Irena Lada
March 19, 1934 – January 29, 2022
Irena (Sepkowska) Lada passed away at 87 years of age on Saturday, January 29 in the comfort of her home surrounded by her loving and caring family after a brief decline of health.
Born on March 19, 1934 in Dlugosidolo, Poland, she was a beloved daughter of the late Stanislaw and Antonina (Kulesza) Sepkowski.
Growing up in Poland during World War II was difficult, but Irena always took much pride in how her family banded together and managed to persevere.
Irena spent much of her childhood in Udrzynek, living almost next door to the man who would eventually become her beloved husband, Kazimierz Lada. Irena and Kazimierz married and began raising their family in the village where they had met and fallen in love.
In 1969, Irena and Kazimierz made the decision to immigrate to the United States, and settled in Chelsea, where she remained for the past 53 years, proudly becoming a US citizen.
She was a devout Catholic and longtime parishioner of the former St. Stanislaus Church in Chelsea. She frequently attended weekly Sunday coffee socials at the Polish American Veteran’s Club and was beloved by many in the Chelsea-Polish Community.
Irena worked at Kayem Foods in Chelsea until her retirement. A devoted homemaker, she enjoyed knitting sweaters for her grandchildren, showing off her green thumb by expertly tending her extensive garden and trying to teach her family how to cook traditional Polish meals without the use of recipes. Her paczki recipe would have been legendary if she had written it down.
She was the beloved mother of Martha Dzedulonus of Chelsea and her late husband, James, Eva Lada of Chelsea and Teresa Sirignano and her husband, Stephen of Wilmington; cherished grandmother of Danielle Torres and her husband, Luis of Lynn, Alysia Marchand and her husband, Ryan of Milford, Nikki Sirignano of Wilmington, Christa Sirignano and her fiancée, Andrew Goemaat of Woburn and Daniel Sirignano of Wilmington; adoring great-grandmother of Angelise Rose and Luis James “LJ” Torres; dear sister of Zofia Frankowska of Glogow, Poland. Irena was preceded in death by her husband, Kazimierz, her son, Stanislaw, her sister, Halina Szydlik and her brothers: Mieczyslaw, Stanislaw and Jan Sepkowski. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, family and friends whom she cherished throughout her life.
Visiting hours will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, February 3 from 4 to 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. Per order of the Chelsea Board of Health, all visitors are required to wear face masks while in the Funeral Home.
Her Funeral will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday, February 4 at 9 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway, Chelsea at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Should friends desire, contributions in her memory may be made to Care Dimensions Hospice, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923. Arrangements were given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.
William Paliliunas, II
Of Connecticut, formerly of Chelsea
William T. Paliliunas, II passed away on Saturday, January 22 while recovering from heart surgery at the Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. He was 61 years old.
Born in Winthrop, he was the middle child of three born to William T. and Mary E. “Lolly” (Kenna) Paliliunas. William grew up in Chelsea, attended St. Stanislaus Parochial School and graduated from Dom Savio High School in East Boston.
A father of three, he was a resident of Chelsea for most of his life. He worked for a time with Metro Credit Union and later as a collection’s agent for a Wakefield company.
William has been residing in Norwich, CT for the past 15 years. In Norwich he was deeply involved in church life and activities and was a member of his church choir.
In his lifetime, William enjoyed reading and he is fondly remembered by his Norwich neighbors for his uncanny sense of humor, storytelling and entertaining friends, serenading them with the songs of Frank Sinatra.
William was predeceased by his parents, William T. and Mary E. “Lolly” Paliliunas, his brother, Thomas and sister, Karen Paliliunas. He is survived by his daughter and caregiver, Jennifer Paliliunas of Chelsea, a daughter, Jessica Paliliunas, and a son, William Paliliunas, both of Everett.
Funeral Services concluded with William being placed to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery with his parents and siblings.
Should friends desire, contributions in William’s name may be made to Reliance Health, Inc., 40 Broadway, Norwich, CT. 06360.
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Arrangements were given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.
Robert Lee Harris
MIT Retiree
Robert Lee Harris passed away unexpectedly in his home on Sunday, January 23. He was 78 years old.
Born and raised in Jefferson City, Missouri, he received his early education in Missouri. As a young man, he came to New England where he attended and boarded at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. In 1962 he enlisted in the US Navy and served honorably during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1966.
He returned to Brookline and was soon married to Barbara E. (Noveska) and together they raised a daughter.
He was a resident of Everett for several years and was residing in Point of Pines, Revere for the past 27 years. After sharing 44 years of unsurpassed love and devotion, Robert was widowed six years ago with the passing of his beloved wife, Barbara.
Robert worked for a time as a salesman for Prudential Life Insurance Company. He later went to work at M.I.T. with the Department of Facilities and Custodial Service Team. He retired in 2008 and was awarded a certificate of appreciation from M.I.T. recognizing his 20 years of dedicated service to the University.
His life’s devotion was first to his beloved wife, daughter, and his canine companion, “Gabby.”
In his lifetime, Robert was a huge fan of the Boston Celtics and NE Patriots. He enjoyed reading and listening to Country Music, living by the ocean, and gardening,
He was the beloved husband of 44 years to the late Barbara E. (Noveska) Harris; devoted father of Cheryl M. Marquis of Chelmsford, cherished uncle of Robert Tiro and his wife, Heather, their children, Peyton and Carter, all of Wisconsin. Robert is also survived by many other nieces, nephews, extended family members and his fur-baby and canine companion, “Gabby.”
Funeral Services were private. Following Military Honors, Robert was placed to rest with his beloved wife, Barbara in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Should friends desire, contributions in Robert’s name may be made to a charity of their choice. Arrangements were given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.
Delia “Lily” Hernandez Valentin
Long-Term, Loved and Well-known Resident of Chelsea
Delia “Lily” Hernandez Valentin passed away Monday, January 24.
The beloved wife of Isidro “Izzy” Valentin and loving mother to Gladys Valentin Agneta (Nick) of Massachusetts, Richard Valentin (Erin) of Kentucky, Roy Valentin (Courtney) of Florida, Michael Valentin (Kristina) of Connecticut, Gloria Valentin of Massachusetts and Naysa Robinson of Florida. She was the adored sister to the late Regino “Mino” Hernandez, Consuelo “Chele” Hernandez, and Bienvenida “Lucy” Hernandez as well as Adeliz “Santos” Hernandez (Miguelina) of Massachusetts and Isabel “Mita” Hernandez (Osvaldo) of Aguadilla, PR. She is also survived by six grandsons: Nicholas Agneta, Kevin Agneta, Eric Agneta, Edward Jackson ”EJ”, Christian Valentin, Grayson Valentin and one great-grandson, Troy Jackson, and a host of nieces, nephews and other family members and friends.
Born in Rocha, PR on July 28, 1941, Delia was the daughter of the late Regino Hernandez and Ramona Vargas. She was raised in the town of Moca. Delia was the eldest child of six and took pride in helping her mother raise and care for her siblings. As a young child, she met Isidro, who would later become her husband of 60 years and in 1961 they moved to Chelsea to start their family and new journey of life.
Delia was a wonderful wife and mother who provided a good life for her family, helping others in any way she could, most especially through her cooking! Affectionately known as “Mami” to all who knew her, even if meeting her for the first time, she took everyone in as family. She was a natural care giver and never hesitated to provide a loving word, a warm hug and of course, a delicious plate of food.
She was a faithful member of St. Rose Church on Broadway in Chelsea and a member of the Chelsea Senior Center, where she will be absolutely missed. Delia loved to take walks, go to the Casino, Market Basket, TJ Maxx, talk to everyone along her way, make new friends and again, of course, attempt to feed them all!
She always managed to keep a smile on her face and stay positive every single day!
She will be greatly missed and forever stay in our hearts!
Visiting Hours were held in the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Avenue, Chelsea and Funeral Services and Interment will take place in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. The family suggests where services will be held in Puerto Rico that memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Chelsea Senior Center, St. Luke’s Food Pantry or to the American Stroke Association.
Vivienne LaBerge
Retired Whidden Memorial Hospital Director of Surgical Nursing, Current Treasurer for the Friends of Chelsea Council of Aging
Vivienne A. LaBerge passed away on Saturday, January 29 in the peaceful surroundings of her home with her loving family at her side. She was 75 years of age.
A loving daughter of the late Robert and Marie Arsena (Deveau) LaBerge, she was born, raised and a lifelong resident of Chelsea. Vivienne attended Our Lady of the Assumption grammar school and Notre Dame High School in No. Cambridge. She received her nursing certificate from St. Elizabeth’s School of Nursing in 1967. She began her career as an R.N. at the Quigley Memorial Hospital and went on to work at the Whidden Memorial Hospital as the Director of Surgical Nursing. She retired in 1991.
In her lifetime, Vivienne was an avid reader who enjoyed cooking, gardening, traveling all around the world, collecting miniatures and making doll houses. She is fondly remembered as a wildlife and animal enthusiast and for her sense of humor and charitable giving. She was a longtime board member and current treasurer for the Friends of Chelsea Council of Aging.
She is survived by her loving siblings, Almyra LaBerge and Jacqueline LaBerge, both of Chelsea, Robert LaBerge and his wife, Debra and her beloved nephew, Michael LaBerge, all of Revere.
Funeral services were private.
Should friends desire, contributions in Vivienne’s name can be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, 101A First Ave, Waltham MA 02451 https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/MAM/Donate or the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 10 Brookline Place, 6 th Floor, Brookline MA 02445 https://danafarber.jimmyfund.org/site/Donation.
Arrangements were given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.
Henry Guzman-Lopez
October 15, 1998 – January 28, 2022
Henry Alexander Guzman-Lopez, at 23 years of age, passed away suddenly in his home on Friday, January 28.
The son of Carmen Lopez and Marcos Guzman, he was a lifelong resident of Chelsea and attended local schools. Henry worked for a time as a cashier at the CVS on Broadway in Chelsea and recently worked as a security officer for Nationwide Security. Henry was an avid video gamer and animal lover. He enjoyed playing basketball and following the Boston Celtics. He also enjoyed gathering with family and friends, spending time at local lakes and swimming and traveling to El Salvador to visit relatives and his extended family.
He is lovingly survived by his mother and stepfather, Carmen Lopez and Gustavo Reyes of Chelsea and his father Marcos Guzman of Lynn. He was the dearest brother of Karen Pierre-Louis and her husband, Robendjy of Lynn and Dania Lopez of Chelsea. He was the cherished uncle of Darian Lopez, