Obituaries 10-07-2021

Theresa Recupero

Great Baker Who Loved to Play Bingo and Watch the Boston Red Sox

Theresa (Fantasia) Recupero of Revere died on October 3 at the age of 88. 

Theresa enjoyed the holidays when the entire family would get together. She was a great baker who loved to play bingo and watch the Boston Red Sox.  Theresa was a member of the Revere Senior Center. 

Born in Chelsea on January 11, 1933 to the late Cosimo and Virginia Fantasia, she was the beloved wife of 38 years to the late Frank Recupero; devoted mother of Raymond Recupero of Lynn and the late Donna Montalto and her surviving husband, Mark; cherished grandmother of Marko and Franki Montalto and dear sister of the late Doris Arrigo, Margaret Lifrierri, Salvatore Fantasia, Fannie Keller, Jennie Zullo and Mary Colarossi.  She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. 

Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home 128 Revere St, Revere.  Interment was in Woodlawn Cemetery. 

 In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Theresa’s name to the Jimmy Fund P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or at www.jimmyfund.org/gift. 

For guest book please visit www.buonfiglio.com.

Helen Gerace

May 24, 1961 – September 18, 2021

On Sunday September 19, Helen A. Gerace passed away unexpectedly in the peaceful surroundings of her home in Amesbury.  She was 58 years old.

Born in Medford, the beloved daughter of Ruth M. (McCarthy) Gerace and the late Harry L. Gerace, Sr., she grew up in Chelsea, was a graduate of St. Rose High School and continued her education at Mt. Ida College. She was a resident of Chelsea for most of her life and was devoted to home and family raising two daughters and a son.

Helen also worked outside of her home for several years with the Chelsea School Dept. as a substitute elementary school teacher.

Helen moved to Tewksbury 21 years ago and resided in Amesbury for the last five years. While living in Tewksbury, she continued working as a substitute teacher in the Tewksbury school system. She was a member of the Medford Running Club.

In her lifetime, Helen loved spending time at the beach where she enjoyed just listening to the waves. She had a great knowledge of history and loved sharing that knowledge with her students and family. She will be remembered for her witty personality, living unapologetically as herself. You’d never find her trying to be anything but. She was a light in the dark for those who needed it most. Leaving behind those she loved so dearly she would want everyone to celebrate her life and not mourn her passing. She would often say with a smile, “You can pick your friends, you can pick your nose, but you can’t pick your friend’s nose”.

Helen was the beloved mother of Rasmia Ahmed and her fiancé, Christopher Spahn of Spokane, WA, Samia Ahmed and Ibraheem Ahmed; loving daughter of Ruth (McCarthy) Gerace of No. Attleboro and the late Harry L. Gerace, Sr.; dear sister of Francis Gerace and his wife, Martina of Winchendon, Harry Gerace, Jr. and his wife, Mercy of Revere, Brian Gerace and his wife, Donna of Attleboro, Joseph Gerace and his wife, Ute of Jacksonville, NC, Marion Jones and her husband, Anthony of Wakefield and the late John Gerace who is survived by his wife, Rita Gerace of Acton. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

All services were private.

Should friends desire, contributions in Helen’s name may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115. www.ChildrensHospital.org/Donate.

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

For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit, www.WelshFH.com.

Helen Holland

May 18, 1941 – September 28, 2021

Helen B. Holland passed away on Tuesday, September 28 after living courageously, fighting and surviving with devastating illness for several years. 

Born and raised in Chelsea, a beloved daughter of the late Ray L. and Marion (Armstrong) MacGinnis, she was a lifelong resident of Chelsea, attended local schools and was a graduate of Chelsea High School, class of 1959.  She married Donald Holland in 1963 and raised a family of two sons and one daughter.  Helen was devoted to home and family for much of her life. 

She also worked for 20 years as a home health aide with Intercity Home Health before retiring in 2001. Helen was widowed in 2010 after sharing 47 years with her beloved husband. 

As a young lady, Helen enjoyed bowling with local leagues.  As years progressed and her family grew, she welcomed six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She enjoyed spending annual summer vacations with her daughter and “her boys” traveling to Lake George, NY, Old Orchard Beach, ME, Cape Cod, and various spots along the seashore and New England. Her later years revolved around spending time with her family, luncheon dates and going to the movies with friends. 

In addition to her parents and her beloved husband, Donald F. Holland, Sr., she was also predeceased by her only sister, Marion McDonough. She is survived by her loving children and their mates: Donald F. Holland, Jr. and his wife, Geri of Chelsea, Patricia Swarms and her husband, Daniel of Somerville and Raymond Holland and his companion, Dianne Quinn of Lowell.  She was the cherished grandmother of Kerri Cooley, Keri Ross, Samuel, Maxwell and Jacob Swarms, Angela Rose and adored great-grandmother of seven. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

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

A private family farewell service concluded with Helen being placed to rest with her husband in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

Should friends desire, contributions in Helen’s name may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.  https://donate3.cancer.org.

For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit, www.WelshFH.com.

Roberta Johnson

September 6, 1952 – September 30, 2021

Roberta M. Johnson, 63, passed away on Thursday, September 30 after a brief illness. 

Born and raised in Chelsea, she was a loving daughter of the late Herbert F. Sr., and Catherine (Smith) Johnson. 

A lifelong resident of Chelsea, she attended local schools and was the beloved spouse of 42 years to Wigberto Ramos.  Together they raised their daughter and welcomed two grandchildren. 

Roberta devoted her life to home and family. She enjoyed relaxing, playing games of chance and was a talented knitter creating many useful items for family and friends. 

She is survived by her beloved husband Wigberto Ramos of Chelsea and the devoted mother of Theresa Garcia and her husband, Nathan of San Antonio, TX; cherished grandmother of Charlotte and Samuel Garcia, both at home in San Antonio; the dear sister of Carolyn Johnson of Lynn and Herbert F. Johnson, Jr. of Peabody; adored aunt of Kim DiGaetano, Lisa Johnson, Edward Findlay and the late Robert Findlay and great-aunt of Brandon Moore, Hayley Moore, Frankie DiGaetano and Jayden Findlay.

Visiting hours will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, October 7 from 4 to 8 P.M.  Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend.  In order to protect the public health, we advise that all visitors wear face masks while in the Funeral Home.  Funeral services will be conducted from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday, October 8 at 11 a.m.  Services will conclude with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. 

 Ample parking opposite funeral home. 

Should friends desire, contributions in Roberta’s name may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1905. www.StJude.org/donate. 

For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit: www.WelshFH.com

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