Obituaries 04-06-2011

Rev. Rocco Crescenzi

Longtime Administrator and Director of Don Orione Nursing Home

Rev. Rocco Crescenzi, son of Domenic and Philomena, died at the Don Orione Nursing Home on April 3 after a brief illness. He was 95 years old.

He was the last of six children. The family was very close, loving and religious, and he became interested in the priesthood very early in life. His uncle, nephew, a niece and two cousins have joined religious orders.

Father Rocco entered the Don Orione Congregation in 1930, and attended the Don Orione Seminaries in Northern Italy, where he met Don Orione in person. Father Rocco was privileged to associate with him during the last 10 years of Don Orione’s life and for a period of one year, he enjoyed the privilege to have been one of Don Orione’s personal younger attendants, performing many of the necessary chores required of Don Orione.

Fr. Rocco was ordained a priest on October 3, 1943, at the age of 27, at the Shrine of Our Guardian Lady in Tortona.

His early assignments were spent in Naples from 1945 to 1949, where he was caring for and teaching the orphans and war crippled children. On October 10, 1949, he left Naples for Boston, disembarking in Philadelphia, on October 29, reaching Boston on October 30, four months after the official opening of the Italian Home for the aged in East Boston. Shortly after his arrival, 12 elderly women became the first occupants of the first Home which stands on 120 Orient Avenue, East Boston.

Fr. Rocco became the director in 1952, and served as such for various terms and as its Administrator, for more than 40 years, During Fr. Rocco’s service and leadership, the Home, from its very humble beginnings, has become a 200 bed Nursing Home providing skilled nursing care, medical assistance, social and rehabilitative services combined with spiritual guidance and comfort. It was among the first to recognize the importance of providing home life, not just institutional care.

In 1975, the Don Orione Home created a Day Care Health Center for Elderly citizens. Sixty five elderly men and women participate in this program receiving nursing and medical care during the day and returning to their residences each evening. The Home is considered one of the finest in the state. He was also instrumental in the building of the Madonna Queen National Shrine across the street from the nursing home.

In October of 2003, Fr. Rocco’s Diamond Jubilee was celebrated, marking his 60 years in priesthood and 54 years at the Don Orione Home. He was also presented with the First Don Orione Lifetime Achievement Award at the 37th Annual Banchetto.

Fr. Rocco will lie in state in the Volpe Chapel in the Don Orione Nursing Home today, Wednesday, April 6, from 4 to 8 p.m. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Thursday, April 7 at the Chapel of the Madonna Queen National Shrine at 12 noon. Burial will follow the mass in the Don Orione Father’s lot in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Memorial donations may be made to the Don Orione Home 111 Orient Ave., East Boston MA 02128. To sign Fr. Rocco’s online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com. Arrangements are entrusted to the Ernest P. Caggiano-O’Maley Funeral Home, Winthrop.

Thomas ‘PeeWee’ Albanese

Local entrepreneur

Thomas C. “PeeWee” Albanese died in East Boston on April 1.

A US Army veteran of World War II, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps, was an amateur boxer, a shipyard worker, a bar owner and a local entrepreneur and private lending broker.

The beloved son of the late Dominic and Madeline (Corsi) Albanese, he was the brother of Joseph Albanese, Phyllis “Minnie” Saviano, and the late Ann Gallo, Francis, Phil, and Raymond Albanese and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

His Funeral will be held from the Magrath Funeral Home, 325 Chelsea St. [at Day Sq] East Boston on Friday morning at 10 followed by a Funeral Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, 45 Brooks St., East Boston at 11 o’clock. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are Thursday, April 7, from 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Donations in his memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research would be appreciated.

Mary Briana

East Boston resident

Mary (Buttiglieri) Briana of East Boston died on April 4.

She was the beloved wife of the late John H Briana; devoted mother of Ronald Briana and his wife, Betty, and the late John D. Briana; dear sister of Sarah Buttiglieri of East
Boston and the late Filomena, Rocco, Carmen, Josphine
Boncore, Representative Louis Buttiglieri, and Tina Alu; cherished grandmother of four and great grandmother of 11 and is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Her Funeral will be held from the Ruggiero
Mazzarella Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga St. (Orient Heights) East Boston on Friday, April 8 at 9 a.m. with a mass of Christian Burial in Celebration of her life in  Sacred Heart Church, Brooks Street at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. Services will conclude with burial with her husband and son in Woodlawn Cemetery. For more information or online guest book:
www.ruggieromh.com

Richard Cesareo

Aboard ship that survived World War II Kamikaze attack

Richard J. Cesareo of East Boston died on April 1.

