Obituaries 05-17-2012

Rita Leach 

Pianist and New England Conservatory Graduate

Rita M. Leach, a 12 year resident of Winthrop and a former lifelong resident of Revere, died at her Winthrop home following a long illness on May 8. She was 92 years old.

Born and raised in East Boston, she came to live in Revere as a young girl, graduated with High Honors from Revere High School, Class of 1938 and was invited to enroll in the prestigious New England Conservatory of Music in Boston where she graduated with honors in piano. For many many years, she played privately for social gatherings, political functions, weddings, funerals, etc. She had the personality of a true entertainer, vivacious, attractive and outgoing.  While a student at the New England Conservatory of Music, she worked for the former rather upscale Thompson’s Spa of the Back Bay where she met many celebrities and politicians. She was the Head Hostess at both Thompson’s Spa and at the Boston to New York Railroad Executive Dining Car.

Her music career was close to her heart and, in spite of failing health for more than 17 years, she played the piano almost daily.

She was the widow of Revere Police Sergeant Edward B. Leach who died in September of 1966; the cherished mother of Katherine C. “Cindy” Leach of Winthrop, her devoted caregiver for the past 17 years, Candace L. “Candy” Pippi and her husband, Frank C. Pioppi of Winthrop, Kevin and Daniel Leach of Boston and the late Attorney Edward J. Leach, who was also a former Revere Patrolman. She was the devoted grandmother to Jason E. Leach of Reading, Edward G. Leach of Georgetown and Juustin F. and James E. Pioppi, both of Winthrop; sister of the late Dr. Denis O’Reilly, Charles O’Reilly and Eileen Gibbon; dear aunt of Faith O’Reilly of France, Gerard Gibbon of England, Paul O’Reilly and his wife, Linda, Denise Hurley and her husband, Owen, all of Salem, NH and Michael O’Reilly of Revere.

Funeral arrangements were by the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Inc., Revere. Burial was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Cemetery, West Peabody. Remembrances may be made to your favorite charity. For more information, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com

Jean Brenna 

Registered Nurse

Jean E. (Grimes) Brenna of Winthrop died at the Massachusetts General Hospital on May 8.

Prior to her retirement, Mrs. Brenna was employed as a Registered Nurse at the New England Memorial Hospital. She was also a member of the Massachusetts Nursing Association.

The beloved wife of the late Theodore L. Brenna, she was born in Gloucester, the daughter of the late William H. and Mildred (Parks) Grimes; devoted mother of Beth B. (Brenna) Phillips and her husband, James of Winthrop and the late Beverly Brenna-Morello; dear sister of the late Barbara Starratt; adored grandmother of Jonathan Morello, Martine Schaeffer, and James Phillips and great-grandmother of Emily Schaeffer. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Her Funeral will be held from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop  on Saturday, May 19 at 9 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be held in the Holy Rosary Church-Winthrop, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial will be in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section). Visiting hours are Friday only from 4 to 8 p.m. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

John Creedon 

Member of Winthrop Yacht Club and Cottage Park Yacht Club 

John J. Creedon of Winthrop died in Falmouth, Maine on May 12. He was 89 years old.

A graduate of Winthrop High School, Class of 1940 and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he was a life member of the Winthrop Yacht Club and a member of the Cottage Park Yacht Club. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a machinist in the U. S. Navy Yard in Charlestown and later went on to work for Gillette Corp.

The beloved husband of Alice M. (Frazer) Creedon, he was born in Winthrop, the son of the late Jeremiah and Hanora (Sullivan) Creedon. He was the devoted father of Patricia M. Creedon-Scott of Falmouth, ME., John P. Creedon of Fallbrook, CA, Mary A. O’Brien and her husband, Thomas of Hull and Kathleen E. Eidelberg and her husband, Andrew of Sharon; dear brother of Anne McCarthy of California and the late James Creedon. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

His Funeral will be held from the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St.,  Winthrop on Friday, May 18 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St John the Evangelist Church at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Winthrop Cemetery. Visiting hours are today, Thursday only, from 4 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center, One Joslin Pl., Boston, MA 02215. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Stacee Goldstein 

Real Estate Agent 

Stacee L. Goldstein of Winthrop, formerly of Saugus, died suddenly on May 9. She was 39 years old.

