Mary Denehy
Of North Reading, formerly of Chelsea
Mary (Yannetty) Denehy of North Reading, formerly of Lynn, East Boston and Chelsea, died on August 14.
Mrs. Denehy was a member of the Lynn Senior Citizens YMCA Group, a long time volunteer at Union Hospital, attended Spectrum from 2004 to 2007 and was a member of the Red Hats Society of Spectrum.
She was the wife of Francis Denehy; mother of Jane Blake and her husband, Richard, of North Reading, and Fran King and her husband, Henry, of Danvers; daughter of the late Ceasar and Michelina Yannetty; beloved nonna of Christine MacNevin and her husband, Ryan, Gabriel Finocchietti and his wife, Elicia, Emily Blake, 1st Lt. US Army William King, James Blake and Lisa Finocchietti; sister of the late Ceasar and Edward Yannetty; sister in law of Rosemary Yannetty of East Boston, Margueritte Yannetty of Winthrop and Lorraine Dockerty of Peabody. She is also survived by several loving nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral will be held from the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St. (corner of Park St. and Rte. 28), North Reading at Reading line today, Thursday, August 19 at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St .(Rte 62), North Reading at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to either the Spectrum Adult Day Health Program, 600 Cummings Center, Suite 176X, Beverly, MA 01915 or Angel Flight NE, 492 Sutton St., North Andover, MA 01845. www.cotafuneralhomes.com
Anthony Williams
Revere resident
Anthony Williams of Revere died on August 16.
He was the cherished son of Claire (Calderone), formerly of East Boston, and the late Daniel Williams; dear brother of Daniel Williams and his wife, Lisa, of Florida and the late Edward Williams; loving nephews of Phyllis Varricchio of Chelsea, Gloria Calderone of Revere, Mary Cavaleri, Joseph Calderone and George Calderone, all of East Boston; fond uncle of Michelle and Nick. He also leaves many cousins.
His Funeral will be held from Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, 262 Beach Street, Revere, Friday at 9 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Anthony’s Church, Revere, at 10 a.m. Family and friends may visit today, Thursday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. For directions and guest book, www.vazzafunerals.com
Alan Bockser
Revere resident
Alan M. Bockser of Revere, formerly of Lynn, died on August 8.
A US Navy veteran of World War II, he was the former husband of Lillian (Greenwald); loving father of Jeffrey Bockser of California and Gary Bockser of Chelsea; cherished son of the late Bennie and Pauline (Marks) Bockser.
Private funeral arrangements at the family’s request were entrusted to Vazza’s “Beechwood” Funeral Home, Revere.
George Finn
Jordan Marsh/Macy’s retiree, big man with a big heart
George Finn died July 28 following a brief illness.
He was a city boy to the core, living much of his life in the South End, Charlestown and South Boston. Upon retirement he moved to Chelsea, or as he was fond of saying, “Chelsea by the Sea”. He loved life and enjoyed a wide variety of interests including literature, art, antiques, politics, travel, and music. An enthusiastic Bostonian and a good Irishman, he fully capitalized on the opportunities to celebrate in the city’s neighborhood events. Bunker Hill Day in Charlestown and St. Patrick’s Day in South Boston were opportunities for George and Isabelle to throw open their home, put out generous spreads of great food and refreshments, and fill the house with the music of Mozart blasting from the stereo. Classical music and Italian opera were part of George’s daily life including his final days at Beth Israel hospital.
He graduated from Newman Prep in 1953 and was also a member of the St. Paul’s Choir School in Cambridge. In 1957 he entered the Jordan Marsh Executive Training Program and worked his entire career at Jordan Marsh, then Macy’s, in downtown Boston. He held multiple sales and management positions before retiring in 1998. At Jordan Marsh and Macy’s he was friend and mentor to many fellow employees and active in organizing Jordan’s charitable activities for the needy of Boston. George was a big man with a big heart. At Jordan Marsh he started what became a lifelong habit of caring for the less fortunate. He was an enthusiastic supporter of four favorite charities: The Pine Street Inn, Rosie’s Place, HEARTH Boston, and Partners In Health. Helping the less fortunate was a commitment George willingly accepted, as he quietly helped others find employment, housing, clothing or a hot meal. He also encouraged others in charitable work, including his nieces and nephews, who participated in many volunteer efforts organized by George at The Pine Street Inn and Rosie’s Place.
Mr. Finn traveled extensively. For many years he traveled to Europe each spring for a month with his sister, Isabelle. Their travels included Ireland, England, Portugal, Spain, Yugoslavia, Paris, and the south of France. Ultimately Italy became a favorite destination and each year they visited a new region including Tuscany, Venice, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast. He also organized several memorable large family trips to Europe. In 2001 he invited nieces, nephews and friends to travel with him on a trip to Ireland, in celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of his brother Albert and sister-in-law Theresa. In 2006 he organized a family trip to a 15th century villa in the rural Chianti wine region of Tuscany, providing lifelong memories that his nieces and nephews will cherish forever.
His irreverent attitude toward life made him a loved and colorful presence among family and friends alike. Fond memories of his generosity and humor will remain with all of us lucky enough to know him. All will miss his big heart and his sense of humor.
