Mary Jo Brown
Tufts Medical Center Admitting Director
Mary Jo (Bonasoro) Brown of Wilmington died suddenly at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston on January 21 with her family and friends by her side. She was 59 years old.
Born in Boston, she graduated from Winthrop High School, Class of 1970. For the past 35 years, she worked at Tufts Medical Center in Boston as the Director of Admitting. A former 25 year resident of Wakefield, she has been living in Wilmington for the past 12 years. She enjoyed travelling and loved vacationing and visiting her friends in Hawaii. She also loved hosting large Fourth of July celebrations at her home.
Mary Jo will be remembered as a kind and compassionate person who would go out of her way to help everyone whether you were a stranger, friend or family member and never asking for anything in return. Mary Jo’s family would like to thank her extended family at the Tufts Medical Center for their support during this difficult time. She was the beloved best friend, soulmate and wife of 42 years to Thomas Brown of Wilmington; loving and caring mother of Christina and her husband, Kevin Furlong of Methuen; devoted daughter of Salvatore and Mary (Kelly) Bonasoro of Revere; dear sister of James Bonasoro and his wife, Mary of Danvers and Ellen Babcock and her husband, Walter of Wilmington; cherished “Auntie” of James Jr. and Anthony Bonasoro, Chelsie, Christopher and Sara Babcock. She is also survived by many extended family members and dear friends.
Her Funeral will be held from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, January 26 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Sacred Heart Church, 45 Brooks St., East Boston at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with Entombment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com
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Eva Dembkoski
Active in Many Organizations
Eva F. (Wojciechowski) Dembkoski died January 21 at the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett after a very brief illness. She was 83 years old.
Born and raised in Chelsea, she was the daughter of the late Tadeausz and Stella (Wodzenska) Wojciechowski. She attended local schools and graduated from Chelsea High School.
She married Roman “Ray” Dembkoski and together they raised their two daughters and son in Chelsea. A longtime resident of Beacon Street, Chelsea, she and her husband relocated to Rochester NH in 1986, residing there for 13 years prior to making their home in Revere for the last 12 years.
Ray and Eva were predeceased by their daughter Dolores in 1999 and Eva was predeceased by her husband, Ray six years ago.
A devoted homemaker, she also worked outside of her home for Kayem Foods in the factory kitchen for many years. She was active at the Revere Senior Center and was a member of the Polish Falcons Nest 485 and the PPC Ladies Auxiliary in Chelsea. She was the beloved wife of the late Roman Dembkoski, devoted mother of Raymond Dembkoski and his wife, Janet of Salem, Diane Logins of Chelsea and the late Dolores Sheehan; dear sister of the late Helen Flower and Loretta Reid. She was the cherished grandmother of Ralph W. Burley Jr., Lisa Parady, Rachel Dembkoski, Michelle Logins, Andrea Campbell and Sara Dembkoski and is also survived by 11 adoring great grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were by the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, Chelsea. Burial was at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park, Peabody. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit
www.WelshFuneralHome.com
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Teofilo DeJesus
Dorchester Resident
Teofilo DeJesus of Dorchester died on January 18 at the Everett Nursing and Rehab after a 17 years battle with Huntington’s Disease. He was 54 years old.
Born in Patillas, Puerto Rico, he worked first at Superior Distributors on Maple Street here in Chelsea and then for 15 years in the maintenance department at Boston Medical Center until his illness forced him to retire.
He was the beloved husband of Carmen Torres of Chelsea; devoted father of Damali Vidot and her husband, Tony Rosa and Melissa DeJesus and her husband, Troy Arnold, Sr. all of Chelsea; brother of Elsa DeJesus of Dorchester who was also his caregiver, Santo DeJesus of Jamaica Plain, Jose Antonio DeJesus, Miguel DeJesus, Carmen DeJesus and Jose M. DeJesus, all of Dorchester; cherished grandfather of Troy Arnold, Jr. and Nina Rosa. He is also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. Burial was at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester. Expressions of sympathy in his name may be made to First Giving at firstgiving.com/fundraiser/dejesus. To send a message of condolence to his family, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com
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Benjamin Torf
Educator, Inventor and Former Funeral Director
Benjamin Torf of Revere died on January 22. He was 86 years old and had been a resident of Revere for 80 years. He was a graduate of Boston Latin High School, received his Bachelors Degree from Harvard University and his Masters Degree from the University of Massachusetts, Boston. He was a long time teacher of both biology and chemistry at Saugus High School.
He was a former funeral director at the Torf Funeral Service and was also the election commissioner for the City of Worcester. He put his chemistry background and experience to use and invented several pest repellents. Currently, he still holds patents for his pest repellents.