A graduate of Saugus High School and Simmons College in Boston, she was a real estate agent employed by Coleman Real Estate

She was the beloved wife of Craig P. Nolan. Born in Boston, she was the cherished daughter of Elaine S. (Willard) Gold of Saugus and her late husband, Dr. Benjamin Goldstein of East Boston; dear sister of Jeff Scott of Boxford; adored aunt of Sophia and Joshua Scott of Boxford; step-mother of Craig A. Nolan of Marblehead and is also survived by many other relatives and friends.

Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop.  Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section). For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com

Grace Nugent 

Retired Legal Secretary 

Grace M. (Bucci) Nugent of Winthrop died at the Lighthouse Nursing Care Center in Revere on May 11. She was 88 years old.

A legal secretary for Sugarman and Sugarman Law Firm prior to her retirement, she was the beloved wife of the late Terrence J. Nugent. She was born in Boston, the daughter of the late James and Anna (Grant) Bucci; devoted mother of Kathleen Vita and her husband, Joseph, Dede Hayes and her husband, Dennis, Patricia Gadsby and her husband, Raymond, all of Winthrop, and Terrence Nugent and his wife, Susan of Whitinsville, MA; dear sister of Mary Williams of Winthrop and the late Frances Gilleo, Vincent Bucci, and Charles Grant; adored grandmother of Matthew, John, Christine, Stephanie, Joseph, Terrence, Benjamin, Alex, Elayna, and Maria and great-grandmother of Amberclaire. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. Donations can be made to My Brothers Table, Attn. Donations, 98 Willow St. Lynn, MA, 01901, or to St. John the Evangelist Church 320 Winthrop St. Winthrop, MA, 02152. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

John Warmbold 

Travel Agent 

John Warmbold of Winthrop and East Boston died at his home on May 13 after a courageous battle with cancer. He was 63 years old.

A travel agent who graduated with a BA from Trinity College in Hartford, CT, he was born in Oak Park, IL. the cherished son of the late John and Priscilla (Christiansen) Warmbold. He was the devoted father of Katherine Roberts and her husband, Joshua of Waterbury, CT. and Lauren Warmbold and Jacqueline Warmbold, both of Winthrop; former husband and friend of Andrea (Nygaard) Warmbold of Winthrop; dear brother of David Warmbold and his wife, Sheryl of Collierville, TN and Nancy Zamor and her husband, Robert of Libertyville, IL.

A Memorial Service will be held at a time and date to be announced in the near future. Donations in his memory can be made to the City-Wide Friends of the Boston Public Library P.O. Box 286, Boston, MA. 02117. Funeral arrangements are by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Louise Canessa 

Past President of Revere Women’s Club, Known on Elite Boston Stage as ‘Louise Jordan’

Louise Lois (Neily) Canessa of Revere died on May 12 following a brief illness at the Chelsea Skilled Nursing and Rehab. Center. She 98 years old.

Mrs. Canessa, also known professionally as “Louise Jordan,” was born in Winthrop and was a lifelong resident of Revere, a graduate of Revere High School, Class of 1931 and an alumna of Emerson College, Class of 1936. She pursued a career as an actress and impersonator in Boston during the late 1930’s through 1950 performing at concert halls and other venues under the professional name of “Louise Jordan.” She appeared on stage at the Colonial, Shubert and Wilbur Theaters in Boston. As her reviews stated, “Her commanding stage presence will interest the most particular audience.”

After leaving the theatre, she married the late Joseph D. Canessa, who died in September of 1969.

Mrs. Canessa hailed from one of Revere’s oldest families, The Neily family. Her late parents, George and Sarah J. (McDonald) Neily owned and operated “George M. Neily Insurance,” later known as the Revere Insurance Agency of North Shore Road.

