Obituaries 10-31-2024

Colin J. Cash

He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, integrity, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of life

Colin J. Cash, a cherished member of the Winthrop community, passed away on October 27, 2024, at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was born in Medford to the late Kathleen (Hurley) and Daniel Cash and he spent his life in Winthrop, a town he held dear to his heart.

Colin graduated from Winthrop High School in 1959 before bravely enlisting in the US Navy, where he proudly served until his honorable discharge. Following his service, Colin established Atlantic Equipment in Revere, where he contributed to the local business community.

His dedication extended beyond work, as evidenced by his active involvement in the Knights of Columbus and his lifelong membership in the Winthrop Yacht Club. Colin found joy in simple pleasures, such as baseball games and bird watching, as well as the tranquility of living by the ocean.

A true equestrian, Colin shared his passion with his daughter and was a valued member of the American Horse Show Association. His love for horses reflected his gentle and caring nature.

Colin J. Cash will be remembered for his kindness, his commitment to his community, and his unwavering love for his family. He leaves behind a legacy of hard work, integrity, and a deep appreciation for the beauty of life. May he sail on peaceful seas and rest in eternal serenity.

He was the devoted husband of Jeanne C. (Hines) and the loving father of Jeanine Cash and her fiancé, Eric Rapchuck and Colin Cash and his wife, Margaret; dear brother of Peggy Riley and her husband, Leonard and the late Tom, Danny, Buddy and Eddie Cash and cherished grandfather of Courtney, Ethan, Aidan, Nicholas, Gabby and Isabella.

Family and friends are cordially invited to attend the visitation from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Friday, November 1 from 4 to 8 p,m. The funeral will be conducted from the funeral home on Saturday, November 2 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church, 320 Winthrop St., Winthrop at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with the interment in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery.

To sign the online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

Shawn Daniel Stairs, Sr.

Nothing will ever fill the void of his loss

Shawn Daniel Stairs, Sr., 47, passed unexpectedly on September 4, 2024.

The son of Roberta (Coakley) Stairs and the late Eugene B. Stairs, Sr., he is survived by his daughter, Victoria (Stairs) King and her husband, Andrew and grandchildren: Holden, Palmer and Willa and his son, Shawn Stairs Jr. and siblings: Jesse Stairs, Elaine Stairs, Christine Rutina, Gene Stairs, Kelly Stairs, Shannon Stairs-Eaves, Caitlin Stairs, Meghan Mailloux and Colleen Samayoa. He was predeceased by his sister, Jillian Stairs and his brother, Patrick Stairs. He also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and close friends.

Shawn was born in East Boston on September 18, 1976 and he often referred to himself as a bicentennial baby as if he were talking about an action character.  As a young boy, his parents moved to Revere and relocated to Winthrop when he was a teen, where he remained living for more than a decade.

Growing up, he excelled at sports but, much to his dismay, his dream of being a professional soccer player never came true. Known for his mischievous personality, wicked smirk, and devilish smile, he had a special charm that captivated others. Those who knew his soul, understood best that he could be a stubborn wild man, who overindulged in life at times, but at his core he was a caring, intelligent, sensitive human being who was frequently teased by his siblings for being a secret mamma’s boy.

Shawn became a dad at a young age which was one of the most exciting blessings of his life. Despite challenges along the way, he created bonds with his children that could withstand any storm, an unconditional love that never wavered. Moreover, he had the joy of becoming a grandad in his early 40’s, although his white hair and achy joints would suggest otherwise.  Additionally, anyone that knew him, knew, he loved animals and almost always had a dog at home.

His initial passion was in culinary arts which he was fortunate enough to secure several fulfilling jobs in that field over many years. Having a clean and organized kitchen with the best knives was something that stuck with him throughout his life. He took other career paths since then but always very much enjoyed cooking, especially for others.

Shawn also possessed an innate ability to learn just about anything he set his mind to, regularly teaching himself new things that, eventually, he could do remarkably well.

Much of his adult life was spent moving around, most importantly living with his young family in Georgia for several years before ultimately ending up in southern Florida where he resided the last few years and met his wife, Amelia. After being away from New England for quite some time, he lost his tolerance for the cold and the mere thought of visiting would induce a shiver. One of his most favorite places to be was at the beach because he loved the sun and ocean. He found it particularly entertaining to flaunt his year round tan in the family group chat. Aside from his fondness for the beach, he really enjoyed hitting the gym to work out as much as possible.

Shawn was also a self-described adrenaline junkie who was always seeking the next thrill, from sky diving to rocking out at Woodstock ‘99 to 4-wheeling with his son to being covered by the lingering smell of burnt rubber after racing his buddy’s car down Shore Drive to tearing things up with the heaviest weights he could lift at the gym to adding new ink to the little bit of open space he had left on his body, and so on.

Shawn was so very proud of his kids and he loved them more than he could ever express in his lifetime. Some of their most nostalgic memories are of him playing baseball with his son and watching his daughter dominate the lacrosse field and any of the many activities they did outdoors together. His family will forever miss his calls and visits that usually started off with “what’s up ugly” followed by his silly laugh. Nothing will ever fill the void of his loss but there can be some solace found in the thought that he may be at rest with his dad, sister, brother, cherished uncle, Danny and niece, Michaela.

Services will be private but the family invites all to join them to celebrate Shawn’s life at Pleasant Park Yacht Club, 562 Pleasant St., Winthrop, on November 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Light food and refreshments will be available.

To sign the online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

Marie Monteleone

Her kindness, humor and zest for life leave a lasting legacy

Marie Monteleone of Winthrop, a beloved daughter, wife, friend, and community member, passed away on October 24, 2024.

She was born in Boston on September 16, 1945, to the late Vincenza “Frances” (Foti) and Joseph Amentola. Marie was a resident of Winthrop since 1965.

She was a dedicated worker who stood alongside her husband at Curtains Plus, showcasing her strong work ethic and commitment to their business. She also lent her talents to the Metropolitan Credit Union, where she made a lasting impact on colleagues and clients alike.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Marie found joy in various hobbies and social activities. She had a passion for reading the bible, dancing, playing cards, and bowling, where her vibrant spirit shone through. Her Thursday night club with the girls was a cherished tradition that brought her laughter and camaraderie.

Marie Monteleone will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. Her kindness, humor, and zest for life leave a lasting legacy that will be fondly remembered by her family, friends, and community. Rest in peace, Marie. Your memory will forever live on in our hearts.

She was the devoted wife of the late Frank Monteleone and the loving mother of Lisa Ferrara and her husband, Frank, Frank Monteleone and his wife, Kathy, Joey Monteleone and his wife, Courtney and Gina Edgett and her husband, Billy; dear sister of the late Ralph, Vincent and Joseph Amentola; cherished grandmother of Nicole and her fiancé, Taylor, Janelle and her husband, Chris, Giana and her husband, Ricky, Frank and his fiancé, Flora, Genna and Joe, Talia, Ella, Kaitlyn, Nolan, Sloane and Piper and great grandmother of Emmanuel.

The funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Services concluded with the interment in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery.

To sign the online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

Kathleen MacLean

Known for her unwavering work ethic, strong family values and quick wit

Kathleen (Sweeney) MacLean, born on July 27, 1931, in Newton, Massachusetts passed away peacefully on October 15, 2024 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. She was 93 years old. Kathleen was a beloved member of the community, known for her unwavering work ethic, strong family values, and quick wit.

After spending years in Jamaica Plain and Somerville, Kathleen settled in Winthrop in 1985 where she touched the lives of many as a hostess and waitress at the Winthrop Arms and Joseph’s Aquarium. Her dedication to her work and her customers left a lasting impression on all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Kathleen was not only admired for her professional demeanor but also for her advocacy of women’s rights, particularly in promoting voting rights. Her sassy personality and quick wit brought joy and laughter to those around her making her a cherished friend to many.

In her moments of relaxation, Kathleen found solace in simple pleasures like enjoying a bowl of vanilla ice cream, watching Family Feud with her grandchildren Max, Ella and Christina, and sun tanning. Her love for these small indulgences reflected her appreciation for the little joys in life.

Kathleen MacLean will be deeply missed by her family, friends and all who had the privilege of crossing paths with her during her remarkable life. May her memory be a blessing and may her legacy of hard work, laughter and advocacy continue to inspire us all.

Rest in Peace, Kathleen MacLean. You will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

She was the beloved wife of the late Malcolm E. MacLean and the loving mother of Deborah Laham and her late husband, Gregory of Westwood, Jean Pontikas and her late husband, Nicholas of Winthrop, Malcolm E. MacLean, Jr. and his wife, Barbara of Walpole, Daniel T. MacLean and his fiancé, Claudia of California, Linda A. Horblit and her husband, Brian of Winthrop, Christina MacLean of Winthrop and the late John R. MacLean; dear sister of the late Marguerite Gilmore, Alfred, Robert and Edward Sweeney and sister-in-law of Ann Sweeney. She is also survived by 11 grandchildren, four great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.

The funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Saturday, October 19, 2024 followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Services concluded with the interment in the Belle Isle section of Winthrop Cemetery.

To sign the online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

Joseph Pergola

Retired Letter Carrier and member of Winthrop Lodge of Elks

Joseph S. Pergola, a cherished member of the Winthrop community, passed away peacefully at his home on October 25th. He was born in Boston to Petrina (Salvaggio) and Phillip Pergola and has been a resident of Winthrop since 1979.

Joseph served his country with honor and dedication, spending two years in the US Army and achieved the rank of Private First Class. After his honorable discharge, he continued his service by working as a dedicated letter carrier for the United States Postal Service. He was also a member of the Winthrop Lodge of Elks.

May he rest in peace.

He was the devoted husband of Kathleen (Buonopane) and the loving father of Joseph Pergola of Winthrop and Donna Botte and her husband, Ernie of Wilmington; dear brother of Nina Giacchino and cherished grandfather of Matthew, Nicole and Erin.

The funeral was conducted from the Caggiano-O’Maley-Frazier Funeral Home, Winthrop on Tuesday, October 29 followed by a Funeral Mass in St. John the Evangelist Church. Services concluded with the interment in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.

To sign the online guestbook, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

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