He served proudly aboard the aircraft carrier USS Randolph during World War II, seeing combat in the pacific including a kamikaze attack on his ship. After the war, he worked for more than 20 years as an MBTA employee. He enjoyed ballroom dancing, Big Band music and spending time with family and friends.

He was the beloved husband of the late Raffella “Ella” (Amato) Cesareo and son of the late Stellario and Vincenza (Triffiletti) Cesareo; beloved father of Richard Cesareo and his wife, Elaine, of Winthrop, Linda Reeves and her husband, Maurice, of Winthrop, Paula Montagano and her husband, Peter, of Wakefield, and Anthony Cesareo and his wife, Melissa, of Hazlet, NJ; loving grandfather of Richard, Joseph, Christopher and Stephanie and cherished great-grandfather of Krystiana. He was the dear brother of Josephine Cesareo of Revere, Anthony Cesareo of Peabody, Eleanor Pupolo and her husband, Frank, of Revere and the late Joan, Leo, Larry, Nancy Cesareo, Katherine Stokes, and Lena Caissie. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

His Funeral will be held from The Kirby-Rapino Memorial Home, 917 Bennington St. (Orient Heights) East Boston on Thursday at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop at 10 a.m.  The family will receive visitors today, Wednesday, from 3:30 to 8:30 p.m. Services will conclude with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be sent to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box, 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168.  To leave online condolences please visit www.kirby-rapino.com

Jo-Ann Gayhart

East Boston resident

Jo-Ann Gayhart of East Boston died on April 1.

She was the beloved daughter of Maria (Falanga) and the late James Gayhart; loving mother of Laura, Timothy, Stephen, Amanda and Rebecca of East Boston and Mark of Everett; cherished partner of Timothy Hardiman of East Boston.

The family will receive visitors today, Wednesday, April 6 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in The Rapino Memorial Home, 9 Chelsea St. (Maverick Sq.) East Boston. There will be a Prayer Service at 12 noon.  Services will conclude with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.  For online condolences, please visit www.rapinomemorialhome.com

Monica Trapp

Chelsea resident

Monica M. Trapp of Chelsea died on Friday evening, April 1 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. She was 58 years old.

Born in Santiago, Chile, she has lived in Chelsea since June of 1996. For over eight years she was a private childcare provider and for a short time worked in real estate.

She was the devoted mother of Ricardo Lyon Trapp of Pleasantville, New York, Carolina Lyon Trapp of Houston, Texas and Felipe G. Lyon Trapp of Chelsea; beloved daughter of Luz E. Munoz of Villa Alemana, Chile and the late Guillermo F. Trapp; loving sister of Patricia Trapp Munoz of Santa Catalina, Brazil, Francisco Trapp Munoz, Ricardo Trapp Munoz and Marcelo Trapp Munoz, all of Villa Alemana, Chile; cherished grandmother of Vincente, Natalia and Tomas Lyon.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Memorial Service on Friday evening at 7:30 in the Iglesia Cristiana Renacer, 65 Munroe Street, Lynn. To send a message of condolence to her family, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com

Gaetano Pisaturo

East Boston resident

Gaetano Pisaturo of East Boston died on April 3.

He was the beloved husband of Rosa (Colarusso) Pisaturo; devoted father of Antonio of Boston, Anna Romano and her husband, Maurice, of Saugus and the late Raffaele; dear brother of Mario of East Boston, Guido of Saugus, Maria Palermo of Washington, Giuseppe Pisaturo of East Boston and the late Cristina Caruso and is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

His,Funeral will be held from the Ruggiero Mazzarella Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga St. (Orient Heights) East Boston on Thursday, April 7 at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in celebration of his life in Sacred Heart Church, Brooks Street at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Visiting hours are today,Wednesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. For complimentary transportation to and from the Funeral Home please call 617 569. Services will conclude with Mr. Pisaturo being laid to rest in the Mausoleum in Holy Cross Cemetery. For more information or to send an online condolence: www.ruggieromh.com

Simone ‘Sonny’ Grato

US Postal Service retiree

Simone J. “Sonny” Grato of East Boston died on March 30.

A US Air Force veteran and a US Postal Service retiree, he was the beloved son of the late Antonio and Julia (Kozlowski) Grato; loving husband of Gladys “Tootsie” (Armstrong) Grato; loving father of Ellen, Barbara, Patricia, Simone, and Robert Mellone of East Boston, Anthony and his wife, Karol, of Falmouth, Charles of Weymouth, and Danielle and her husband, Richard Schell, of Chelsea; cherished grandfather of Robyn, Johnathan, Michael, Anthony Jr., Gabrielle, Brandon, and the late Robert Jr.; great-grandfather of Kayla and Koshin. He is also survived by many brothers, sisters, nieces, and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by The Rapino Memorial Home, East Boston. For online condolences, please visit: www.rapinomemorialhome.com

Antoinette ‘Toni’ Cea

Active in Several Organizations

Antoinette “Toni” (Uva) Cea of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, died on April 2. She was 88 years old.

