Vernon Clyde John
Retired John Hancock Co. Data Processor
Vernon Clyde John of Chelsea passed away peacefully on March 13. He was 78 years old.
He was educated at Mucurapo Boys School, St. Crispin School and graduated from Fatima College, Trinidad. Upon graduation he was gainfully employed at Trinidad & Tobago Electricity Commission (T&TEC.)
In 1968 he migrated to the United States and settled in Boston where he spent the next 30 plus years working for the John Hancock Insurance Co, as a Data Processor until retirement.
Vernon was very easygoing and sociable. He had a great love for swimming, horse racing, playing cards and music. He especially loved playing and listening to the steel pan, keyboard and guitar. He was an active member of the Unity Sports and Cultural Club in Dorchester.
During the past several years Vernon had been experiencing several problems with his health. Despite these problems, he remained physically and emotionally strong and persistent through the good and bad days. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
He was the beloved husband of Dianne John to whom he was married for 52 years; devoted father of Ricardo Vernon John and his wife, Charlene; loving grandfather of Brianna; the son of the late Dadwar John and Lillian Roberts and brother of Anton Roberts, Stanley Roberts, Yvonne Caldiera, Carol Aquing, Annette Roberts and the late Lawrence Roberts; brother in-law Hosein “Rudy” Ali, Anwar “Ricky” Ali, and he also leaves his sister in-law Dawn Gonsalves. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visiting hours will be held today, Thursday, March 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Ave., Chelsea . A Mass of Christian Burial will follow on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Church, 59 Nichols Street, Chelsea. A celebration of Vernon’s life will be held directly following the burial at the Polish Political Club, 58 Broadway, Chelsea. To send a message of condolence to Vernon’s family, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com
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Irene Galeas
Of Chelsea
Irene I. (Dugan) Galeas of Chelsea passed away on March 16 at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home on Lafayette Avenue after a year long illness. She was 75 years old.
Born in Charlestown, she moved to Chelsea in 1973. She was the beloved mother of Theresa Castro of Chelsea, Karen Keefe of Newport, NH and the late Patrick and Kevin Keefe; sister of Dorothy Rushing, Charles Dugan and the late James, Barbara and Jeanne Dugan; cherished grandmother of Carrie, Joanna, Frankie, JJ, Justin, Savanna, Chris, Mark, Shannon, PJ, Sean, Casey, Ronnie, Dena, Famay and Wendy and is also lovingly survived by many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and very close friends, Rick Morse, the Castro and Prudencio Families and Lisa Flores and family.
Family and friends are kindly invited to attend a Funeral from the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Avenue, Chelsea on Saturday, March 22 at 8 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway, Chelsea at 9 o’clock. Visiting Hours in the Smith Funeral Home will be on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m. Committal Service will be private. To send a message of condolence to Irene’s family, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com
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Joseph Drigotas
Retired Hawthorne Realty Property Manager
Joseph S. Drigotas of Lynn, formerly of Chelsea, died at home on March 12 after a brief illness. He was 72 years old.
Born in Boston and a resident of Chelsea for 50 years, Buzzards Bay for six years and Lynn for the last eight, for over 45 years he was a property manager for Hawthorne Realty retiring in the mid 2000’s.
He was the devoted husband of Agnes (Doherty); beloved father of Christopher Drigotas and Joseph S. Drigotas and his wife, Rochelle, all of Lynn; brother of George Drigotas of Amesbury and the late Julia Anne Drigotas.
Funeral arrangements were by the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. Committal was private. Expressions of sympathy in Joseph’s name may be made to the American Lung Association, 1301 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004. To send a message of condolence to Joseph’s family, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com
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John Lewin
Retired Marine Insurance Underwriter, Member of Knights of Columbus
John J. Lewin, a retired insurance underwriter and lifelong Chelsea resident, passed away on March 11 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston after a long illness. He was 69 years old. Born and raised in Chelsea, the beloved son of the late Clarence W. and Catherine F. (Tumulty) Lewin, John attended local Schools and graduated from Chelsea High School, Class of 1963. He worked for various insurances companies specializing as a Marine Underwriter and retired several years ago from the Cigna Insurance Co. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Chelsea Council #83, and Fourth Degree Bishop Cheverus Assembly. He was also a former bowling league member.
In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by a brother, William E. Lewin. He is survived by two sisters ,Marilyn F. and Patricia A. Lewin, both of Chelsea, two brothers and their wives, Robert G. Lewin and his wife, Terry of Chelsea and Kevin Lewin and his wife, Karen M. of Saugus and his nephew and godson Brian Patrick Lewin of Arlington, VA.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Michael the Archangel Chapel on Saturday, March 15. Services concluded with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of one’s choice. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Home. To send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com.