Obituaries 07-03-2012

Helen Murray 

Longtime Winthrop Resident 

Helen M. (Sullivan) Murray of Winthrop died peacefully on June 27 surrounded by her loving family. She was 95 years old.

Born on June 17, 1917 in South Boston, she was raised in Wayland as the oldest of six sisters. During World War II, she worked in the Boston Navy Yard and soon after married the love of her life, World War II Army Veteran Joseph J. Murray. The young couple settled in Winthrop, where Helen lived for the remainder of her life.

Despite being widowed at a young age, she was gracefully devoted to raising her three children. She embodied a gentle, comforting strength that served as a constant for her loved ones. Her life’s true joy was being surrounded by her family, which grew to include six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. She is remembered for being a good listener who enjoyed reading, walking, and regular visits to the library.

She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph J. Murray; daughter of the late Jeremiah Sullivan and the late Nora (Cronin) Sullivan; devoted mother of the late Joyce Spataro and her husband, Ronald, Dennis Murray and his wife, Gina, Susanne (Murray) Connolly and her husband, Kevin, all of Winthrop; adored grandmother of Robyn (Mason) Welsh and her husband, Michael, Dennis J. Murray and his wife, Sarah, Joseph Murray and his wife, Zoraida, Matthew Murray, Tara (Connolly) D’Onofrio and her husband, Daniel, and Colette Connolly; dear great-grandmother of Sophie and Thomas Murray. Funeral arrangements were by the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, Winthrop. Burial was in Winthrop Cemetery. Donations in her name may be made to the Hallmark Hospice Health Hospice Inc., Office of the Executive Director, 178 Savin St., Suite 300, Malden, MA 02148. For guestbook, go to www.mauricekirbyfh.com.

Pamela Joy Matoba

Of New Hampshire, formerly of Winthrop

Pamela Joy (Davis) Matoba of Concord, New Hampshire died June 27, 2012 after a sudden illness. She was 53 years old.

Born on July 19, 1958 in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Alvin “Pinky” Davis and Eleanor (Cadigan) (Davis) Swartz of Florida. She grew up and attended schools in Winthrop, raised her family in East Boston and moved to Concord, NH in the mid 1990’s.

She adored her children and grandchildren, was an avid reader, loved nature, flowers, animals, and playing bingo, scrabble and cards.

She leaves three children: Sean Hunter, Derek Hunter and Kimberly Polsonetti Campbell; two grandchildren, Jonathan and Michael Hunter; three sisters, Judy Doyle, Rona Swartz and Jo-El Swartz; nieces and nephews, Timmy, Danny and Christy Doyle and Joshua Duff. She was the niece of Helen Cadigan, Mary Hodgkins, Patricia Cadigan, Joan Cadigan, the late John Cadigan and Ann Marie Cadigan and cousin of Lisa, Susan and Karen..

The Petit Funeral Home of Pembroke, NH assisted with services. For on-line guestbook: www.petitfuneralhome.com.

Frank Megna, Jr. 

Avid Mororcycle and Auto Enthusiast, Member of Elks and Amvets 

Frank F. Megna, Mr. of Winthrop died suddenly on June 27. He was 72 years old.

Born in Boston, he attended Boston Schools and graduated from East Boston High School, Class of 1958. An avid motorcycle and auto enthusiast, he worked most of his life as an autobody man in many of the autobody shops in East Boston, Chelsea and Winthrop. He was a member of the Winthrop Lodge of Elks #1078 and the Winthrop Amvets Post 48.

He was the dear son of the late Frank Sr. and Grace Megna and husband of Rosemarie (Tate); devoted father of Gracemarie Megna of Marlborough, Frederick and his wife, Jackie of Arizona and Michael and his wife, Kathy of Marlborough and is also survived by two brothers, Richard and Robert Megna of East Boston. He was the brother of the late Anthony Megna and the loving fiancé of Sharon Belger of Winthrop. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A memorial visitation will be held at the Joseph R. Frazier Funeral Home, 174 Winthrop St., Winthrop, today, Tuesday, July 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. An Elks service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be donated to the N.E. Center for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108.

Paul Salerno 

Auto Accident Victim 

Paul Salerno of East Boston died unexpectedly in an automobile accident on June 26. He was 51 years old.

The loving son of Peter P. and the late Mary C (Granese) Salerno of East Boston, he was the dear brother of Mary R. Salerno, Patricia A. Grifoni and her husband, Donald, all of East Boston and Christine M. Nano and her husband, Robert “Bobby” of Saugus; father of Tina Marie Salerno of Winthrop; cherished nephew of Roderick Granese and his wife, Bernice of New Hampshire and is also survived by many adored nieces and nephews.

In accordance with the wishes of the Salerno Family, funeral services and burial were private. To honor his memory, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 9 Riverside Road, Weston 02493. Arrangements were under the personal care of the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, East Boston. For more information or to send an online condolence, visit: www.ruggieromh.com

John ‘Bro Sasso’ Sasso 

Former co-owner of Bro-Lens Service Station, member of Winthrop Elks 

John T. “Bro Sasso” Sasso of Everett, formerly East Boston, died on June 27.

A US Navy veteran of World War II, he was a member of Winthrop Elks and former co-owner of Bro-Lens Service Station.

He was the beloved husband of Geraldine “Geri” (Falzone) Sasso with whom he shared 54 years of marriage; loving brother of Jean Skalecki and her husband, Mitchell of Hamilton and the fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.

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

Marie Rose Dans 

Analog Retiree 

Marie Rose (Drockmans) Dans of Winthrop died June 29 at the East Point Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Chelsea. She was 87 years old.

Born in Seraing, Belgium, the loving daughter of the late Marguerite (Henry) and Alexis Drockmans, she came to this country at an early age living in Pittsburg prior to moving to Winthrop more than 50 years ago. Prior to her retirement she was employed as a quality control inspector at Anolog Devices.

She was the beloved wife of the late Emile Dans, devoted mother of Yvette V. Dans of Winthrop and dear friend of Christopher Tsiotis and family of Winthrop.

Her Funeral will be held from the Ernest P. Caggiano & Son – O’Maley Funeral Home, 147 Winthrop St., Winthrop today, Tuesday at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited. Burial will be in Winthrop Cemetery. For directions and online guest book go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com

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