Mrs. Cea joined the Winthrop Ladies Lodge of the Sons of Italy in 1978 and held many offices before serving as Lodge president. She was elected and served on the State OSIA Benefit Insurance Commission as their secretary for a number of years. She presently held the office of immediate Past President of the Winthrop Ladies Lodge #2071. “Toni” was a longstanding member of St. John’s Women’s Catholics Club for many years.

She was the beloved wife of the late Paul P. Cea with whom she shared 63 years of marriage; loving mother of Nancy Cea of Saugus, Maria Cea Lentine and her husband, Mark, of Methuen, and Paula Corkhum and her husband, Philip, of Chelsea; dear sister of the late Angelina Pisano and Stanley Uva; cherished grandmother of Kristine Marie of Saugus, Kimberly Ann of Winchester, Tanya Thorpe of Amesbury, and Michael Rotigliano of Salem, and great-grandchildren, Victoria Thorpe and Tanya Thorpe of Amesbury, and Addison Rotigliano of Salem. She was the cherished daughter of the late Rocco and Nunziata (Vitale) Uva, former proprietors of Rocco and Nunziata’s grocery and cold cut store for over 60 years, on Cottage Street in East Boston.

Funeral arrangements were by Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere. Entombment was in the Uva Family Mausoleum, Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Memorial donations may be made in “Toni’s” name to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, ATT Tribute Gifts, Church Street Station, P.O. Box 780, New York, NY 10008-0780. For guest book: www.vazzafunerals.com

Florence Amato

East Boston resident

Florence F. (Maiolino) Amato of East Boston died on March 30.

She was the beloved wife of the late Michael J. Amato; loving mother of Doreen Amato and her companion, Joseph Squadrito, of East Boston, Andrew Amato of Revere, Michele Amato and her companion, Edward Campia, of Roslindale, and Diane Amato of East Boston; cherished grandmother of Toni-Ann Privitera and her husband, Philip, Le-Andra Ledoux, Arthur Ledoux and his wife, Melissa, Michael, Erica and Alexa Amato; great-grandmother of Payton and Presley Privitera, Taylor and Brianna Amato; dear sister of Josephine O’Neil of Winthrop, the late Joseph, Mary, Marion and Anna; sister-in-law to Andrew and Fran Amato of Lynn, and Richard and Lorraine DeCristiforo of East Boston. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by The Rapino Memorial Home, East Boston. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to: Winthrop Place, 26 Sturgis St., Winthrop, MA 02152. For online condolences, please visit www.rapinomemorialhome.com

Edward Ryan

East Boston resident

Edward T. Ryan of East Boston died on March 31.

He was the loving son of Theresa (Cleary) and the late Leo Ryan of East Boston, devoted father of Thomas Ryan of Marion and Daniel Ryan Sr. of Lynn; dear brother of Peter Ryan of Somerville and Thomas Ryan of Winthrop; cherished grandfather of Julian, Kendall and Daniel Ryan Jr. and is also survived by many fond nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Ruggiero Mazzarella Memorial Home, East Boston. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. For more information or to send an online condolence, www.ruggieromh.com

Alfred ‘Al’ Panzini

Of Revere, formerly of East Boston

Alfred “Al” Panzini of Revere, formerly of East Boston, died on March 31.

A US Army veteran of the Korean War, he was the beloved husband of Marie (Consolo) Panzini with whom he shared 49 years of marriage; loving father of Lisa Rosetti and her husband, Brian, of Marblehead and Michelle Prodgers and her husband, Marc, of Melrose; dear brother of Eleanor Gogliotti and Louis Panzini, both of Revere, William of Salem and the late Patrick and Joseph Panzini; cherished grandfather of Christian and Christina Rosetti and Gavin and Gabrielle Prodgers.

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

Arthur St. Andre, Sr.

Of Florida, formerly of East Boston

Arthur S. St. Andre, Sr. in Florida, formerly of East Boston, died on March 25.

A US Coast Guard veteran, he was the beloved father of Arthur Jr., Thomas and Patricia St. Andre; son of Stella (Pieciak) and the late Lucien St. Andre; brother of Sandy Moore and Judith Gilmour and is also survived by four grandchildren. He was the dear friend of Jean Lambert and former husband of Patricia (Todisco) St. Andre.

