Obituaries 09-03-2020

Idalina Fortes Brito

A Woman of Deep and Abiding Faith

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in St. Rose of Lima Church for Idalina (Fortes) Brito on Wednesday, September 2 and services concluded with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden.

Idalina passed away on Friday, August 28 in the peaceful surroundings of her home and in the presence of her tender loving and caring family.  She was 83 years old.

Born and raised in Cabo Verde, she was the first of four children born to the late Alfredo DaLomba Fortes and Maria Lopes Teixiera.  She married Antonio Carvalho Brito in 1960 and the couple shared the past 60 years together raising their family of 12 children.  Formerly of Brava, Cabo Verde, she has been a resident of Chelsea for the past 25 years. 

Idalina was a faithful parishioner of St. Rose Church.  A woman of deep and abiding faith, she always received great comfort and peace joining in prayer with the Santa Rosa Community.

In her lifetime, Idalina was devoted to home and family and most enjoyed babysitting and caring for grandkids. 

In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her sister, Arminda Teixeira Pereira and a brother, Benjamin Teixeira.  The forever beloved wife of 60 years to Antonio Carvalho Brito of Chelsea, she was the devoted mother of Joao Brito and Daniel Brito, both of Benguela, Angola; Eurico Brito, Maria Brito, Carlos Brito, Dianela Brito, Jorge Brito, Jose Brito and Izurdo Brito, all of Chelsea, Leonel Brito of Boston and Lucia Brito and Ana Brito, both of Everett.  She was the revered grandmother of 39 grandchildren in the United States and 31 at home in Angola; cherished great-grandmother of five in the U.S. and 23 at home in Angola and the dear sister of Daniel Teixeira in São Vicente, Cabo Verde. 

Arrangements were given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home, Chelsea.     We   continue   to   encourage   family   and   friends   who   wish,  to offer condolences  at  this  time  by  means  of the  online  guest book  or  to  send  a personalized sympathy card visit: www.WelshFuneralHome.com.   

Should friends desire, contributions in Idalina’s memory should be directed to a charity of their choice.

Zofia ‘Sophie’ Wolnicki

Operated Set and Style Beauty Salon on Everett Avenue in Chelsea for Nearly 30 Years

Zofia “Sophie” (Lukasiak) Wolnicki passed away in the Beth Israel Deaconess Palliative Care Unit on Sunday, August 30, with her family at her bedside.  She was diagnosed with Brain Cancer several months earlier.  

Born and raised in Kosow, Poland, a beloved daughter of the late Czeslaw and Janina Lukasiak,  Zofia received her formal education and gained her college associate’s degree in Poland.   In Poland, she worked as a grammar school teacher. 

During the late 1950’s, as a young lady, she immigrated to the United States.  While attending a social dance at the Polish American Citizens Club in So. Boston, she was introduced Edward Kazimierz Wolnicki, a US Army Soldier on leave from Ft. Devens.They married in 1960 and settled in Chelsea raising a son and daughter. 

She became a licensed hairdresser and established Set and Style Beauty Salon on Everett Avenue in Chelsea.  She operated the shop for nearly 30 years. 

For most of her life, Sophie made her home on Winthrop Road in Chelsea.  She was widowed in 2014 after 54 years together with Edward. 

This past October, she moved to Salem, NH making her new home with her son and daughter-in-law. 

Sophie was a longtime parishioner and communicant at St. Stanislaus Church and was a member of the Polish Falcons Nest 485 in Chelsea. 

In addition to her parents, Sophie was also predeceased by her brother, 

Jutek Lukasiak and her beloved husband of 54 years, Edward K. Wolnicki. She was the devoted mother of Peter Wolnicki and his wife, Diana of Salem, NH and Janina Tassone and her husband, Albert R. Jr. of Billerica; cherished grandmother of Isabella and AJ Tassone and dear sister of Waclawa “Vacha” Godlewska of Poland.  She is also survived by many friends and extended family members.  

Visiting hours will be held at the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, Sept. 3 from 4 to 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend.  

All attendees are required to wear face coverings, practice social distancing when greeting the family, pay their respects and exit the funeral home to allow other guests to enter.  

The Funeral will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday at 9 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 interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

(There is ample parking opposite the funeral home.)

Arrangements given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home, Chelsea. 

We continue to encourage family and friends who wish, to offer condolences at this time by means of the online guest book or to send a personalized sympathy card to visit:  www.WelshFuneralHome.com.

Joao Nepomuceno Gomes

He Most Valued His Family, Education and Productive Citizens

João Nepomuceno Gomes, 95, passed away on Saturday, August 29, surrounded by his loving family in the peaceful surroundings of his Chelsea home. 

Born and raised in São Nicolau, Carbo Verde, a beloved son of the late Joâo Gomes do Rosario and Filipa Delfina Gomes, he married his beloved Zuilda Monteiro in 1947 and was widowed in 2014 after 67 years of love and devotion.

Joao and his wife raised their family in Carbo Verde and settled in the United States in 1976, taking permanent residency in Chelsea in 1977 where he has been a resident for 43 years. 

He worked briefly at American Biltrite and later worked at Logan Airport/Host-Marriott Restaurant as a waiter, retiring in 1989. 

He was a proprietor who enjoyed his Trupichu, where he supervised the production of grouge and mel (rum and sugar cane honey). In addition he built a home so his children could call their own in their forefathers’ land.  He enjoyed life, but there were three things that he valued the most: his family, education and productive citizens, which he imparted to his decedents:   

 His life was not in vain, and he will live on through his surviving family.  He was so proud of his family’s many contributions to society and often bragged about his family’s success and wonderful contribution to the following industries;  Author, Banking/Finance, Bio-technology, Construction, Education, Engineering, Electrical/Plumbing, Health Care, Hotel and Hospitality, Ministry, Music Industry, Retail, Social Services and Transportation to name a few. 

Fondly remembered as a kind, fun and loving person, he enjoyed being around his family and friends.          

 In his lifetime he loved watching and attending WWF wrestling matches. 

 He enjoyed playing card games and listening to music, especially to his favorite Cabo Verdean singer, Bana.

In his younger years, he was seen often riding his horses throughout the village where he was born.  

In addition to his parents, he was also predeceased by his wife of 67 years, Zuilda Monteiro Gomes.  He was the devoted father of Manuel Gomes, Maria Alina Connolly, Mario Do Rosario Gomes, Maria Josefina Gomes, Ana Oliveira, Emilia Gomes, Inacio Gomes, Lorena Lopes, Josefina Gomes, Benedita Gomes, Pedro Gomes, Virginia Monteiro Fernades, Osvaldina Gomes Daly, Filipa Gomes.  He was the dear brother of Pedro Alcantra Gomes and Antonia Ana de Brito.  He is also survived by 47 grandchildren, 47 great-grandchildren and five great, great grandchildren. five sons-in-law, three daughters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.       

A private family farewell will be held followed by graveside prayers and interment. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date when family and friends can attend. 

Should friends desire, contributions in his memory may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St. Suite B102 Danvers, MA 01923 or by visiting www.CareDimensions.org Arrangements were given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home, Chelsea.  We continue to encourage family and friends who wish, to offer condolences at this time by means of the online guest book or to send a personalized sympathy card visit; www.WelshFuneralHome.com.

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