Phyllis Falzarano
Former Proprietor of Rita’s Flowers
Phyllis A. (Hines) Falzarano of Salem, NH, formerly of Chelsea, died on October 1 at the Parkland Medical Center of Derry, NH. She was 67 years old.
Mrs. Falzarano has lived in Salem, NH for the past eight years after selling the building that housed her business and where she made her home for more than 35 years. She, together, with her late husband, Frank B. “Gypsy Joe” Falzarano, operated Rita’s Flower Shoppe for over 35 years and after her husband’s death in 1989, she ran the shop alone until 2002. (The business was founded in the late 1930’s by Mrs. Falzarano’s late mother-in-law, Rita Falzarano.)
She later worked in several floral shops for the “Stop & Shop” in Newton and in other area stores.
She was an outstanding designer, known especially for her creativity and genius in creating Disneyland characters with flowers. Her expertise, however, did not end there. Animals (dogs, cats, cows) and any other object of art or conversation was a challenge to her gifted artistry. She spent long hours well into the wee hours of the morning to deliver on the promises of her commitments.
She was known to be as generous as she was gifted to the many people who came to her seeking aid and shelter. All of this contributed to a slow decline in her health and forced her to leave the business at an early age. There is not a floral designer in the Greater Boston area who could match her creativity and enthusiasm.
She leaves her children, G. Rita Falzarano and her husband, Melvin Palma Rivera, of Revere, John W. Falzarano of Salem, NH, and Pasquale B. Falzarano of Lynn. She was the cherished grandmother of Nicholas Falzarano of Salem, NH; the dear sister of Corinne M. Comeau of Lancaster, NH, Ronald W. Hines of Mission, TX, Dwight H. Hines of Starke, FL, Francis H. “Chick” Hines of Castaic, CA, Lani Dadmund of Milford, NH, Linda Teague of Canton, MA, Shirley Hines of Braintree, and the late Raymond Hines. She is also lovingly survived by her sisters in law, Lena Buttiglieri of Beverly, Marie “Chickie” Faretra of East Boston, Joanne Dobson of Antioch, CA, Regina Falzarano of Peabody, and the late Rose Ciampolillo and Louise Faretra and by many nieces and nephews.
Burial was held privately in the family lot at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. Remembrances may be made to your favorite charity. Funeral arrangements were by the Vertuccio Home for Funerals, Revere.
Jussara Rosario Gomes-Segundo
Chelsea resident
Jussara Rosario Gomes-Segundo of Chelsea died on October 1.
Burial was at Mt. Hope Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to: Floyd A. Williams Funeral Home 617-436-5592 www.floydawilliamsfuneralhome.com
Mary Mahfuz
Member of BU Alumni Association
Mary B. (McGrath) Mahfuz of Melrose, formerly of Malden, died on October 4. She was 85 years old.
Born in Chelsea on April 14, 1924 to the late James and Nora (Glynn) McGrath, she grew up in Everett. She attended St. Joseph’s Grammer School, graduated from Chevrus High School in Malden and Boston University with a degree in history. She was an active member of The Boston University Alumni Association, an avid reader and was also involved in the many activities at Most Blessed Sacrament Church in Wakefield where she was a member of the Women’s Guild. She was a homemaker who dedicated herself to her husband and six children.
She was the beloved wife of the late Albert Mahfuz; devoted mother of Arthur Mahfuz and his wife, Linda Konnersman, of Boston, James Mahfuz and his wife, Linda Hart, of Chelsea, Geoffrey Mahfuz and his wife, Beverly, of Dracut, Clare Moss and her husband, Stephen, of Brunswick, ME., Alice Brown and her husband, Gary, of Melrose and Mary Schwengel and her husband, Gavin, of Oregon; loving grandma to Justin, Nora, Tristan, Emily, Hanna and Noah. She was the sister of the late Clare Noonan.
Her Funeral will be held from The Carr Funeral Home, 1159 Main St., Melrose today, Thursday, at 9 a.m. followed by her Funeral Mass in The Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St., Wakefield at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, kindly make memorial donations in her name to the Alzheimer’s Association , 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA. 02472. For obituary, directions or to send a condolence, please visit: www.carrfuneral.com.
Lucy Mendonca
Chelsea resident
Lucy (Kashian) Mendonca of Chelsea died on October 6.
The beloved wife of the late George W. Mendonca, she was the devoted mother of George C. Mendonca and his wife, Linda, of Peabody; cherished grandmother of Dayna Mendonca-LeBel and her husband, Rodger, of Peabody, Bryan Mendonca and his wife, Patricia, of Lynn; adored great grandmother of Michael Burke, Alexis LeBel, Carly and Camille Mendonca; dear sister of Margaret Spinney of Chelsea and the late Mary Krikorian, Agnes Pitts, Jack and John Kashian. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be conducted from the Frank A. Welsh & Son’s Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Friday, October 9, at 11 a.m. Services will conclude with burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours will be held at the Welsh Funeral Home today,Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the National Kidney Foundation , 85 Astor Ave. Ste. 2, Norwood, MA 02062-5040.
William Prodanas Jr.
Worked at many historic sites
William Prodanas Jr. of Salem, NH died unexpectedly at home on October 1.
Born in Chelsea, he was raised and educated in Everett and attended Everett High School. He worked for many years for Local 22 as a laborer and most recently for Local 3 as a mason prior to his retirement. Throughout his career, he worked on numerous historic sites in and around Boston. He was well respected in his career and was very proud of his accomplishments within his field. In his free time, he enjoyed antiques, various types of artwork and cars. He was also an avid New England sports fan and especially enjoyed the Boston Bruins.
