Obituaries 10-13-2011

Michael Riley 

Finance Manager

Michael A. Riley, formerly of Revere and Winthrop, died unexpectedly at his Saugus home on October

6. He was 62 years old.

Born and raised in Revere, he was a 1966 graduate of Revere High School. He went to work for York Olds more than 30 years ago and became a fixture there as the Senior Finance Manager. Over the years, he made it possible for many to purchase an auto, often dealing with old friends from Revere and other communities. He lived in Saugus for the past 14 years and also lived in Winthrop for more than 10 years.

He was the beloved husband of 16 years of Laura F. (Garabedian); cherished father of Roslyn Joy Catalano-Fox of Boynton Beach, FL, George J. and Patrick M. Riley, both of Saugus; dear brother of Doreen Riley-Homer and her husband, Edward W. of Groton and is also lovingly survived by his cousins, Sandra Balsebre and Joan McDonough, both of Mashpee, and several nieces and nephews. He was the cherished son of the late Paul F. and Doris T. (Marchant) Riley.

Funeral services were held in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere with many attending. Burial was private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Make A Wish Foundation, One Bulfinch Pl., Boston, MA 02114-2031.

–

John Frasso 

Retired Engineer

John J. Frasso of Winthrop died at the Massachusetts General Hospital on October 9. He was 89 years old.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he was a graduate of Texas A&M. Prior to his retirement, he worked as an Engineer for the Stone and Webster Engineering Firm.

The beloved husband of the late Rita M. (Kelly) Frasso, he was born in Boston, the son of the late Anselmo and Madeline (Cioppa) Frasso. He was the father of the late John E. Frasso; dear brother of the late Angela DiNunzio, Susan DeSantis, Carmella Frasso, and Nicholas Frasso; dear cousin of Louise McGoldrick of Allston, Alfonse Frasso of Allston and Anthony Frasso of New Hampshire and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section.) Memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project P.O. Box 758517 Topeka, KS, 66675. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

–

Concetta Cravotta 

Retired Seamstress

Concetta P. (LaMattina) Cravotta of Middleton, formerly of Winthrop, died at the Cedar Glenn Nursing Home on October 7. She was 85 years old.

Prior to her retirement, she worked as a seamstress for Logan Sportswear

She was the beloved wife of the late Filippo S. Cravotta. Born in Medford, she was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Mary (Cesario) LaMattina; devoted mother of Ann Marie Pace and her husband, Richard of Middleton and Susan Sachetta of Tewksbury; dear sister of Rocco LaMattina and his wife, Carol of Winthrop, Rose Fredette and MaryAnn Vargus and her husband, James all of New Hampshire and the late Ignazzo LaMattina; adored grandmother of Robert Ciampa, Debbie Lanza and her husband, Christopher, and Phillip and Justine Sachetta; great-grandmother of Nicholas, Christian, and Marissa Ciampa, Jianna and Joseph Lanza, and Chloe Sachetta. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. Memorial donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Assn. 311 Arsenal St. Watertown, MA, 02472. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

–

Ralph Dietzel 

Veteran of Two Wars, US Postal Service Retiree

Ralph D. Dietzel of Revere died at home after a long illness on October 7. He was 84 years old.

Mr, Dietzel was born and raised in Beloit, Wisconsin, joined the US Navy as a young man and served for 10 years from January of 1944 until July of 1954. He was a veteran of both World War II and Korea. He retired from the US Postal Service in 1985 after 26 years of service. He worked at the Broadway Revere Station before moving on the Post Office Square facility.

He met his bride of 60 years, Elizabeth M. (Levosto) of Revere at Revere Beach more than 60 years ago and they lived in Revere ever since.

He was the cherished father of Donna L. Walsh and her husband, Philip J. of Revere; brother in law of Annette _Netta_ Spinale of Revere; brother of the late Allen Dietzel and son of the late Russell and Dorothy Ellen (McElroy) Dietzel-Zinnecker.

Family and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Saturday, October 15 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107) Revere. A Memorial Funeral Service will follow in the Funeral Home at 12:15 p.m. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to: All Care Hospice, 16 City Hall Square, Lynn, MA 01901.

–

Phyllis Martelli 

Revere School Department Retiree

Phyllis M (Achenbach) Martelli, formerly of Revere, died in Winthrop on October 8 following a long illness. She was 84 years old.

