Obituaries 06-27-2019

William Berry

US Postal Service retiree

William L. “Bill” Berry of Uxbridge, formerly of Chelsea, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his home on June 11. 

Bill was born Dec. 6, 1957 in Boston to Mildred and George Berry. He grew up in Chelsea and graduated from St. Rose Elementary School in Chelsea and Dominic Savio High School in East Boston. Bill attended Salem State College and retired from the US Postal Service after 30 years of service. 

Bill loved spending time in New Hampshire ever since he was a Cub Scout, particularly in The Loon Mountain / Lincoln area. He spent the last four summers there and made many friends in the Lincoln, North Woodstock area and beyond.

He was an avid reader and more recently enjoyed reading early American history.  

His love of music and sports particularly the Bruins was widely apparent. He was thrilled to be able to attend several Bruins playoff games this season. He had a knack for music, playing the guitar and piano – playing by ear and reading music. He was venturing to learn a new instrument – the harmonica. 

Bill was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Steve and his beloved wife and best friend, Mary Alice (McShane). He is survived by his much-loved stepson Andrew Forget of Pawtucket, RI, his sister Millie Berry of Lincoln, NH and brother George Berry of Everett and is also survived by many cousins, in-laws and relatives and friends too numerous to list.  

We are all devastated and heartbroken that this kind gentle soul is no longer with us. He left his mark on everyone who met him with his kindness, respect for all and his unique sense of humor. Our only consolation is that he is resting in the arms of his beloved Mary Alice. We will forever love him and never forget the indelible mark he left on all who knew him. 

Services for Bill will be held on Saturday, June 29 from 1to 4 p.m. in the Buma Funeral Home, 101 North Main St. (Rt 122), Uxbridge. Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice in memory of Bill or to the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, 155 E. 55th Street, Suite 6 H, New York, NY 10022.   www.bumafuneralhome.com 

Joanna DeJesus

Oct 31, 1985 – June 17, 2019

Joanna DeJesus of Chelsea passed away at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston on Monday, June 17 after battling cancer for the past three years. She was 33 years old.

Born in Boston, a beloved daughter of Marisol Menendez of Chelsea and Jose Antonio DeJesus, Joanna resided in Chelsea and attended local schools. She was a devoted homemaker and mother to her three children, all at home in Chelsea.

In her lifetime Joanna enjoyed music and dancing. She will forever be remembered as a great friend and confidant, always available to listen and offer kind advice to family and friends.

In addition to her parents, Joanna is lovingly survived by her beloved children, Janeli Lopez, Janesi Lopez and Francisco Lopez. She was the dear sister of Jennifer DeJesus, Chantal Cuevas and Henry Cuevas. She is also survived by several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and many extended family members and friends.

Services for Joanna were held at the Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I. Puerta de Refugio, Pentecostal Church of God, Chelsea on June 20. Interment was in Holy Cross Cemetery Malden. Arrangements were under the care and direction of the Anthony Memorial – Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, Chelsea.

Frederick Robert Kelley Jr.

Owner and operator of Kelley Equipment Company; served on the Chelsea Planning Board

Frederick Robert Kelley Jr. of Chelsea and Little Neck, Ipswich passed peacefully surrounded by his family at the Kaplan Family Hospice House on June 22, 2019.  He was 83 years old.

Born and raised in Chelsea, Fred attended St. Rose School and graduated from Chelsea High School in 1954.  He was a graduate of Newbury Junior College and served in the US Army for two separate tours from 1957 to 1962.  A self employed business man, Fred was the proud owner and operator of Kelley Equipment Company serving the Greater Boston Area and Northshore for over 40 years.

A generous and caring man, Fred will best be remembered for his laughter and big heart.   He got great joy driving around visiting clients and continued working actively in the business until his last days. 

Fred had a tremendous love and loyalty to the City of Chelsea, raising his family on Garfield Ave and serving on the City Planning Board.  Through the years he also participated in many other community focused efforts. He cherished the lifelong friendships created in Chelsea and the memories of growing up on Library Street. Fred also got great joy from spending his summers on Little Neck in Ipswich  Club.  He and Maryalice spent over 45 years on the Neck with their children and grandchildren creating endless memories and friendships. He easily connected with all types of people and always found the good in everyone. He will be greatly missed by many.

The beloved and devoted husband of Maryalice (Quigley) Kelley, he was the loving father of Frederick R. Kelley III and his wife, Lauren of Melrose, Nancy “Trudy” Lydon and her husband, Jim of Reading and Kara Kelley of Charlestown; cherished grandfather of Frederick R. Kelley IV, Linnea Kelley, Ciara Lydon and Matthew Lydon; brother of Judy Morency and her husband, Omer of Everett and Claire O’Brien of Chelsea. He is also survived by numerous family members, nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held at the Gately Funeral Home, 79 W. Foster St. Melrose today, Thursday, June 27 from 3 to 7 p.m. Funeral procession from Gately Funeral Home on Friday morning June 28 at 9:15 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Most Blessed Sacrament Church, 1155 Main St. Wakefield at 10:15 a.m. Interment will be at Greenlawn Cemetery in Salem. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. In lieu of flowers ,memorial contributions may be made in Fred’s name to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty St. Danvers, MA 01903. To send a message of condolence please visitwww.gatelyfh.com

Teresa Duarte de Gutiérrez

Mother of the Rev. Edgar A. Gutierrez-Duarte, Pastor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea

Teresa Duarte de Guiterrez of Chelsea, formerly of Bogotá, Colombia, entered into eternal rest, Friday evening, June 21at the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett surrounded by her loving family.

