Linda Griffin
January 14, 1958 – November 14, 2021
Linda K. (Strishock) Griffin passed away on Sunday morning, November 14 while at the Elliott Hospital in Manchester, NH surrounded by her loved ones. She was 63 years of age and lived courageously with cancer for the last nine years.
Born in Peoria, Illinois, she was a beloved daughter of the late John E. Strishock, Sr. and Ada L (Newman) Chotkowski. Linda came to Chelsea when she was four years old, grew up in Chelsea and attended local schools.
She was the beloved wife of 40 years to Anthony L. Griffin, Jr. and was a resident of Chelsea for most of her life until settling in Londonderry, NH with her husband and family 25 years ago.
She worked from home as the chief operating officer and co-owner of Griffin Builders, a local family-owned construction company, for 40 years. Her life centered around her home, she loved gardening and landscaping. She would frequently entertain and host family and friends in her Londonderry home, known to many as “The Griffin Compound.” She enjoyed spending leisure time with friends and family at Foxwoods and annual leaf peeping up north with her husband. But her greatest joy came when she welcomed her darling granddaughter “Gracie” into her life and she most enjoyed the time spent with her.
In addition to her parents, Linda was also predeceased by her sister, Shirley Edmark–Zucchari. She was the beloved wife of 40 years to Anthony L. Griffin, Jr. , devoted mother of Tracy A. Jobity of Derry, NH and Anthony L. Griffin, III of Lowell; cherished grandmother of Alivia Grace Jobity, dear sister and sister-in-law of John Strishock and his wife, Debra of Salem, NH and Donna Jones and Carol Pantano, both of Revere. She is also survived by her “better child,” Taylor Allen of Tampa FL, her many nieces, nephews, extended family, friends and her canine “Fur Baby,” Holly.
Visiting hours will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, November 18 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. Her Funeral will be from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday, November 19 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at the Immaculate Conception Church, 133 Beach St., Revere at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
To send expressions of sympathy, visit www.welshFH.com.
Emily Louise Mugford
She Will Be Missed by All Who Loved Her
Emily Louise Mugford, 93, entered eternal rest on Wednesday morning, November 10 at her home in Medford surrounded by her loving care takers. She was 93 years of age.
Born in Chelsea, the daughter of the late Roland D. and Minnie (Penney) Mugford, Emily was raised in Everett and was a longtime resident before moving into a group home in Medford, where she has been living for the past 10 years.
A late member of the Calvary Christian Church in Lynnfield, she will be greatly missed by all who loved her within her church and group home family.
The sister of the late Harvey R. Mugford, she was also the aunt of William and Jean Mugford of New Hampshire.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Emily’s visiting hours at the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., Chelsea today, Thursday, November 18 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. Funeral services will follow the visitation in the Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Services will conclude with interment at Glenwood Cemetery in Everett.
For the protection of the public health, we kindly ask those not vaccinated to please wear a mask or facial covering. Masks are optional for all those vaccinated.
Hazel Winifred Ells
“HAZEL” Everyone’s “Nana”
Hazel Winifred (Walters) Ells entered eternal life on Thursday, November 4. She has been in residence at Winchester Nursing Center receiving supportive care over the past year. She was 102 years of age.
Born in Chelsea on March 17, 1919, she was a beloved daughter of the late Samuel and Marion (Magoun) Walters. She attended the Shurtleff School in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School with the class of ’37.
She married George Zielinski and together they began1 to raise a family from their Pearl Street home in Chelsea. She was widowed suddenly when her beloved husband, George passed away. A young mother of three, five years later, Hazel married John A. Ells. They remained in the Zielinski Home on Pearl Street for many years.
Hazel worked outside of her home for many years. In the 1940’s during WW II, Hazel worked for JA Cigar Factory in Charlestown and she was a bookkeeper at a tomato produce company near her home on Pearl St. She was a member of the “ILGWU” ladies’ garment workers union and worked for many years with Boston based Goddess Bra Company. Hazel was a talented and sought-after seamstress fashioning countless wedding and prom gowns, costumes and outfits for dance troupes and other garments from her home for family and friends.
She was a resident of Chelsea for most of her life. Hazel and John later made their home on County Road living with her dear in-laws Frank and Estelle Zielinski.
Hazel retired from work becoming “everyone’s Nana.” She and John purchased a pop-up camper to spend weekends camping with her grandchildren and friends and Hazel relished that time camping all around New England. Hazel loved to spend evenings around a campfire regaling her friends and grandchildren with heartwarming and entertaining stories.
She enjoyed traveling to Arizona and Las Vegas visiting her son and his family. She was a charter member of the Friendly Neighbor’s Club hosting weekly meetings from her home. Hazel was a resident of Chelsea for most of her life. A few years ago, she moved in with her daughter, Patricia in New Hampshire and recently with her daughter, Eileen in Rockport. Wherever she lived, she left a legacy of love living a full and wonderful life.
In addition to her parents and husband, George, she was again widowed in ’98 when John Ells passed on. She was also predeceased by her son, George Zielinski, grandson, David Middleton and her siblings: William Walters, Edith Radziewicz, Alfred Walters and Samuel Walters; her dearly beloved in-laws, Estelle and Frank Zielinski and her lifelong friend, Frances MacDonald.
She was the devoted and forever loved mother of Patricia Middleton and her husband, Robert of Greenfield, NH, George’s wife, Carol Zielinski of Arizona and Eileen “Leenie” Bradley and her husband, Hugh “Butch” of Rockport; cherished grandmother of Michael Middleton, James Middleton, Shane Zielinski, Wade Zielinski, William Bradley and his wife, Eileen; adoring great-grandmother of Lara Middleton, Olyvia, Bailey and Willow Middleton, Shayna Zielinski-Johnson, Arrow Zielinski, Maggie Bradley, and Max Bradley; loving great great-grandmother of Aubrey, Jamison, Karizma, Alyssa, Nikoli. Hazel is also survived by many extended family members of the Ells and Zielinski Families.