A Revere School Department retiree, she was the wife of the late Vincent A. Martelli; cherished mother of Vicki D. Martelli, Patti A. Martelli, Matthew V. Martelli and his wife, Debra, all of Winthrop, Mark V. Martelli of Revere and Vincent A. Martelli, Jr. and his wife, Jennifer of Marblehead; dear sister of Maxine Publicover of Revere and the late Jane L. Alexander; devoted grandmother of Sage L. Cunningham of East Boston, Max M. and Paul V. Martelli, both of Winthrop, Mia J. and Michael V. Martelli, both of Marblehead. She is also lovingly survived by her son-in-law, Michael Cunningham and her dear friend, “Little,” both of Winthrop and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to attend the funeral service today, Thursday, Oct. 13 at 11 a.m. in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Rt. 107), Revere followed by burial at Puritan Lawn Memorial Cemetery, West Peabody. In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital , PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 or to the New England Paralyzed Veteran’s of America, 1600 Providence Hgwy., Walpole, MA 02081.

–

Anita Tavella 

Lifelong East Boston resident

Anita L. (Malnati) Tavella of East Boston died on October 6 following a long illness. She was 69 years old.

She was the beloved mother of Donna M. DeGregorio and her husband, Attilio of Revere and Debra A. Tavella and her husband, James V. Tavella of Winthrop; cherished grandmother of Justin T. Frogner of Salem, LeAnna Quarato, Nicholas J. and Joseph A. Tavella, all of Winthrop, Emilio J. and Vincenzo A. DeGregorio of Revere; dear sister of Rosemary Collier of West Springfield; daughter of the late Alvin S. and Elsie L. (Arnold) Malnati and is also lovingly survived by several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends are invited to visit today, Thursday, October 13 in the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Rt. 107), Revere from 6 to 8 p.m. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery will be held privately. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. at St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Washington Avenue, Revere. All are asked to report directly to church.

–

Gloria Manning 

Of Saugus, formerly of East Boston

Gloria J. (Giannoccaro) Manning of Saugus, formerly of East Boston, died on October 9.

The beloved wife of the late William F. Manning, she was the loving mother of Robert Manning and his wife, Elizabeth of Winthrop, Craig Manning and his wife, Karen of North Carolina, David Manning and his wife, Leslie of New Hampshire and Keith Manning of Saugus; cherished grandmother of eight grandchildren; dear sister of Lola Mayo of Winthrop and the late Florence, Antonio, Romeo and John Giannoccaro, Lillian Danna, Josephine Ryder and Ann Graves.

Her Funeral will be held from the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave, Saugus on Friday at 9:30 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at the Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Summer St, Saugus at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are today, Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For directions and condolences: www.BisbeePorcella.com.

–

John Michael Kretas 

Florida resident

John Michael Kretas of Jacksonville, Florida died on October 3 at Baptist Medical Center South. He was 62 years old.

He was born on July 29, 1949 in Boston to John and Leanora (D’Ambrosio) Kretas and proudly served in the US Army with the Special Forces. He attended the First Assembly of God in Orange Park and  enjoyed sailing, golfing, and walking the beaches with his loving wife, Daisy Kretas, who survives him.

Additional survivors include his children: John Michael Kretas, Jr., Laurie Anne Kretas, Amy Danielle Kretas (Richard Higgins) and Matthew Robert Kretas (Melanie); his mother, Leanora Kretas; his brothers, George A. Kretas (Maria); and Paul R. Kretas (Elaine); his grandchildren, Sarah, Jacy, Sarena, and Ava Kretas and Leah and Sullivan Higgins; and his step sons, Zachary and Patrick Huffman. He was preceded in death by his father, John Kretas.

Graveside Funeral Services were held at the Jacksonville National Cemetery, Jacksonville, FL. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the First Assembly of God Orange Park, 1324 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, FL 32073. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home of Mandarin, 11801 San Jose Blvd. Jacksonville, FL 32223.

–

Beatrice Austin 

Of Peabody, formerly of East Boston

Beatrice F. (Laidlaw) Austin, of Peabody, formerly of East Boston, died on October 6. She was 91 years old.