A Memorial Service was held in the Magrath Funeral Home, East Boston. MagrathFuneralHome.com

Laura Rosa Ruiz

Of East Boston, formerly of Chelsea

Laura Rosa (Ruiz) Ruiz of East Boston, formerly of Cambridge and Chelsea, died on March 26.

She was the devoted mother of Gloria “Gory” N. Ruiz and her husband, Rene Morales, of East Boston, Jesus “Papo”Ruiz, of Texas, Joaquin “Jimmy” Ruiz of the Chelsea Fire Dept. and his wife, Teresa, of Malden and the late Edwin Ruiz; dear sister of Dolores Ruiz of Chelsea and Pascual Ruiz of the South End of Boston; cherished grandmother of 17 grandchildren and one adored great grandchild and is also survived by many fond nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Mazzarella Memorial Home (Orient Heights) East Boston. Burial was in St Michael’s Cemetery, Boston. For more information or to send an online condolence www.ruggieromh.com

Maryjane Beamer

East Boston resident

Maryjane ( Hughes) Beamer died on March 28. She was 52 years old.

She was the devoted mother of Michael Beamer, Jr. of East Boston; former wife of Michael Beamer, Sr. of East Boston; cherished daughter of Rose (Marshall) and the late John Hughes; dear sister of Barbara Rochman of East Boston, John Hughes Jr. of Revere, Jodie Hughes of East Boston, and the late Rose Patricia Hughes; adored grandmother of Michael Beamer. She is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, neices and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero-Mazzarella Memorial Home, East Boston. For more information or to send an online condolence please visit www.ruggieromh.com

Rita Lucente

Of Revere, formerly of East Boston

Rita (Napoleone) Lucente of Revere died on March 29 after a long illness. She was 82 years old.

A homemaker, born and raised in the North End and East Boston, she lived in Revere for most of her adult life.

She was the beloved wife of Michael Lucente Sr.; devoted mother of Anthony of Revere, Gina Farrell and her husband, Stephen, of Wakefield, Michael Jr. and his wife, Renee, of Westford; dear sister of Marie Napoleone of the North End and Umberto Napoleone of Westwood. She is also survived by her five loving grandchildren: Kaitlin and Kathleen Farrell, Nicole, Marissa and Michael Lucente III and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery. For guestbook www.buonfiglio.com

Linda Caruso

Raytheon Retiree

Linda M. Caruso, a lifelong Revere resident, died following a long 10-year valiant battle with cancer on March 26 at the University of Florida Hospital in Gainesville. She was 60 years old.

Born in Everett on May 2, 1950, she was raised and educated in Revere and lived in Revere all her life. She enjoyed puzzles and games such as Kismet, bowling and Word Whom on Pogo, (which was her favorite.) She was a weekly regular at Bingo despite the fact that she always said “I hate Bingo! I never win.” That sense of humor translated to her work environment at Raytheon where she claimed to “make bombs.” The analytical skills she used at puzzles was put to good use at Raythoen where she worked on circuitry boards for the Patriot missile and devised a new process that saved the company a lot of money.

Generous to a fault, she would often give gifts that she knew people wanted, even if it meant sacrificing her own needs. After a bout with cancer in 2001, she was appointed a co-apostle at the Rev. McDonough Healing & Restoration Ministry of Roxbury. An avid animal lover, she would often try to avoid pet stores because she could not bear to see “caged animals.” Very recently she moved to Florida where she could drive her convertible like Special Agent Gibbs from her favorite TV show, NCIS.

Paramount in her life was time spent with family. She was the daughter of the late Saverio and Violana (Nutile) Caruso; the cherished mother of Kelly Anne Caruso of Revere and the devoted grandmother of Kyle W. Budd of Revere; the dear sister of Retired Revere Fire Captain Saverio D. Caruso and his wife, Linda, of Swampscott, Beverly A. Nelson and her husband, Sheldon, of Northborough, MA, Annette McCall and her husband, Richard, of Ocala, Florida, Rosemarie Fitzgerald of Revere and Theresa “Terry” Masella and her husband, Domenic “Donnie” of Bedford, NH. She is also lovingly survived by her nephews and nieces, Christopher and Saverio Caruso, David Nelson, Andrea, Michael “Mikel” and Kayla Fitzgerald and, last but not least, she leaves her devoted canine companion, “Sammi.”

Funeral arrangements were entrusted the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. Burial was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Cemetery, West Peabody. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Kaneius Cancer Research Foundation, 130 West 87th St., Suite 216, Erie, PA 16501 – 814-480-5776.

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