He was the beloved lifelong partner of Ethel Blumenthal; the dear brother of Dorothy Berman and her husband, Leo, the late Lena Millstone, the late Anna Garber, the late Bertha Weinberg and the late Rachel Priluck. He was the dear uncle of 11.
Graveside services were held at the New Tifereth Israel of Everett Cemetery, Everett. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 Eighth Ave., 7th fl., New York, NY 10001 or to the Leonard Florence Center for Living, 165 Captains Row, Chelsea, MA 02150. For online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website, www.torffuneralservice.com. Arrangements were by the Torf Funeral Chapel.
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Joel Cohen
Manager of Ken’s Deli; Member of Knights of Pythias
Joel Cohen of Revere died on January 16. He was 82 years old.
He was born in Boston, educated in the Revere School System and was a resident of Revere for 78 years. He was the manager of Ken’s Deli in Copley Square and was a member of the Knights of Pythias. He will be remembered for his funny, dry sense of humor.
He was the beloved husband of 59 years to Mildred (Goldstein) Cohen; the devoted father of Michael Cohen and his wife Joan and Stacey Wyzanski and her husband, Steven. He was the loving grandfather of Benjamin and his wife, Nicole, Joel A., Sarah and her husband, David, Hannah, Samuel, Sofie and Seth. He is also survived by one great-grandchild, Autumn.
Services were held. For online guestbook and directions, please visit the funeral home website, www.torffuneralservice.com. Services entrusted to the Torf Funeral Chapel.
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Salvatore ‘Sal’ Mandracchia
Retired Everett Building Inspector
Salvatore S. “Sal” Mandracchia of Everett died on January 19.
A US Army veteran of World War II, he served in the 69th Armored Infantry Battalion under General Patton. He was also the retired City of Everett Building Inspector.
He was the beloved husband of C. Mildred (Luciano); father of Cheryl DiGeorge and her husband, Joseph of North Attleborough, Stephan of Everett, and Daniel of Topsfield; brother of Mary Gallo of Chelsea, the late Josephine Montalbano, Fred, Polly Battaglia, and John and is also survived by six grandchildren, Joseph, Amanda, Steffan, Samantha, Daniel and Nicholas; two great grandchildren, Joseph Jr. and Savanah Rose and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Salvatore Rocco & Sons Funeral Home, Everett. Burial was in Glenwood Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 6110 Executive Blvd., Suite 1010, Rockville, MD 20852. www.roccofuneralhomes.com
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Shirley Golder Rosenberg
Of Revere, formerly of Chelsea
Shirley (Golder) Rosenberg of Revere, formerly of Chelsea, died on January 19.
An active member of the Jack Satter Tenants Association and 420 Congregation, she was the beloved wife of the late Murray Rosenberg; devoted mother of Bonnie Rosenberg Cutler and Arthur Rosenberg; loving daughter of the late Harry and Clara (Tabachnik) Golder; dear sister of the late Molly Norman and the late Betty Rosen. Loving Nana of Elana Cutler and Evan Landry.
Funeral arrangements were by the Torf Funeral Chapel, Chelsea. Burial was in Mishna Cemetery, Everett. Memorial contributions may be made to the Congregation 420 and Jack Satter Tenants Assoc. both at 420 Revere Beach Blvd, Revere, MA 02151 or to the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home, 17 Lafayette Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150.
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Barbara Pressman
First President of Lynn Chapter American Field Service
Barbara (Karas) Pressman of Lynn, formerly of Chelsea, died at home on January 19 after a long battle with Acute Leukemia. She was 75 years old.
Born, raised and educated in Chelsea Schools, she graduated from Chelsea High School, Class of 1954. She lived in Lynn for the last 47 years.
Mrs. Pressman was admired and loved by many. She was the first Chapter President of the Lynn American Field Service International/Intercultural Program where she and her family hosted more than 100 students from all over the world. She was the former Co-President of the Ahabat Sholom Hebrew School PTA and member of the Sisterhood of Temple Ahabat Sholom of Lynn. She was a huge New England Patriots fan and loved going to Foxwoods, Las Vegas, reading, knitting, and playing canasta with friends.
She was the devoted mother of Lisa Pressman of Lynn, Lauren and Kurt Anderson of Peabody, Brian and Leslie Pressman of Charlotte, NC and Yukiko Tsuchihashi Pinder of Japan and Hawaii. She was the loving daughter of the late Samuel Zalman and Marion Karas of Chelsea; the dear sister of Michael and Nancy Karas of Peabody and Linda Karas Silver and Marcia Peterzell of San Francisco, CA. She was the loving grandmother of Kaitlin and Jennifer Anderson and Alyssa and Laura Pressman; the dear aunt of Max Karas and Emily Karas; the loving niece of Corinne Wolfe of Marblehead and Ida Meshulam of Indianapolis. She is also survived by many loving cousins, extended family, friends and especially her oldest friend Roz Goldberg.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Torf Funeral Chapel, Chelsea. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Barbara Pressman Foundation, 30 Red Rock Street, Lynn, MA 01902, www.barbarapressmanfoundation.org.
