Obituaries 10-25-2018

Elisa Cortes-DeJesus

Long time Chelsea and State social worker and advocate for the Hispanic Community

Elisa Cortes DeJesus of Saugus, formerly of Chelsea, born on May 10, 1949 in Arroyo, Puerto Rico, passed away recently.

She spent her early years on the island and met her husband, Jose Otero Valentin in the city of Santurce, Puerto Rico.  They had two children, Jose Otero Jr. and Elsa Otero.

She moved off the island after her divorce and settled in Chelsea in the early 1970’s. She worked, put herself through school to earn a Master’s Degree in education from Antioch University and became a social worker and an advocate for the Hispanic community. She was also employed by the City of Chelsea and then by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, where she worked in the Department of Transitional Assistance for many years. She was also involved with the Puerto Rican festival committee for several years.

She lived in Chelsea for most of her life and eventually moved to Saugus in 2009 with her husband of 19 years, Jose Ocasio.

She was the devoted mother of Jose Otero and his companion, Colleen Lewis and Elsa Otero and her companion, Esteban Caraballo; beloved sister of Maggie Paris and Eduardo Paris, both of Puerto Rico and the late Enrique Paris and Victor DeJesus; cherished grandmother of Angel Andrades, Alexandria Andrades, Cristian Alas, Rosario Alas and Dante Otero and is also lovingly survived by her great grandson Xavier Ferreira as well as by many nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Smith Funeral Home, Chelsea. Interment was at Riverside Cemetery, Saugus. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions in her name be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty Street, Danvers, MA 01923.

Silvia Todisco

Todisco family matriach

Silvia N. (Casacchia) Todisco of Danvers formerly of East Boston and Chelsea, passed away on Oct. 20 surrounded by her devoted family at the Kaplan Family Hospice House.

Silvia was the matriach of the Todisco Family. She loved spending time with her family and grandchildren. She was an avid bingo player, loved day trips to Salem Willows, going on walks and shopping. She will be missed by all.

 

Silvia was born in Argentina on February 5, 1936 to Serafino and Serafina (Sigliano) Casacchia. She met her husband, Pasquale Todisco in Argentina and they were married on November 5, 1955. They had two children, Silvia and Lillian, in Argentina before immigrating to the United States in 1959.

Silvia was the devoted mother of Silvia C. Todisco of Danvers, Lillian Briguglio of Peabody, Adelina A. Todisco of Danvers, Pasquale Todisco and his wife Kathleen of Peabody and Lydia Todisco-Lombard of Lynn.

She is also survived by her loving brother Armando Casacchia of Spain and was pre- deceased by five brothers and five sisters.

Silvia was the cherished grandmother of Juliana, Palma, Christina, Pasquale, Michael, Stephen Todisco, Anthony, Gina, Amanda, Steven Lombard, Nicole, Gianna and Robert and the adored great-grandmother of 21 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews as well as her two special canines, Sonny and Tippy Toe.

Family and friends will honor Silvia’s life by gathering at the Ruggiero Family Memorial Home, 971 Saratoga St., East Boston today, Thursday morning at 9:30 before leaving in procession to St. Anthony’s Church, Revere St., Revere at 11 a.m. Services will conclude with Silvia being laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Pasquale at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Salem.

The family would like to send a heartfelt thank-you to the staff of Care Dimensions and the Kaplan Family Hospice House.

Flowers are appreciated and memorial donations may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA or Shriners Hospital.

Daniel Hooley

Retired carpenter

Daniel F. Hooley of Chelsea, formerly of Charlestown and Everett, passed away on Sunday, Oct. 21 at the Boston Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 67 years old.     Born and raised in Charlestown, a son of the late Robert   C. and Marguerite T. (Aspell) Hooley, Daniel attended Boston Trade School, graduating with a proficiency in carpentry.

He enlisted into the US Marine Corps and served honorably during the Vietnam Era.   He returned to the area after his discharge and worked for most of his life as a freelance journeyman carpenter with various construction companies. He also worked for Harvard Floors in Melrose as a delivery man. He was medically retired in ’79. He settled in Chelsea several years ago coming from Everett where he had resided for many years.

In his lifetime, he enjoyed working with his hands, crafting many useful items and furniture from coffee tables to cradles and rocking horses. These items are still used and cherished by his children, grandchildren and many extended family members. Daniel is survived by his beloved wife of 34 years, Joanne E. Hooley at home in Chelsea. He was the devoted father of Daniel F. Hooley and his wife, Lori of Andover, Paul M. Hooley and his wife, Lisa of Lynn and Nicole Hooley of Kingston NH.   He was the cherished grandfather of Tyler, Kyle and Cadagan Hooley, Cameron, Jaidyn and Jaxon Hooley, Jimmy DeLuca and Devin Royall; dear brother of Robert C. Hooley, Jean Marie Hooley and Carol Cardoso, all of Arizona and the late Diane Manning.

Family and friends are most kindly invited to attend a memorial gathering and remembrance service at the

Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Monday, Oct. 29 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Funeral Home is fully handicap accessible, ample parking opposite Funeral Home. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit:  www.WelshFuneralHome.com

Arrangements are by the care and direction of Anthony Memorial – Frank A. Welsh & Sons, Chelsea, 617-889-2723

Robert ‘Papa’ Pegram

Devoted to family and spirited conversations with loved ones from politics to horse racing

Robert W. “Papa” Pegram, a resident of Revere for the past five years, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 23. He was 76 years old.

Robert worked for many years as a shipping manager for Fidelity Sportswear in Everett.  He also worked for several years at “Sully’s” Variety Store on Broadway in Chelsea.

In his lifetime, he was devoted to family and collecting any and all things “Owl.” He also enjoyed spirited conversations with loved ones from politics to horse racing.

He was the beloved son of the late William J. and Laura (Vecchie) Pegram.

He was born in Baltimore, MD and raised in Somerville.  At the age of 17, his family settled in Chelsea and he resided in the Chelsea neighborhoods of Sagamore, Eastern and Webster Avenues for most of his life.

He married Frances (Landry) Pegram and they shared the last 41 years raising a family of four.

In addition to his beloved wife of  at home in Revere, he was the devoted father and father-in-law of: Linda Willyard and her husband, Donald of Revere, Linda Libby and her husband, John of Chelsea, Sabrina Surette and her late husband, William of Saugus, Kristine Mason and her husband, Steven of Leominster and Donna Beaulieu of Florida; cherished grandfather “Papa” of Samantha Williams and her husband, Matthew, Donald Willyard, Daniel Libby and his wife, Ashley, Nicholas and Madison Libby. Alexis Tyrrell, Jake Mason, Joshua, Barley and Serena Gualtieri and adored great-grandfather of Lucas Robert Williams.  He was the dear brother of Lindalee Pegram of Chelsea.

His Funeral will be conducted from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Saturday, Oct. 27, beginning at 12 noon. A prayer service will be held at 1 p.m.

Services will conclude at the Funeral Home.  Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend.  Visiting hours will be held at the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday from 4 to 8 p.m.

The Funeral Home is fully handicap accessible, ample parking opposite Funeral Home. Arrangements by: Anthony Memorial – Frank A. Welsh & Sons Chelsea.   For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com.

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