Joseph Kevin Kearns
Retiree of Winthrop DPW and Pipe Fitters Union
Joseph Kevin Kearns of Winthrop passed away suddenly on Nov. 8. He was 68 years old.
Born in Winthrop, the son of the late Robert J. and Marie L. (DiBiase) Kearns, Kevin, as he was affectionately known, was a U.S. Army Veteran who served in the Vietnam War from 1971 to 1973. Prior to his retirement, he was working for the Pipe Fitters Union-Local 6. Kevin also worked for the Town of Winthrop DPW.
Kevin was the devoted father of the late Joseph A. Kearns, dear brother of Daniel J. Kearns and his wife, Deborah of Winthrop, Kathleen M. D’Ambrosio and her late husband, Thomas of Reading, Teresa A. Holland and her husband, David of Rutland and Robert J. Kearns of Nashua, N.H. He was also survived by several nieces, nephews and great nephews.
Visiting hours will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop today, Thursday, Nov. 14 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Service in the funeral home beginning at 11:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Interment will follow in Winthrop Cemetery (Belle Isle Section). In lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Viking Pride Foundation, Inc. PO Box 520037, Winthrop, MA. 02152.
For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
Nina Viscio
Of Winthrop
Nina (Pastore) Viscio of Winthrop passed away peacefully on Nov. 10 surrounded by her loving family.
She was the devoted mother of Denise Viscio and Christopher Viscio and his wife, Jennifer, all of Winthrop and the late Carolyn Viscio; dear sister of Paul Pastore and Hope Pastore and cherished grandmother of Christopher and Adrianna.
She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Family and friends will honor Nina’s life by gathering at Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel, Elm St., Everett for a 1 p.m. Memorial Service on Monday, Nov. 18 at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett in celebration of Nina’s life.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Fund at the Dana Farber Cancer Research Center 10 Brookline Place, West Sixth floor, Brookline MA 02445 or the American Alzheimer’s Association. For more information, visit ruggieromh.com
Thomas Hickey, Jr.
Retired Commission Broker
Services and interment were held for Thomas F. Hickey, Jr., who died on Sunday, Oct. 13 following a long illness at the Don Orione Nursing Home in East Boston.
Born and raised in East Boston, he graduated from Boston English High School, Class of 1954.
Thomas spent most of his working career as a commission broker. He lived in Las Vegas, Nev., for many years, before returning to Boston and living in Winthrop for over 20 years.
He was the beloved son of the late Thomas F. Hickey Sr. and Helene Jeannette (Buckley) Hickey; the cherished brother of Charles E. Hickey and his wife, Pamela of Saugus and the late Francis P. Hickey and his late wife, Jan of Morrow, Georgia. He is also lovingly survived by many cousins, by the Hurley Family of Crest Ave in Beachmont, Revere and by many nieces and nephews.
Remembrances may be made to the N.E. Center & Home for Veterans, P.O. Box 845257, Boston, MA 02284-5257. For more information, please visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.
Edithanne Hoppe
Longtime Winthrop Resident
Edithanne (Joyce) Hoppe, a resident of Winthrop for nearly 60 years, passed away peacefully on Nov. 1 at the West Revere Health Center after a long illness. She was 81 years old.
Edithanne was a Winthrop High School graduate where she very much enjoyed being a drum majorette for the high school marching band. After graduation, she went on to work in Boston for many successful years.
Edithanne leaves behind her three children, Carole Priddle and her husband, David of Pepperell, Robert J. Hoppe of Ft. Myers, Fla., and Steven A. Hoppe and his wife, Lisa (Laurano) of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She had the pleasure of having four grandchildren: David, Burt and Carl Priddle and Rob Garon. She also had one great-grandchild, Camryn Priddle and also leaves behind her sister, Margaret Wobbema of North Dakota.
A visiting hour will be held in the Maurice W. Kirby Funeral Home, 210 Winthrop St., Winthrop, on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 11 a.m. to noon followed by a Memorial Service to take place in the funeral home beginning at noon. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Interment will follow in Winthrop Cemetery. For guestbook, please visit: www.mauricekirbyfh.com.
Rita Pizzi
Woman of Deep Faith
Rita M. (Kirk) Pizzi, 87, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Don Orione Home, East Boston.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. John the Evangelist Church, Winthrop. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.
Rita was a lifelong resident of East Boston, a member of the Star of the Sea Parish and St. Mary’s graduating class of 1950. On Nov. 11, 1951, Rita married her only love, Thomas “Johnny†Pizzi at Star of the Sea. In the years to follow, she was blessed to be the mother of five children. It was very important that she raised her children with a strong faith in God and to have a Catholic education.
Rita was a dedicated mother and wife. She was very involved in school activities, a den mother in the Cub Scouts and proud to drive the East Boston High Cheerleaders in the Columbus Day Parades.
Rita was a mother who led by example and her children were very proud of her. Rita’s faith was paramount and she demonstrated it daily. She was an active parishioner at Star of the Sea Parish. In later years, she became a devotee of the Most Holy Redeemer Parish in East Boston and St. John the Evangelist in Winthrop.
Prayer was as important to Rita as taking a breath. Rita would always greet you with a warm embrace promising her prayers for you, truly a woman of God. Her deep faith allowed her to have peace in any situation, because she believed in the power of prayer.
After her children were grown, she began a working career at Boston Logan International Airport. Rita loved to cook for holidays and special occasions. She truly enjoyed knitting and crocheting beautiful afghans, quilts, hats and scarves for winter and often gave them as gifts. Rita always cherished every family gathering with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She was the devoted wife of 52 years to the late Thomas J. “Johnny†Pizzi, loving and caring mother of John T. Pizzi and his wife, Glenda of Waltham, Patricia Pizzi Gamble and her husband, Ron of Marlborough, Stephen M. Pizzi and his wife, Karen of Revere, Donna Pizzi Giglio of Winthrop, and Ritamarie Pizzi DiSciscio and her husband, William J. DiSciscio Jr. of Winthrop; adored Nana of Elizabeth, Michelle, Tanya, John Jr., Stephen Jr., Tina Marie, Rayna, Alannah and Nicholas and proud great grandmother of ten great grandchildren; dear sister of the late Ruth O’Brien, Nicholas “James†Kirk, Hazel Fitzpatrick, Earl “Buddy†Kirk, Irene M. Rotondi, Alice E. Oldham, Jean E. Fiatarone and Patrick Kirk.
Donations in Rita’s memory can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105
Arrangements were by the Vertuccio and Smith Home for Funerals, Revere. For additional information, visit: www.vertuccioandsmith.com.