Boston High School and worked briefly in global aviation at in Customer Relations at Loan Airport.

She was the cherished mother of John M. Falzone and his wife, Kerry, of Manchester, NH and David R. Falzone of East Boston; devoted daughter of Salvatore and Mildred E. (Casaletto Cianciulli of East Boston; sister of Gail M. Poirer and her husband, Scott, of East Boston and Boston Fire Lt. Jerry M. Cianciulli and his wife, Laurie, of Peabody and the adoring grandmother of Lucas J. and Alexa M. Falzone of Manchester, NH. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. Burial was private. Remembrances may be made to: NTAF-Northeast Lung Transplant in honor of Brian Sullivan, 150 North Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120, Radnor, PA 19087.

Jennie Lamonica

East Boston resident

Jennie (Cannata) Lamonica of East Boston died on  December 28.

She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph; devoted mother of Salvatore, Ronald “Roscoe” of East Boston and Marie Gayhart of New Hampshire; dear sister of Anthony, Frank and Natalie Cannata and Camille Mastrangelo; loving sister in law of the late Vincent and Josephine Lamonica; adored grandmother of Mark and Annamarie and her cherished great grandson and many nieces and nephews.

Services were held in the chapel of the Ruggiero Mazzarella Memorial Home (Orient Heights) East Boston.

Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery. For more information or to send an online condolence www.ruggieromh.com.

Mary Maiullo

East Boston resident

Mary (Vallen) Maiullo of East Boston died on January 1.

She was the beloved mother of Danielle Maiullo, Lorri Maiullo and Gerald Maiullo, all of East Boston; cherished grandmother of Ariana, Rebekka, Michael and Alana; dear sister of Edith “Sissy” Carvalho and her husband, Conrad “Lucky,” of Maine and the late Paul Vallen and is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service was held in the Chapel of Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For online condolences, please visit www.rapinomemorialhome.com.

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