Bowden ‘Bob’ Twombly
World War II Purple Heart Recipient and DAV Member
Bowden E, ‘Bob’ Twombly died on April 23 at the Glenridge Nursing Home on the Malden/Medford line where he had been receiving skilled supportive care for the past three years. He was 90 years old. Born and raised in Chelsea, he was son of the late Ernest and Florence (Gibbeau) Twombly.
He attended local schools and was a graduate of Chelsea High School. He was inducted into the Army in 1942 and served throughout World War II participating in campaigns as a member of the 648th tank destroyer battalion through Northern France, the Rhineland and Central Europe. He was awarded several decorations and medals among them the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart for wounds he received. He was discharged in December of 1945 and returned to Chelsea.
A quiet unassuming spirit, he worked for many years as a Parts Delivery man for Belmont Auto Parts and later for Gem Auto Parts in Chelsea. He married and remained in Chelsea for most of his life and settled in Revere after retiring 25 years ago.
He was predeceased by his wife in 2010. He was a long standing member of the East Boston Chapter of the DAV.
He was the beloved husband of the late Phyllis (Belli) Twombly. Dear brother of Joseph E. Twombly of Malden, the late Florence Twombly, Edna Baker and Frederick Twombly. Loving and cherished uncle of Patrice and Eric Montefusco, Derek Paradis and the late William Paradis.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church on Tuesday, May 1. Services concluded with full Military Honors and burial at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Anthony Memorial Funeral Home. To send expressions of sympathy, please visit: www.AnthonyMemrial.com.
Frank A. Welsh & Sons
Chelsea, 617-889-2723
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Maureen O’Connor
Retired Switchboard Operater and Grade School Teacher
Maureen O’Connor, a retired switchboard operator and former grade school teacher, died on April 26 at the Hammersmith Nursing Home in Saugus. She was 71 years old.
Born in Chelsea, she was daughter of the late Michael and Marguerite “Marge” (Gaudet) O’Connor. She attended St. Rose Elementary School and graduated from St Rose High School. She first began her career as a Catholic grade school teacher in Connecticut and Kentucky. She returned to Chelsea and later moved to Roslindale where she remained for 15 years before requiring skilled nursing care.
While residing in Roslindale, she worked in Boston as a switchboard operator for Union Warren Savings Bank until her retirement several years ago. She was a faithful communicant and frequent Mass Lector at the Arch St. Shrine of St Anthony in Boston, She was also a devoted member of the FSO “Secular Franciscan Order.”
She was the dear and beloved sister of Barbara O’Connor, Anne McCarthy and her husband Jack, all of Chelsea and Helen Moore and her husband Lee of Warren, MI; loved and cherished aunt of John and Pam McCarthy, Brian and Debbie McCarthy, Michael and Kelly McCarthy, Darrell Austin and Terry Austin and Sandy and Sherry Austin; adored great aunt of Michael and Emmi McCarthy, Jacob Austin and Kenadie McCarthy.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at Our Lady of Grace Church on April 30. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to the St. Anthony Fraternity, Attn: Andrea Beall 100 Arch St. Boston, MA 02110. Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Anthony Memorial Funeral Home. To send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.AnthonyMemorial.com
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Robert Benedetto
Active in the Teamsters Union
Robert A. Benedetto died at his Everett home died on April 28. He was 82 years old.
A US Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, he was a retired member of the Teamsters Union, Local 25, retired shop steward for the union and representative of the retired local union members. He was born in Everett and a longtime resident of Chelsea before settling back in Everett.
He was the beloved husband of more than 56 years of the late Joan M. (Barry) Benedetto; dear and devoted father of Robin M. Brickley and her husband, Craig of Everett, James Benedetto of Chelsea, Stacey Benedetto of Revere and Timothy Benedetto and his wife, Marybeth of Lynnfield; brother of Elaine Thomas and her husband, Lee and the late Thomas Benedetto and his surviving wife, Evelyn Benedetto of Revere; loving grandfather of Brendan and Connor Brickley, Timothy Benedetto, Chandler Dockery, Zachary and Gregory Benedetto. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend visiting hours in the Cafasso & Sons Funeral Home, 65 Clark St. (Corner of Main St.) Everett, Thursday morning from 9 to 11:30 followed by a Funeral Mass in the Immaculate Conception Church, 489 Broadway, Everett, at 12 noon. Burial services will be private. Contributions in his memory to VNA Hospice Care, 100 Sylvan Road, Woburn, MA 01801 would be sincerely appreciated.
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Mitchell Finkelstein
Of Revere, formerly of Chelsea
Mitchell Finkelstein of Revere, formerly of Chelsea, died on April 27.
