John Roberts
Retired iron worker who loved life; member of Winthrop Elks and Winthrop Yacht Club
John P. aka “Jackie†Roberts of Winthrop, son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle and friend, passed away on May 25 at the age of 77.
He was the devoted father of Donna M. Roberts of Medford, Denise M. (Roberts) O’Connell of Winthrop and their mother, Valerie E. (Allen) LeBlanc; proud “Papa†of Sean O’Connell Jr. Shannon O’Connell and Shelagh O’Connell. Born in Winthrop, the cherished son of the late John and Dorothy (O’Leary) Roberts, he was the dear brother of Nancy Halbich and her husband, Freddy of Burlington, Barbara Brownell and her husband, George of Arizona, George Roberts of Winthrop, William Roberts and his wife, Jeannette of Salem, NH, Dorothy Roberts of Doris, CA, Paul Roberts and his wife, Joyce of Denver, CO and the late Joanie Roberts-Maloney. He was loved by his Godchildren Erin (Roberts) Pontibrain and Matthew Roberts, his many nieces and nephews and his special friend “Magicâ€.
Prior to his retirement, Jackie was employed as a Union Iron Worker for Local #7. He was a member of the Winthrop Yacht Club and a member of the Winthrop Lodge of Elks #1078
Jackie was young at heart and never seemed to age. People would say “you’re how old� He barely had any gray hair even at the age of 77. Jackie had a funny sense of humor. He was always making people laugh. Although he portrayed himself as “rough and tough†he had a sensitive side that was caring, compassionate and loving.
Family was important to him. He spent mostly every day with his daughter, Denise and her children, whether it was watching a college game on TV or just hanging out. He also enjoyed spending time with his siblings – all the parties at the “Fun†house and the many weekends and parties at Billy and Jeanette’s.
Jackie and sports (they kind of go hand-and-hand). He never missed one of his daughter Donna’s games or his grandchildren’s games and practices. He also attended friends of his grandchildren’s games – even when his grandchildren didn’t attend!
Jackie’s biggest passion was Notre Dame. He never missed a game and always wore something that had Notre Dame on it. Years ago he was fortunate enough to meet Lou Holtz, have his picture taken with him and to see the Notre Dame campus. He was so excited
Although Jackie’s passion may have been Notre Dame, his true love was for his daughters, Donna and Denise and his grandchildren, Sean Jr., Shannon and Shelagh. He was a proud Dad and Papa!
Jackie also loved doing so many things especially his “walksâ€. No matter what the weather, you would see him walking the beach. He also loved listening to music on his big speakers and playing softball.
Jackie loved life. Never taking anything for granted, he lived life to the fullest and on his terms. Never looking back, he always lived for today!
Jackie has touched so many lives and he will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known him. He was truly one of kind!
His Funeral will be held from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home 210 Winthrop St. Winthrop, today, Thursday, June 2 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church-Winthrop at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Cremation to follow will be private. Donations in his name can be made to the Viking Pride Foundation Inc. P.O. Box 37, Winthrop, MA, 02152. For guestbook, please visit www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
Go Irish!!!
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Jacqueline DeBonis
Retiree of the Winthrop School Department Administrative Office
Jacqueline J. (Slaney) DeBonis of Winthrop passed away on May 27. She was 76 years old.
Prior to her retirement, Jacqueline was employed by the Town of Winthrop School Dept. in the Administrative Office.
She was the beloved wife of the late of Robert V. DeBonis. Born in Winthrop, the daughter of the late John J. and Mary C. (Dobbins) Slaney, she was the devoted mother of Robert V. DeBonis Jr. and his wife, Melinda of Lynnfield, Michael J. DeBonis and his wife, Elke of Winthrop, Laurie A. Videtta of Swampscott, and Matthew J. DeBonis of Del Ray Beach, FL; adored grandmother of Robert, Jessica, Christina, Mishelle, Matthew, Angela, Jonathon and Julianna; dear sister of Christina McDermott of Sherman, CT. and the late Elizabeth Shannon, Georgia McDonough and John J. and John D. Slaney. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Interment was in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section). Donations in her memory can be made to the Avon39 Walk to End Breast Cancer at www.avon39.org. Click on Donate and type in participant Alicia McDermott or to Relay for Life of Topsfield at www.main.acsevents.org. Click on Donate a Participant and type in Ali Schueler. For guestbook, please visit, www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
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Christine Marie Woods
Of Winthrop
Christine Marie (Pimentel) Woods of Winthrop died on May 16. She was 64 years old.
Christine is survived by her daughters: Jacqueline Sayward and her husband, Anthony of Virginia, Ashley Wilkinson and her husband, Shawn of Maine and Morgan Woods of California; her brothers John Pimentel and his wife, Mary of Swampscott, Kenneth Pimentel and his wife, Nedena of Oklahoma, George Pimentel of California, and her longtime companion, John Morgan of Winthrop. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Betsy Pimentel and her sister, Jacqueline Pimentel.
Services were private. To sign the online guestbook go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.
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Beatrice Lupis
Talented singer, avid reader, and trivia maven
Beatrice I. (Mourao) Lupis of Winthrop, formerly of the North End of Boston and Charlestown, died peacefully on May 31 at the age of 90.
Bea had a beautiful singing voice and with her husband Sal performed the music for many years at both St. Catherine’s Church in Charlestown and St. Mary Star of the Sea Church in East Boston. She loved to travel and was an avid reader. Not letting the fact that she was legally blind stop her from reading 1500 books in four years through Perkins School for the Blind. She was a trivia maven and could answer every jeopardy question.
The beloved wife of the late Salvatore Lupis, Beatrice was the fiercely devoted mother of Elaine Riordon and her husband, John of Braintree, Stephen Lupis of East Boston, John Lupis and his wife, Donna, Maria Sweeney and her partner, Chris Luppi,  all of Winthrop; cherished grandmother of Michele Lupis, John Lupis, Jesse Hancock, Christine Arsenault, Frank Priore, Michael Lupis, Laura Lupis, Erin McMillen, Joseph Riordon, Emily Goff, Jackie Riordon and Tina and Brian Sweeney. She was the treasured great grandmother to 24 and the  dear sister of Jacqueline Lister of New Hampshire and the late Mary Rita, Candida Mourao.
Family and friends will honor Bea’s life by gathering on Thursday June 2 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga St. (Orient Heights) East Boston and again at 8:30 on Friday morning before leaving in procession to St John the Evangelist Church, Winthrop Street, Winthrop for a Funeral Mass celebrating Bea’s life at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with Bea being laid to rest in the Mausolem at Holy Cross Cemetery with her beloved husband. May they both rest in peace. In honoring Beatrice and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to either Perkins School for the Blind, 175 North Beacon St., Watertown 02472 or Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St.  Danvers 01923. For complimentary transportation to the funeral home, please call 617 569 0990. For more information, visit: www.ruggieromh.com.