A celebration of “HAZEL’S WONDERFUL LIFE” will be announced and held later when friends and family can gather safely to remember this most special woman.
Arrangements by the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea. To send expressions of sympathy, visit www.welshFH.com.
John DePaulo, Jr.
His Thoughtful Ways Are What Made Him so Special to Everyone
Family and friends are invited to gather in St. Anthony of Padua Church, 250 Revere St.,
Revere on Friday, November 19, at 10 a.m., with the family of John P. DePaulo, Jr., 68, who died on Friday, November 5 at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston following a brief illness. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. followed with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
John was born in Boston to John P. DePaulo, Sr. and Violet A. (Arinello) DePaulo. He was raised in Chelsea and was a proud graduate of Malden Catholic High School, Class of 1970.
A longtime resident of both Chelsea and Brighton, he was a graduate of Malden Catholic H.S., Class of 1970 and continued to further his education, something he valued, by earning his BA in Psychology from Fitchburg State College.
John worked for Mass Health for 10 years as a Patient Care Advocate and prior at the Vinfen Corporation of Cambridge as a Respite Counselor to the developmentally disabled members of the community and their families. He canvassed and petitioned for consumer and environmental issues. John was also a successful fund raiser for several medical care associations and various non–profit groups. He was passionate about social issues in which he believed.
He was an avid communicant at St. Columbkille Parish in Brighton, where he made his home for the past 20 years. John was a huge Boston Sports fan, the Celtics, Patriots and especially the Red Sox. The family members always knew that they would receive a phone call after the game, with his commentary about a play or call.
He made friends very easily because of the type of person he was, He loved his family, unequivocally. John was always sending out cards to his brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, grandnieces or grand nephews for birthdays, holidays or special events or celebrations in their lives. His thoughtful ways are what made him so special to everyone.
He was the loving brother of Donna M. Metcalf and her husband, Neil of Kingston, Richard J. DePaulo and his wife, Anna of San Francisco, CA, Stephen J. DePaulo and his wife, Sue Yen of Marblehead, Diane F. Crowley and her husband, William of Rockland, Denise R. Lynch and her husband, Michael of Atkinson, NH and Maria A. DiCenso and her husband, Domenic of Winthrop; he was the cherished and proud uncle of 13 nieces and nephews and 15 grandnieces and grandnephews. He is also lovingly survived by many friends, parishioners and neighbors at St. Columbkille Parish. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to St. Columbkille Parish Fund, 321 Market St., Brighton, MA 02135.
To send online condolences, please visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com.
Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals.
James Tanner
FDA Retiree, Former Mass DAV State Commander and Treasurer and Lifelong Patriot
James H. Tanner of Lynn passed away October 9 at the age of 73, following a brief illness.
He was the son of the late Edith V. (Dahlquist) Tanner and John J. Tanner of Chelsea.
Jim leaves his loving wife, Nadine H. Mironchuk, beloved son, Daniel and grandson Cyrus of Lynn. Jim was predeceased by his cherished wife, Donna (Higgins) Tanner.
Jim graduated from Everett Vocational High School in 1966 and subsequently graduated from ITT Technical Institute, Bryant and Stratton Junior College and Northeastern University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Technology.
He was a veteran of the United States Navy serving with VAQ-33, an aviation Electronic Counter Measures squadron on both aircraft carriers U.S.S. Intrepid and U.S.S Independence.
Jim worked in the medical device industry for over 35 years and was employed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as an investigator for more than 26 years. He retired as the FDA’s New England District Medical Device Specialist. He was the first FDA-certified Medical Device Auditor, conducting audits, investigations, and training nationwide and in England and Japan.
He earned many FDA awards, including two individual FDA Commendable Service Awards for recognizing and tracking failures of critical medical devices and for infant sleep apnea monitors, which resulted in the prevention of serious physical injuries or deaths to patients.
Jim was active in the Disabled American Veterans and served as both the
Massachusetts State Commander and State Treasurer; the Chelsea Chapter DAV Commander; President of the national DAV State Commanders Association and as a DAV National Executive Committee member. He was recognized by the DAV and Veterans Administration for having 2,500 volunteer hours at the Bedford (MA) VA Hospital as a DAV Service Officer advocate, assisting veterans in obtaining their earned benefits.
He was a Notary Public, a member of the Cary Square Club in Chelsea, the Gen. Lander Civil War Round Table in Lynn, the South Weymouth Naval Air Station VP Association, the Massachusetts Selective Service System Appeals Board and the American Society of Quality, where he was a senior member and a Certified Qualified Auditor.
Following his retirement, Jim traveled around the country with his late wife Donna while she proudly served as National Commander of the DAV Auxiliary, and, following her passing,
with Nadine, an amateur Civil War historian and editor of historical publications. He enjoyed photography, studying history, traveling to Civil War battlefields with his Civil War Round Table friends, living part-time in St. Petersburg, FL, socializing with his many companions and friends, and – especially – spending time with his dear grandson, Cyrus.
He was an amateur genealogist, finding out recently that he was a descendant of Roger Williams, a Puritan dissident who left Massachusetts for Rhode Island, where he could escape the oppression of the Boston Puritans.
A Celebration of Life in honor of Jim will be held Friday, November 19 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DAV’s Lt. Dexter W. Clifford Chapter 85 Hall, 85 Willow St., Malden where military honors will be held. A buffet lunch will follow. All are welcome to attend and share memories of a lifelong patriot; a loyal friend; and a loving husband, father and grandfather. Inurnment in Bay Pines National Cemetery in Tampa, FL, will take place at a later date.