He is survived by his brother, Albert E. Finn, and his sister-in-law, Theresa, of Marblehead. He was the brother of the late Isabelle Finn and William and Richard Finn. He is also survived by 10 nieces and nephews and 17 grand nieces and nephews and his dear friend, Denise Sullivan of Milton.
Burial was private. A Memorial Mass will be said on August 28 at 10 a.m. at the Star of the Sea Church, 80 Atlantic Ave., Marblehead. Relatives and friends are invited. In lieu of flowers donations in memory of George may be made to The Pine Street Inn or Rosie’s Place.
Luis Rodriguez Jr.
Died Tragically
Luis R. Rodriguez, a resident of Chelsea since the age of eight, died tragically on August 10 at the Massachusetts General Hospital is Boston after suffering fatal injuries. He was 29 years old.
Born in Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico, he was the son of Luis R. Sr. of Chelsea and the late Wanda (Miranda) Rodriguez.
He was educated in Chelsea Public Schools and worked as a cook in the kitchen of Jerry Remy’s Sports Bar and Grill at Logan Airport. He enjoyed watching and playing football as well as boxing. He trained with the Ruiz brothers and also earned a championship belt. He was caring man, who was loved by all and a great father.
He is survived by his loving children; Nelitza Marie, Luis Jr. and Rhianna. He was the loving son of Luis Sr. and the stepson of Noemi Rodriguez of Chelsea; dear brother of Luis A., Jonathan, Joshua and Kiani. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
A Funeral Service was celebrated at the Pentecostal Church of God on Cary Avenue in Chelsea last Monday. Services concluded with burial in Oak Lawn Cemetery, (Roslindale) Boston. Funeral Arrangements were entrusted to the care and direction of the Frank A. Welsh and Sons Funeral Home.
Lissa Onerdonk
Longtime educator at Shore Collaborative in Chelsea
Lissa (Deigert) Onerdonk of Somerville died of gastroparesis at home on August 11 surrounded by family and friends.
Born in Washington DC, she moved to the Boston area in 1975 to attend Lesley College. She was a peace activist from the age of 16. She was active in the Central America anti-war movement of the 1980’s and attended numerous peace actions of all kinds. In her 20’s and 30’s she taught modern dance. She was a one of a kind friend and colleague and loving partner.
The work for which she will be most remembered is her skill at working with children and her dedication to bettering the lives of kids, particularly those with special needs. She started her career in education down south and in 1977 she joined Shore Educational Collaborative in Chelsea as a student teacher. For 26 years she worked at Shore, first as a teacher, then as a Curriculum Coordinator, a Program Director and finally as Shore’s first Director of Consultation and Professional Development from which she had to take a leave in 2004 to begin a courageous six year battle with illness.
For 30 years the “better half” of Paul Shannon of Somerville, she was the loving daughter of the late Robert Campbell Deigert and the late Joan Lozier Thomas; beloved sister of Robert Deigert and his wife, Juliete Deigert, of Edmunds, WA, and of Joan B. Deigert and her husband, H. Robert Colgate, of Arlington, WA; doting aunt of Sabrina Deigert of Edmunds, WA; loving cousin of William Webster of Roanoke, VA and much loved step-daughter of the late Robert Clarke of Fairview, NC and the late Dan Justad of Everett. She was the former young wife of the late David Onderdonk of North Carolina
She leaves behind many broken hearts of friends, family, colleagues, parents and students who were graced by her friendship and skills and who will carry her generous spirit forward into a world that desperately needs it.
A memorial service will be scheduled in September at Shore Educational Collaborative in Chelsea. In lieu of flowers, donations in her name can be made to the Shore Educational Collaborative Foundation, 100 Revere Beach Parkway, Chelsea, MA 02150.
Carmela Yebba
Chelsea resident
Carmela E. Yebba, of Chelsea died Monday at home after a long illness. She was 85 years old.
Born in Medford, she lived in Chelsea for the past 48 years and was formerly of Medford.
She was the daughter of the late Angelina (Santoro) and Gabriel Donadio; beloved wife of the late Salvatore A. Yebba Sr.; devoted mother of Carmela Armano and her husband, Anthony, of Concord, NH, Salvatore A. Yebba Jr. and his wife, Robin, of Londonderry, NH, Janette Giso and her husband, Michael, of Chelsea, and the late Betty Sue Masterson; loving grandmother of Maria Porter, Toni Anne Gooch, Jason, Kelly and Brian Reese, Melissa Malley, Melinda Smith, Gina and Anthony Giso; loving great grandmother of Stephanie Tibbetts, Benjamin and Addison Reese, Ava Malley, Faith Gooch, Timothy Malley Jr. and the late Luciana Maria Gooch. She was the sister of Chester Donadio of Burlington, Marguerite Guerrera of Onset, June Gold of Woburn, and the late Janette Filosi.
Her Funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford on Saturday at 8 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass to be celebrated in Our Lady of Grace, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea, at 9 a.m.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours are Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be sent in her name to the Hallmark Health VNA and Hospice, 178 Savin St., Suite 300, Malden, MA 02148.
For directions and guestbook www.dellorusso.net