She was the beloved daughter of the late José María Duarte and Pastora Contreras de Duarte and sister of Dr. Alberto Duarte Contreras, Jesus Duarte Contreras, José María (“Chepe”) Duarte Contreras and Enrique Duarte Contreras, all now deceased. Years after Pastora’s death, José María became a Roman Catholic Priest, being known thereafter as “Padre Duarte.”

Teresa married the late Víctor Manuel Gutiérrez Barriga, and gave birth to: Víctor Manuel Gutiérrez of West New York, NJ, Luz Teresa Gutierrez de Bustamante of Bogotá Colombia, the Reverend Edgar A. Gutierrez-Duarte, Pastor of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea, Rodrigo Gutierrez of West Palm Beach, Florida, and Juan Carlos Gutiérrez of Hackettstown, NJ. Teresa came to the United States on a US Resident Visa in 1980 and after hard labor she secured resident visas for all her sons who settled initially with her in New Jersey. She worked a few more years and then divided her time between her numerous family members in Colombia and the United States. She spent the last years of her life in Chelsea, being adored by the members of the St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and her family members who visited her often.

She was the beloved mother-in-law of Ana Gutierrez (Victor’s wife); Luis Eduardo Bustamante (Luz’ husband); Mark Goldstein (Rodrigo’s husband) and Andrea Luques (Juan Carlos’ wife); adored grandmother of Victor Gutierrez Jr. and Daniel Gutierrez, both of New Jersey, Kevin Gutierrez of El Paso, Texas, Luis Eduardo Bustamante of Berlin, Germany, Diana Carolina Bustamante of Madrid, Spain, Angélica Bustamante of Bogota Colombia, Lalo and Lina Gutierrez and Laura Gutierrez, all of New Jersey; great-grandmother of Valentin Severin Bustamante of Berlin, Germany, Lope and Miranda Porras Bustamante of Madrid, Spain, Selena, Amelia and Diana Gutierrez of El Paso, Texas, and Miguel and Geovanny Gutierrez of New Jersey. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives in the United States and abroad. 

Relatives and friends gathered for visiting hours on Monday, June 24 at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Chelsea.  A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday at St. Rose of Lima Church in Chelsea. Services concluded with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Carafa Family Funeral Home in Chelsea. 

Maria Falzone

May 28, 1952 – May 28, 2019

Maria Sono Falzone left this world behind with dignity, freed on May 28, 2019. The day she chose to pass away in the face of her terminal Liver Cancer. Just as she promised and intended, in the peaceful surroundings of her California desert home, surrounded by her loved ones.

Maria was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Natala (Marabella) Falzone and Giovani “John” Falzone. She attended local schools and received a college bachelor’s degree. She worked for a time with her father at John’s Pizza in Chelsea.

Maria had a love for entertaining and believed that acting would be the path she would like to follow. Later on, she would find that her real love and talent was in comedy. Her humor and wit together with the ability to find something funny in real life situations would lead her on a rewarding life journey.

Maria became a headline comedienne, earning appearance’s on Comedy Central and an HBO Comedy Special. She received invitations to perform for the USO, worked shows in Reno, NV, and locally at Giggles, Dick’s Beantown Comedy Vault and countless clubs from the east coast to the west and everywhere in between.

Fourteen years ago, a new path would emerge for Maria when she heard of a show called “Sex Rules.” She soon bought the rights to that show. This time using her wit and humor to inform students about safe sex practices. Her lectures where standing room only. She soon became a sought-after inspirational college lecturer. Her focus was not limited to safe sex practices but on how to prevent and avoid dangerous sexual abuse. Following her lectures, she would often be sought after from past attendees who would come to tell her how much her inspirational programs had a positive effect on them.

Maria found it personally rewarding having that kind of an impact on thousands of students. Her legacy continues as many of her programs are still viewed on social media. Maria had many roles in her life, the most important ones where mother-friend, daughter, big-sister, aunt, friend to many others, animal lover, entertainer and educator.

She was most devoted to her daughter, whatever endeavors she would pursue, Maria was there to support her, even becoming a “Scout Mom” at one time.

Maria loved to prepare Italian home style meals; she was a mother to many outside her home using her own brand of what she called “Sicilian-Yoga.” She also enjoyed traveling and opened her home as an Airbnb for dogs.

Maria will forever be loved and remembered by her daughter and best friend Natalie Hill of Burke, VA, her younger brother, Michael A. Falzone and his wife, Jess of Revere; her cherished nephews: Gianni Falzone of Boston, Nicholas Falzone of Somerville and Christian Falzone, stationed in Sault Ste. Marie, MI; her stepmother Janet Falzone of Yucca Valley, CA and her former husband, Robert Hill of Virginia.

  Family and friends are invited to celebrate, remember and share Maria’s Life stories on Sunday, June 30 from 3 to 7 p.m. in the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea and again on Monday morning, July 1 at 10 a.m. before leaving in procession to St. Michael Cemetery, 500 Canterbury St., Roslindale for final reflections and burial.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the Anthony Memorial – Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, Chelsea.

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