Obituaries 04-30-2015

John ‘Jack’ Halas

US Postal Service retiree; Member of Dominic Savio Athletic Hall of Fame; active coach for Chelsea youth and high school leagues

John M. “Jack” Halas of Chelmsford, formerly of Chelsea, passed away unexpectedly at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston late Friday evening, April 17 from complications from a stroke he suffered three days earlier. He was 66 years old.

A graduate of St. Rose Elementary School and Dominic Savio High School, Class of 1966, Jack entered the United States Air Force in 1968 doing his basic training in Monterey, California. Upon completion of Chinese language school from Goodfellow Air Force Base in San Angelo, Texas, he was deployed to Yokota Air Force Base in Japan as a member of the 6988th Security Squadron which was responsible for intercepting communications during flights over China. After serving his country, he was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1972 and returned home to begin working for Barry Controls for the next 20 years. In 1996, he took a position with the United States Postal Service and for the following 15 years until his retirement in 2011 worked as a clerk at the South Postal Annex in Boston.

Known for his athletic abilities during High School years and beyond, he was a member of the Chelsea Fast Pitch Softball League and was inducted into the Dominic Savio Hall of Fame in 1998. In addition, Jack was heavily involved in the lives of Chelsea’s youth as a coach in Little League baseball, youth baseball and basketball, and as an assistant basketball coach at Chelsea High School under Jack Niven. Devoted to his family, especially his grandchildren, he was an avid Boston sports fan.

He was the devoted husband of Amelia (Lopez); beloved son of Clara B. (Kanclerowicz) of Chelmsford and the late John I. Halas; loving father of Jennifer D’Amico and her husband, Mark of Bedford, NH and John V. Halas of Malden; brother of Diane Halas of Temple, NH, Dorothy Crone of Billerica and Elizabeth Ashley of Chelmsford and is also lovingly survived by his grandchildren: Victoria, Richard, William and Eva D’Amico as well as by many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Expressions of sympathy in Jack’s name may be made to the Jimmy Fund-Dana Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284-9168. To send a message of condolence to Jack’s family, please visit www.smithfuneralhomes.com

Kenneth Williams

Lifelong Chelsea resident

Kenneth L. Williams, a lifelong resident of Chelsea, passed away on March 2 after a brief illness. He was 74 years old.

He leaves behind two sisters, Claire Kubarsky of Tewksbury and Charlotte Caron of Chelsea; a son, Kenneth Williams, Jr. of Peabody and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by Farmer & Dee, Tewksbury. Internment was at Tewksbury Cemetery, Tewksbury.

Ruth MacInnes

Retired Registered Nurse

Ruth E. MacInnes of Chelsea, formerly of Beachmont, Revere died on April 23.

Ruth worked at Cambridge Hospital as a Registered Nurse for many years before retiring. In her free time she enjoyed reading, crocheting and making beautiful afghans. She also loved walking along Revere Beach.

She was the beloved daughter of the late Martin and Violet (Wonstall); special aunt to Linda Baxter of Idaho and grandmother to Linda’s children Marshall and Mikayla Baxter; dear sister of the late Paul MacInnes, Donald MacInnes, Johnny MacInnes, Bobby MacInnes, Ernest MacInnes, Dorothy Magnell, Ginger Corsin and Beverly Palmer and is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.

At her request, all services are private. Arrangement by Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, 128 Revere St. Revere. For guest book, please visit www.Buonfiglio.com

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