She was the beloved wife of the late Michael J. Austin Sr., mother of Beatrice Leo and her husband, Donald of Florida, Judith Santoro and her husband, Richard of Winthrop, Patti Maruzzi and her husband, Steve of Peabody and the late Michael J. Austin Jr.; beloved Nana of Alyssa and Meghan Santoro, Steven and Michael Maruzzi and Lisa Austin; sister of Mildred Walsh of Bellingham and the late Frederick, Walter and Irene Laidlaw, Loretta and Lillian Bottelson and Gladys McGrath She is also survived by four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Magrath Funeral Home, East Boston. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations in her memory to Hospice of the North Shore & Greater Boston, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers 01923 would be appreciated.. MagrathFuneralHome.com.

–

George Chicos 

Longtime Employee of Family Business, Chicos Variety

George C. Chicos of Boston, formerly of Winthrop, died at the East Pointe Nursing Home in Chelsea on October 4. He was 56 years old.

He was employed in the family business, Chicos Variety, as a clerk for many years.

He was the beloved son of the late Ochi J. and Marie L. (Wheaton) Chicos; dear brother of James A. Chicos and Marie (Terry) Chase, Charles T. Chicos and his wife, Barbara, and Joanne M. Gampel and her husband, Alan, all of Winthrop. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section). Donations in his name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, MA, 01701. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

–

Edith Alpert 

Chelsea resident

Edith Alpert of Chelsea, formerly of Swampscott and Winthrop, died October 5.

She was the beloved wife of the late Abraham Alpert; devoted mother of Ronna Greif of Salem and mother-in-law of the late Harvey Greif; loving sister of Charles Gilman of Lynn and the late Arthur Gilman; cherished grandmother of Richard and Katherine Greif of Wakefield and great-grandmother of Noah and Luke Greif.

Graveside services were held at the Ahavas Achim Anshai Sfard Cemetery, Lynn. Expressions of sympathy in her memory may be donated to the Alzheimers Foundation, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. Arrangements by the Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel, Salem.

–

Kenneth Gilbert, Jr. 

Of New Hampshire, formerly of Winthrop 

Kenneth J. Gilbert, Jr. of Wolfeboro, NH, beloved husband of Ellen (Cash) Gilbert, died on October 4 after a protracted illness at Wolfeboro Bay Care & Rehab in Wolfeboro, NH. He was 74 years old.

He was born in Winthrop on April 12, 1937, oldest son of the late Kenneth J. Gilbert and Rita (Cunning) Gilbert of Winthrop. He was a graduate of Winthrop High School and Northeastern University. He served in the US Army Signal Corps, earned the rank of 2nd Lieutenant and served in the South Pacific and Saigon until he was honorably discharged in 1962.

A dedicated husband, he was married to Ellen for 49 years, and raised their four children in Gloucester where he worked at Gorton’s of Gloucester in logistics. He continued his logistics career with Superior Brands of Boston and Quincy.

He was also dedicated to service and was a member of the Magnolia Lions Club and served on the church council of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Magnolia and St. Ann’s Parish. He was a regular cook on the Chuck Wagon of St. Joe’s Church Fair in Magnolia, and for spaghetti suppers at Magnolia Library.

In 1994, he and Ellen moved to New Hampshire where they owned and operated the NAPA Auto Parts store in Kingston. They settled in Rochester and joined the Holy Rosary Parish.

He is survived by his loving wife, Ellen; his brothers, Richard and his wife, Grace of Diamond Point, NY, Kevin and his wife, Kathy of Harrison, ME; his son Kenneth J. Gilbert III and his wife, Kathleen of Alton Bay, NH; his daughters, Lisa Primm and husband, Michael Primm of Austin, TX, Sharon Gilbert of Medford, MA and Suzanne Gilbert of Rockport, MA, and also four grandchildren, Kenneth J. Gilbert IV and Katelyn Gilbert of Alton and Samantha and Sean Primm of Austin, TX. Ken was the brother of the late Keith Gilvert of Winchendon and father-in-law of the late George (Aries) Cercone of Medford.

Services were held at Holy Rosary Church in Rochester with burial at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen, NH. Arrangements were by the H.J. Grondin & Son Funeral Home, Rochester, NH. To sign his on-line guest book, please visit www.GrondinFuneralHome.com.

–

Daren D’Amico-White 

Winthrop resident

Karen P. D’Amico-White of Winthrop, formerly of East Boston, died on October 3.

The beloved mother of Lisa and Robert D’Amico of Winthrop, she was the former wife of Robert D’Amico of New Hampshire and most loving grandmother of Skyla Marie.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere. For guest book: www.vazzafunerals.com.