Obituaries 02-20-2020

Margaret Pearl Parsons

March 31, 1931 – Jan. 27, 2020

Margaret Pearl Parsons passed away peacefully on Monday, January 27 at Penacook Place in Haverhill where she had been receiving supportive care for the past several years. 

A past resident of Everett and Revere, she was born in Chelsea to the late Harold Alexander Parsons and Frances Lillian (Burke) Parsons.

She was raised in Revere and spent her early career in the hospitality industry. 

She is survived by her daughter, Linda (Parsons) Johnson and son-in-law, Lance Johnson of Hudson, NH and her sister, Florence Jean Gonzales of Tewksbury, She was pre-deceased by her brother, David Parsons and sisters Ella Gleitsmann and Maureen Conway. 

In her lifetime, she loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her sisters playing cards, singing and listening to country music.  She was a kind and gentle soul who will be greatly missed by her grandson Lance Johnson Jr., his wife, Jennifer Bolton-Johnson and great-grandson, Noah Barrows of Hopkinton, NH, as well as grand-daughter, Larisa Cavallaro, her husband, Christopher Cavallaro and her great-grandchildren Carey, Landon and Piper of Danville, NH.  She leaves behind many loving nieces and nephews including Paul Conway and Nancy Cronin who filled her days with music and laughter.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Anthony Memorial – Welsh Funeral Home, Chelsea. 

Ed Lenkiewicz

August 15, 1927 – February 13, 2020

Ed Lenkiewicz, 92 years young, passed away peacefully on the 13th of February, 2020, surrounded by the gentle embrace of his loved ones in the comfort of his own home.

He was the son of the late Antoinette Szczubelek and Stanislaus Lenkiewicz, immigrants from Poland.

Ed was married to the “love of his life,” Florence Covino of Chelsea, for 59 years before her untimely passing. Together they had three children: Paula Lenkiewicz of Chelsea, Joyce Dabene and her husband, Paul of Weymouth and Edward Lenkiewicz of Chelsea, along with two grandchildren; Nicole Dabene and Paul Dabene, both of Boston. Ed is also survived by his sister, Jean Guilmette, and nephew Alfred Guilmette of Chelsea.

Ed was a lifelong resident of Chelsea. He attended St. Stanislaus Parochial School and went on to graduate from Chelsea High School as a member of the Class of 1945. Post High School, he was immediately drafted into World War II by the Army Air Corps and stationed at the Pentagon Building in Washington D.C. where he became an IBM operator.

After his discharge from the service, he returned to Chelsea to pursue the “love of his life,” Florence Covino. He went on to marry her in 1949 and together they raised a family.

Ed continued working as an IBM operator for over 25 years at H.J. Dowd in Cambridge until he decided to change his career. He was next hired by the City of Chelsea Water Department as a Water Meter Inspector after the Great Chelsea Fire of 1973. Ed worked for the City until his retirement at the age of 65. He knew countless Chelsea residents as he was constantly seen walking throughout the city streets reading water meters. No matter where Ed went, he was always stopped, or waved to by many locals who knew him as “Eddie the waterman.”

In great physical shape upon retirement from the city, Ed decided to move on to help his son in his construction business. Every day, for the next 20 years, Ed went to work with him until the age of 85. All of the customers loved seeing Ed daily and described him as a “true gentleman!” They were amazed by the unbreakable bond between father and son that Ed and Eddie shared.

Even though Ed lived his entire life in Chelsea, he was a great outdoorsman. He loved the ocean and the woods! One of his greatest pleasures was spending weeks with his son in the great woods of upper rural mountainous Maine. This was a tradition they carried on for decades beginning in the ‘60s and extending through the final months of his life.

Ed was the most senior member of the Chelsea Yacht Club where he enjoyed his almost daily “half cup of coffee” and conversations. Ed was a member of the Polish American Veterans of Chelsea as well as a senior member of the Polish Political Club of Chelsea.

In addition to being a US Army Air Corps veteran of World War II, he was a member of the Chelsea Yacht Club, PPC and PAV Post 13 Chelsea.  

Ed had to be one of the strongest men; he met every trial and tribulation that came his way with immense strength and dignity. His strength was unparalleled and evident right through his final hours.

Ed was well known to voice his opinions in life and he always erred on the side of the underdog because of his true compassion and how caring of a person he was.

Ed was truly a family man first and he proudly stated that. He loved his children and felt great joy and love when his two grandchildren were born; he spent countless days with both of them as infants and children. “Grandpa” was seen by many walking hand-in-hand, going to the park to play, or teaching them how to count. One of his proudest days was seeing his grandson, Paul, graduate from the Massachusetts State Police Academy. A testament of his grandchildren’s love was made evident as they never left Grandpa’s side in his final days.

Ed touched so many people in his long life. Unfortunately, many of his friends and family have passed but the many that remain will sadly and deeply miss him. Ed will live on in their memories and hearts and he will watch down on them from Heaven where he is now reunited with the “love of his life.”

“Dad” and “Grandpa” was truly a great man and there aren’t enough words to explain the extent of love his family has for him and the amount that he will be missed.

Visiting hours will be held today, Thursday Feb. 20 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea.  Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend.  His Funeral will be held on Friday at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, 163 Chestnut St., Chelsea at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. 

 Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN. 38105-1905. 

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