Obituaries 06-06-2019

Richard Laft, Sr.

Mass Dept. of Transportation retiree

Richard “Richie” C. Laft, Sr. passed away Monday evening, June 3 at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston surrounded by his loving family. 

Born and raised in Chelsea, the son of the late Irene (Paragone) Laft,  Richie attended Chelsea Public Schools and graduated from Chelsea High School, Class of 1965. 

He enlisted in the US Army during the Vietnam Era on July 11, 1966.  He was honorably discharged on Aug. 24, 1969, and returned to the U.S. Army Reserve to complete his service obligation.  Upon returning home from the service, Richie began his career as an equipment operator for the City of Chelsea.  After several years of working for the city he grew up in, Richie began working for the MA Highway, now called the Department of Transportation.  He retired from the State in 2004.  Richie enjoyed his retirement by spending time with his children and grandchildren. 

He has been residing in Saugus for the last last years but previously lived in Chelsea and Revere.  As a kid, Richie enjoyed playing football in the City of Chelsea.  He often reminisced of his youth and his famous game winning touchdown catch.  Richie was a late member of the American Legion, formerly in Chelsea. 

He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. He was a beloved husband, father and grandfather, the beloved husband of Sandra J. (Budney) Laft of Saugus, with whom he shared 47 years of marriage; devoted father of Chelsea Police Detective Richard C. Laft, Jr. and his wife, Jeanette of Lynn and Serena D. Sullivan and her husband, Tony of Saugus; cherished grandfather of Gianna M. Laft and Julianna G. Laft, both of Lynn and Monty C. Sullivan and Madeline R. Sullivan, both of Saugus and the beloved nephew of the late June Lynch. He is also lovingly survived by nieces and nephews.

His Funeral will be from the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., Chelsea on Friday, June 7 at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Grace Church, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea, at 10 a.m.  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend.  Visiting hours will be held in the Funeral Home today, Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m.  Interment will be at Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody.  For those who wish, donations in Richie’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Giving, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or on-line at www.stjude.org.

Wayne Iacoviello

Of Malden, formerly of Chelsea

Wayne J. Iacoviello of Malden, formerly of Chelsea, entered into eternal rest Saturday afternoon, June 1 at Tufts Medical Center in Boston surrounded by his loving family.  He was 64 years old.

Born and raised in Chelsea, the son of the late Frank J. and Florence M. (Giordano) Iacoviello, he attended Chelsea Public Schools and graduated from Chelsea High School, Class of 1972. 

Throughout all of his working career, he was a self-employed laborer.  Tile setting, masonry work and landscaping are a few of the types of work Wayne enjoyed and he worked until his illness a few weeks ago. 

Wayne has been residing in Malden for the last 17 years but he was a former Chelsea resident.  He will be greatly missed by all of his family and friends.

He was the devoted father of Christian J. Iacoviello and the dear friend of Andrea Barbosa, both of New Hampshire, the beloved brother of Rosemary Oakley and her husband, David of Tennessee, Margaret A. “Maggie” Fay of Chelsea, Frank J. Iacoviello and his wife, Kathleen of Rowley, John A. Iacoviello and his wife, Lourdes of California and the late Charles J. Iacoviello; brother-in-law of Ruth Iacoviello of Wisconsin and the late Thomas F. Fay, Jr.  He is also lovingly survived by three nieces, Amanda Fay, Allison Oakley and Angela Brannigan; six nephews, Thomas Fay III, Scott Fay, Brian Iacoviello, Christopher Iacoviello, Seth Oakley and John Iacoviello, Jr. and by many great nieces and great nephews.

Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend Wayne’s visiting hours on Friday, June 7, in the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., Chelsea from 4 to 7:30 p.m. followed by a Funeral Service in the Funeral Home beginning at 7:30 p.m. Interment will be private.

Jeannie Vincenze Brown

Jan. 12, 1942 — May 28, 2019

Jeannie Vincenza Brown passed away on Tuesday, May 28, at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston following complications of lung cancer. She was 77 years old.  Born and raised in Chelsea, she was the beloved daughter of the late Charles B. and Antoinette (Cognato) DeLeo. Jeannie attended local schools and graduated from Chelsea High School.

As a young housewife and mother, she settled in Tewksbury, resided in the same home for nearly 50 years and devoted her life to raising her family of two daughters and one son in Tewksbury. Jeanie worked as a lead receptionist for Lawless Chrysler in Woburn for several years and retired for medical reasons eight years ago. She battled and lived the life of a cancer survivor for the past several years, joining and supporting fellow survivors at the Center for Cancer Care in Winchester.

During her life, Jeannie enjoyed walking in her treasured neighborhood, going to Hampton and Revere Beaches, spending time with family and friends, and long-distance calls talking with her grandson in California.

She was the beloved mother of Lorie J. Brown and Edward G. Brown, Jr., both of Tewksbury and Lorie M. Lonich and her husband, Mike of Saratoga, Calif.; cherished grandmother of Michael Lonich II; dear sister of Josephine Digilio of Lawrence, Pasquale “Pat” DeLeo of Groveland and Charles P. DeLeo of Danvers and former wife of the late Edward G. Brown, Sr. She is also survived by several loving nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.

Funeral arrangements were by Anthony Memorial — Welsh Funeral Home, Chelsea. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

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