She also had a long career of more than 30 years with General Electric Corp. of Lynn in managerial and supervisory positions. Mrs. Canessa was also a Past President and a member of the Revere Women’s Club.

She leaves three cousins, Charlotte Cuneo of Quincy and Sandra and Walter MacDonald of Boston and is also lovingly survived by her devoted caregivers, Linda M. O’Hara and her family of Revere.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. Burial at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. For more information and directions, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com

Angelo ‘Skipper’ Faro 

Member of Winthrop Elks and Winthrop Seniors 

Angelo “Skipper” Faro of East Boston died on May 12.

Mr. Faro was a US Navy veteran of World War II, a member of the Winthrop Elks, Courageous Generation of St Lazarus Parish, member of the Beachmont VFW and the Winthrop Seniors.

He was the beloved husband of Lillian (Famolare) Faro; devoted father of Joan, Domenic and his wife, Diane, John and his wife, Donna Faro; dear brother of Santo Faro of Winthrop and the late Winnie Paci, Carmella Sicuso and Joann Battista; adored grandfather of Nicole, David, Richard, Gregory and Jamie and adored great grandfather of Chloe, Eli and Claire. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home (Orient Heights) East Boston. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. For more information or to send the Faro family an online condolence, visit: www.ruggieromh.com

Virginia Goodwin 

Past President Ladies Auxiliary VFW, former Revere Crossing Guard 

Virginia G. (Higgins) Goodwin died in Revere following a long illness. She was 81years old.

She was the Past President of Ladies’ Auxiliary- VFW Post 6712, a retiree of Honeywell Corp. and the VA Administration  and a former Crossing Guard for City of Revere.

The wife of the late Henry R. “Doug” Goodwin, she was the devoted mother of Paulette L. Trumbley and her fiance, Todd J. DeCost of Winthrop; twin sister of the late Catherine M. Poelaert; beloved aunt of Karen E. Swain and her husband, Frederick and Robert F. Poelaert and his wife, Carol, all of Bellingham, MA; dear grandaunt of Kelly E., Kayla M., Kristen T. and Bradley O. Swain and Thomas J. Poelaert, all of Bellingham.

Funeral arrangements were by the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. Burial was in Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. For more information, visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com

John DeVirgilio 

Founder of Accardi Foods 

John A. DeVirgilio of Medford, formerly of Everett, died peacefully on May 7.

Born and raised in the Roslindale section of Boston, he was a dedicated husband, father and grandfather, who operated and built Accardi Foods, a small imported food business into New England’s largest distributor of Italian food products now located in Medford.

He was the beloved husband of the late Mary L. (Accardi) with whom he shared 68 years of marriage; devoted father of Marie Cooke and her husband, Richard of Wakefield, Joanne Jaffe and her husband, Haskell of Winthrop, Anthony J. DeVirgilio and his wife, Bernadette of Medford and John DeVirgilio and his wife, Beverly of Stoneham. He is also survived by seven loving grandchildren and four loving great grandchildren. He was the brother of Anna Hayes of Roslindale and the late Mary DeVirgilio.

Arrangements were by the Dello Russo Family Funeral Homes, Medford- Woburn – Wilmington. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. It has been requested that expressions of sympathy be sent in his memory to the Leonard Florence Center for Living, 165 Captains Row, Chelsea, MA 02150. To leave a message of condolence: dellorusso.net

Liberatore ‘Pete’ Mattarese 

US Navy veteran 

Liberatore “Pete” Mattarese died on May 7.

A US Navy veteran of World War II, he was the devoted father of Peter, Michele, Paul and Joseph Mattarese, all of East Boston; former husband of the late June Rose Bartolo of East Boston; dear brother of Gelsimina Lupoli of Winthrop, Angela Marks of New Hampshire and the late James, Joseph, Anthony and Vito Mattarese; cherished grandfather of Peter Jr., Bianca Alexandra, Paul Jr., and Tayla and adored great grandfather of Mila. He is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston. Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham 01701, To send online condolences or for more information: www.ruggieromh.com

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