A US Army veteran of World War II, he was the beloved husband of Elaine (Chatis) Finklestein; devoted father of Paul Finklestein and his wife, Lisa, Ellen Crocker and her husband, Jack and Carol Zamansky and her husband, Mark; loving son of the late Hyman Finklestein and Celia (Feldman) Finklestein Berkowitz; dear brother of the late Nate Finklestein and his late wife, Dorothy; loving grandfather of Matthew Crocker, Lauren Crocker, Andrew Zamansky, Karly Finklestein and Chloe Finklestein. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by Torf Funeral Service, Chelsea. Burial was in the Jewish Community Center Cemetery, Danvers. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Jack Satter House Tenants Assoc., 420 Revere Beach Blvd, Revere, MA 02151 or to the Leonard Florence Center for Living, 165 Captains Row, Chelsea, MA 02150. Please visit web site at www.torffuneralservice.com
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Marie Kelleher
Everett Resident
Marie E. (Coakley) Kelleher of Everett died on April 23.
She was the beloved wife of James Kelleher; loving mother of Michael and his wife, Pi of Everett, Linda and her late husband, Edward Dooley of Everett, Tish and her husband, Arthur Ells of Chelsea, and Judy and her husband, Al Frallicciardi of Harwich; sister of the late Jackie, Frank, and Robert Coakley, Evelyn Brody, Dorothy Powell, Winifred Banks, Norma Petipas, and Helen Burke. She is also survived by three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were by the Murphy O’Hara Funeral Home, Everett. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery.
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Norma Margaret Bentilla
Of New Hampshire, formerly of Chelsea
Norma Margaret (Selvage) Akers Bentilla died April 23 her home in Raymond, NH after a long illness. She was 83 years old.
Born September 22, 1928 in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Arthur and Arsene (Pothier) Selvage and a former longtime resident of Chelsea. She was a longtime accountant for the Diamond International Co. out of Chelsea and Wakefield and has lived in Raymond, NH since 1993. She was a communicant of St. Joseph Church in Epping, NH. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading and anything associated with arts.
She is survived by a son, Paul Akers of Rockport, a daughter, Mary Lou “Lou” Hart and her husband, Jim of Raymond, NH, a son, Robert Akers and his wife, Sandra of Rockport, a daughter, Karen Beats of North Andover, 11 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Graveside services were held at the North Beverly Cemetery, Beverly, MA. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rockingham VNA & Hospice, 137 Epping Rd., Exeter, NH 03833. Brewitt Funeral Home, Raymond, NH handled the arrangements.
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Matthew Lambert, Jr.
Had Distinguished Advertising Career
Matthew J. Lambert, Jr. of Falmouth died peacefully at his home one day after celebrating his 95th birthday.
Mr. Lambert was born in Boston, the son of Matthew J. and Leonora (Hammond) Lambert. He grew up in Winthrop with his twin brother, Robert, and younger brother, Richard, both of whom preceded him in death. He graduated from Tufts University in 1939 and subsequently enlisted in the United States Army and served in the European Theater of Operations during World War II, rising to the rank of Major.
He married the love of his life, Frances (Nagle) in 1942 and their marriage lasted just a few months shy of their 70th anniversary. After the War, he entered Boston University where he earned his graduate degree in business administration.
He was subsequently employed by the Chelsea Record in his chosen field of marketing and advertising. Over the years he enjoyed a remarkable career with a number of excellent corporations including Arnold Advertising, Halco Products, Appian Way Pizza, Orange Julius, and Holiday Inns, International. He was an executive with McDonalds during its early years and worked closely with its founder, Ray Kroc.
After his formal retirement at age 65, he began an independent consulting career and for the next 22 years he provided advice and counsel to many small businesses and franchisees on Cape Cod.
A resident of Falmouth for over 30 years, he loved the town and its people. He was a great fan of the Falmouth Library and enjoyed spending time with his wife at the beach and the Quarterdeck. His greatest loves next to his wife were his children and their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife of 69 years, Frances, he is survived by his children Dr. Matthew J. Lambert III ( Donna) of Chicago; Stephen E. Lambert (Barbara) of Holderness, NH; Cynthia Fischer (Kurt) of Santa Fe, NM; Michael Lambert (Linda) of Exeter, NH; Connie Glass of Alexandria, VA; and Cathy Malloy (Governor Dannel Malloy) of Hartford, CT. He will also be remembered by his grandchildren Matthew IV, Katherine, Carolyn, Craig, David, Michael, Bryce, Jeffrey, Alexandra, Natalie, Hillary, Dannel, Ben, and Sam as well as his great-grandchildren, Stephen, Elsbeth, and Breck.
He was a man of uncommon integrity and selflessness and served as a role model for all who knew and loved him. He possessed boundless curiosity and a fierce independence that enabled him to live a long and vigorous life. He will be deeply missed but his influence will be felt by generations.
Chapman Cole and Gleason Falmouth 508-540-4172
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James Costello
Of Revere, formerly of East Boston
James E. Costello of Revere, formerly of East Boston, died on April 22.
A member of Local 805, Longshoremen’s Union, he was the beloved husband of Rosanne (Cesario) and the late Althea (Partee); father of Atty. James E. Costello III and his wife, Atty. Valerie Barsom and the late Janet Scarpa; grandfather of Gregory Scarpa; brother of Ronald and Michael, both of East Boston and John Costello of California; step-father of Deanna DiRocco of Lynn and Larry DiRocco of Chelsea; brother-in-law of Gerard Partee and his wife, Marie of East Boston.
Funeral arrangements were by the Magrath Funeral Home, East Boston. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery.