James Birmingham
Retired Chelsea Fire Captain, a 9/11 First Responder and Recipient of a Mass. Firefighter of the Year Award
James C. “Jimmy” Birmingham passed away at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Brockton on Tuesday, Aug. 6. He was 58 years old.
Born in Boston, he was raised in Chelsea, a son of the late John J. and Agnes I. Birmingham. Jimmy attended the Shurtleff School in Chelsea, graduated from St. John’s Prep High School and continued his education at the University of Chicago and U-Mass Boston, graduating college with a Bachelor’s Degree.
Jimmy married Jennifer A. Convey and they settled in Easton raising their family of one daughter and two sons.
He was appointed to the Chelsea Fire Dept. on March 26, 1990 and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on July 18, 2000 and to Captain.
Completing nearly 30 years of service, Capt. Birmingham retired from the Department on August 27, 2017. He was a member and past vice president of Local 937.
A longtime Chelsea resident, he has been residing in Easton for the past 25 years where he was a volunteer Little League Coach, supporting and encouraging his children in their many activities. He received the Volunteer of the Year Award from Easton Youth Baseball in 2005.
Jimmy was a Sept. 11, 2001 first responder and part of the firefighter Critical Incident Stress Management Team “CISM” working at “Ground Zero” in New York. He was one of the recipients of the Massachusetts Firefighter of the year award presented at Faneuil Hall for heroic acts of bravery, courage and performance beyond the call of duty given on December 2003.
He was also recognized by his hometown Fire Dept. in Easton for his actions in providing aide and assistance fighting a house fire there on January 2007.
He is survived by his beloved wife, “Jen” Birmingham at home in Easton. He was the devoted father of Allison Birmingham of Easton, Jack Birmingham of Burlington, VT and Adam Birmingham of Easton and the dear brother of Thomas F. Birmingham and Nancy M. Birmingham both, of Chelsea. He is also survived by nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends.
His Funeral will begin from the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Saturday, August 10 at 8:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Grace Church, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with committal prayers in the Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel, Everett. 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.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com
Anthony Memorial – Frank A. Welsh & Sons, Chelsea, 617-889-2723.
Kaziermierz Kur
Dec 9, 1927 – July 31, 2019
Kazimierz J. Kur passed away at Eastpointe Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday. July 31, after a short decline in health. He was 92 years old.
Born and raised in Kiezie, Poland, he was the beloved only son of the late Wladyslaw and Stanislawa (Roslan) Kur. He attended school in Poland and lived through the invasions and occupations of Poland during World War II.
He married Marianna Mikolajczuk. Together they raised three children and immigrated to the United States in the early 60’s with their young family. He settled in Chelsea and had lived here for the past 55 years.
He supported his family working for JJ Duane Demolition. He dedicated his life to providing for his family. He was a devoted parishioner and communicant of St. Stanislaus Church, frequently attending and ushering at the Sunday Polish Mass.
In his life time, he enjoyed family holiday gatherings and revisiting Poland on many occasions.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife Marianna, 18 years ago. He is remembered for his quiet demeanor and strong family devotion and work ethic.
He is survived by his loving children and their spouses: Jadwiga Markiewicz and her husband Jerzy of Revere, Janina Czarnecki and her husband, Tadeusz of Inverness, FL and Thaddeus Kur and his wife, Margie of Chelsea. He is the cherished grandfather of Margie Huether and her husband, Eric of Milford, NH, Thomas Czarnecki and his companion, Lynn Fowler of Ocala, FL, Piotr Markiewicz and his wife, Michelle, Esq. of Danvers, Pawel Markiewicz, Ph.D of Poland, T.J. Kur and his wife, Lindsay of Tyngsboro, Brianna Kur and her fiancée, Brendan Ball of Lynn and adored greatgrandfather of Stefan Huether, Isabella, Addison and Luke Markiewicz.
Funeral arrangements were by the Anthony Memorial-Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, Chelsea. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to St. Stanislaus Church.
Loretta Andreottola
Of Revere
Loretta “June” (McCaffrey) Andreottola of Revere passed away at home on August 2 surrounded by her loving family at the age of 92.
She was the beloved wife of the late Michael “Tucker” Andreottola, devoted mother of Bobby Casella and his wife, Rose and Karen Andreottola, both of Revere and the late June McGrath; cherished grandmother of Bobby Casella, Amber Cunningham and Jenna, Mark and Michael and adoring great grandmother of Elina and Jack Casella. She was the dear sister of Lorraine Padulla and her late husband, Frank and the late Claire, Eleanor, William, Howard, Paul, Audrey, Robert, Annette and Donald. She is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, and friends.
A visitation will be held at the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home 128 Revere St, Revere today, Thursday, August 8 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon followed by a Prayer Service in the Funeral Home at 12 noon. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Louanne Eccleston
Retired Chelsea Soldiers Home Dietary Supervisor
Louanne (Gaff) Eccleston passed away peacefully on Saturday, Aug. 3 at Rockingham County Nursing Home in Brentwood, NH. where she was receiving supportive care. She was 86 years old.
Born Feb. 19, 1933 in Somerville to the late Henry and Louise “Ma” Gaff, she was the oldest girl and helped care for her younger siblings with much love and perseverance.
She married William H. Eccleston, Jr., and she resided and raised her family in Chelsea.
Louanne worked for many years at the Chelsea Soldiers Home and retired as a Dietary Supervisor. She was a member of the former Assumption Parish participating fully in parish life. She loved to sing, bowl, cook, and, above all, take care of her family. Louanne was widowed in 1987. In addition to her husband and her parents, she was also pre-deceased by her brothers, Edward, Henry (Sonny) and Lawrence Gaff and her sister, Louise Kelly. She is survived by her sister Joann Wheeler and brothers Gilbert, Robert, and John Gaff. Louanne leaves behind her children: Cynthia McCarthy and her husband, Bill of Epping, NH, William Eccleston and his wife, Donna of Farmingdale ME, Louanne Eccleston and her partner, Dan Mangini of Lynn, Wayne Eccleston of Riverside, RI, Gerald Eccleston and his wife, Nanci of Nashua, NH, Sandi Garofano of Dunstable, Joseph Eccleston and his partner, Susan Payne of Lynn, Richard Eccleston and his wife, Cheryl of New Hampshire and her step-daughters: Carol, Pam and Linda. Louanne is also survived by several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
A memorial service and mass will be scheduled and announced at a later date. Arrangements were given to the care and direction of Anthony Memorial-Frank A. Welsh & Sons, Chelsea.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFuneralHome.com