He leaves his loving wife of 27 years, Donna (Chapski) Prodanas of Salem, NH; his three children, Lisa M. Rinaldi of Litchfield, NH, Jonathan William Prodanas and Alexander Z. Prodanas, both of Salem, NH; three grandchildren, Alicia, Brianna and Anthony, all of Litchfield, NH, a brother, Michael Prodanas and his wife, Carole, of Salem, MA and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were by the Goundrey and Dewhirst Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 42 Main Street, Salem, NH. Memorial donations may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children-Boston, 51 Blossom St., Boston , MA 02114. To send an online condolence, please visit www.dewhirstfuneral.com.
Anthony Cardone
Of Saugus, formerly of Chelsea
Anthony E. Cardone of Saugus, formerly of Malden and Chelsea, died on September 30.
The beloved husband of the late June F. (Martin) Cardone, he was the devoted father of Patricia A. Wood and her husband, David W. Wood, of Saugus and the late Anthony V. Cardone, formerly of Malden; the brother of Lawrence Cardone of Revere, Elizabeth Addivinolia of East Boston, Diana Russo and M. Margie Mamzur, both of Revere, and the late Michael Cardone, formerly of Chelsea, and the late Rose Thayer, formerly of Billerica; the cherished grandfather of David Anthony Wood, Michael Russell Wood and Toni June Wood, all of Saugus.
Funeral arrangements were by the Weir-MacCuish Golden Rule Funeral Home, Malden. Burial was in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. For obituary: www.weirfuneralhome.com
Dorothy Froio
Devoted homemaker and housemother
Dorothy M. (Derome) Froio died October 2 at the Lighthouse Nursing Home in Revere where she had been receiving supportive care for the past four years. She was 82 years old.
A devoted homemaker and housemother, she was born and raised in East Boston, the loving daughter of the late Arthur and Anne (Curry) Derome. At an early age, she worked as a seamstress. She soon married and was a devoted housemother raising her children and keeping her home, clean and caring. At 62 years old, she moved to Bradenton, Florida to enjoy her golden years, Nine years ago she returned to be closer to her son and daughter. She lived in Chelsea before moving to the Lighthouse Nursing Home.
The beloved wife of the late Robert A. Froio, she was the devoted mother of Robert J. Froio and his wife, Linda, of Revere, Debra Marks and her husband, John, of Chelsea; cherished grandmother of Cheryl Pacheco, Jennifer Greenwood, Robert Froio, Stacey, Peter and Heidi Aceto, adored great grandmother of 12; dear sister of Arline Sobanek of Chelsea, John Derome of Las Vegas, NV, William Derome of Bradenton FL and the late Frances Ormond, Ethel Graham, George and Arthur Derome.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of Anthony Memorial / Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Homes. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to The Lighthouse Recreation Fund, 204 Proctor Ave., Revere 02151.
Maureen Sammons
Chelsea resident
Maureen Sammons of Chelsea died recently.
She was the wife of the late Michael; loving mother of Stephen and Kristopher and his wife, Scarlett, all of Saugus; sister of Susan Punch of Saugus, Ron and his wife, Susan Worden, of Wakefield, and the late William Punch; devoted grandmother of Savanna, Michael and Thomas and is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Funeral arrangements were by the Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home, Medford.
Marie Regan
Braintree resident
Marie F.(Fleming) Regan, a longtime resident of Braintree, died September 30 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston after a period of failing health. She was 81 years old.
The wife of William D. Regan, she was born in Dorchester and was a graduate of Jeremiah E. Burke High School, Class of 1946. She has been a resident of Braintree since 1963. Mrs. Regan worked as an Engineering Clerk for New England Telephone in Boston, Quincy and Braintree for over 40 years, retiring in 1987. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of Braintree and the New England Telephone Pioneers. She was a longtime member of the IBEW, Local 103 in Dorchester. In her free time, she enjoyed crocheting and vacationing on Cape Cod.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Regan is survived by her two children; William J. Regan and his life partner, Charles Antzak, of Chelsea and Patricia M. Geoghegan and her husband Thomas of Stoughton. She is also survived by her granddaughter, Mary Geoghegan.
Funeral arrangements were by the Farley Funeral Home, Stoughton. Memorial donations may be made to MSPCA, 1300 W. Elm St. Ext., Brockton, MA 02301. For obituary: www.farleyfh.com.
James Reardon
Milton resident
James W. Reardon of Milton died on September 27.
A US Army veteran of World War II, he was the beloved husband of the late Mary J. (Barrett) Reardon; father of James W. Reardon, Jr. of Florida, Francis P. Reardon of Jamaica, W.I., Maryanne Kirpalani of Chelsea, Richard E. Reardon of Pembroke and Thomas M. Reardon of Milton; brother of the late Richard Reardon; grandfather of Meghan, James, Kelli, Robert and Erin Reardon.
Funeral arrangements were by the Dolan Funeral Home, Milton. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.
Arthur Mesnick
Of Stoneham, formerly of Chelsea
Arthur I. Mesnick of Stoneham, formerly of Chelsea, died on September 30. He was 72 years old.
He was the beloved father of Andrea Mesnick and her partner, Rafeal Bonilla; dear brother of Charlotte Zides and Dorothy Marget.
Funeral arrangements were by the Goldman Funeral Chapel, Malden. Burial was in Everett. Due to the Succot Holiday, memorial week was omitted. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in his memory may be donated to Parkinson’s Disease Association, 710 West 168th St., New York, NY 10032-9982 or Hallmark Health Hospice, 178 Savin St., Malden, MA. 02148.