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Maurice ‘Murray’ Band
Fought in US Army in World War II and in the Israeli War of Independence
Maurice “Murray” Band of Malden, formerly of Chelsea, died on January 20.
A US Army veteran of World War II, he also fought in the Israeli War of Independence of 1948 as a member of the Haganah.
He was the beloved husband of Ethel (Borr) Band; devoted father of Richard L. Band and his wife, Loretta and the late Kenneth J. Band; dear brother of Dorothy Goldfarb, Pearl Anapol, Channon Band, David Band, and Marcia Kostick and the late Myer Band and loving grandfather of Stephanie L. Band, Joshua M. Band and Jonathan A. Band. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Torf Funeral Chapel, Chelsea. Burial was in Agudath Sholom Cemetery, Everett. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home, 17 Lafayette Avenue, Chelsea, MA 02150. For online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website. www.torffuneralservice.com
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David Washington
Chelsea Resident
David H. Washington, a lifelong resident of Chelsea, died on January 10 at the Massachusetts General Hospital. He was 68 years old,
A member of the building maintenance department for the Broadway Glen for over 25 years, he was the devoted husband of Roberta (DesRosiers); beloved brother of Shirley Thompson, Jeannette Washington and Roberta McKoy, all of Chelsea and the late Melvin Washington and Robert Washington and is also lovingly survived by many nieces and nephews. At his request, funeral services were private.
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Robert Parow
Malden Resident
Robert T. Parow of Malden died on January 17.
A Korean War veteran, he was the loving father of Deborah Stanley and her husband, Peter of N. Reading, Robert Parow and his wife, Sheila of Malden, Karen Bailey and her husband, David of Groton, Michele Curley and her husband, William of Wakefield, Brian Parow and his wife, Mary Ann of Malden, Christine Sheehan and her husband, Joseph and Maureen Fisher and her husband, Kevin, all of Wilmington; former husband of Mary Ellen (Barry) Parow; cherished grandfather of Amy, Jennifer, Jessica, Christopher, Sean, Jamie, Michele-Lee, Danielle, Brian, Ashley, Jacqueline, Joey, Rachel, Robbie and Katelyn; devoted brother of Kenneth Parow and his wife, Theresa of Chelsea, George Parow and his late wife, Barbara of Florida, Edward Parow of East Boston and the late Walter Parow and his wife, Helen of Andover.
Funeral arrangements were by the Gately Funeral Home Melrose. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472. For obituary and to sign guest book, visit www.gatelyfh.com
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Marguerite L. Fothergill
Longtime Chelsea Resident
Marguerite L. Fothergill a longtime Chelsea resident, passed away on Tuesday Jan 24. She had been receiving supportive care at the Rosewood Nursing Center in Peabody for the past few months. She was 83 years of age. Born in Medford she was the daughter of the late Curtis and Marguerite L (Falstitch) Marchand. She grew up in Revere, attended and graduated from Revere High School. She began working as a Telephone Operator for New England Tel and Tel Co., at the Chelsea Office and was one of the last “Chelsea Girls” as they were known. She married John “Jack” Fothergill in 1952 and together began to raise their family of a son and two daughters in Chelsea. She left the Phone company in 1960 as the need to have an operator place a local call was replaced with the now familiar dial tone. She was predeceased by her husband “Jack” in 1996 after sharing 44 years of love and devotion. A devoted homemaker and loving mother, Peg was a dedicated parishioner at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Chelsea, she was a member of the Liturgy Committee and a Eucharistic Minister at the Church. Her Funeral will begin from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home 718 Broadway CHELSEA on Monday January 30th, at 9:00 A.M. Followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church 59 Nichols St. Chelsea at 10:30 A.M. Services will conclude with Interment at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visiting hours will be held at the Welsh Funeral Home on Sunday from 3 – 7 P.M. Funeral Home fully handicap accessible, ample parking opposite Funeral Home. Beloved wife of the late John E. “Jack” Fothergill. Devoted mother of Michael Fothergill of Chelsea, Denise Gillespie and her husband Gerard of Danvers and Kimberly Boucher and her husband Giles of Boxford. Dear sister of Jeanette Lehman of Revere, Carol Repucci, the late Curtis Marchand and Barbara Quigley. Cherished grandmother of Liberation Iannillo of NY, Jared Fothergill (FF/MFD) of Malden, Allison, Elizabeth and Thomas Gillespie of Danvers Kevin and Paige Boucher of Boxford. Adored great-grandmother of Emma and Jack Fothergill. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com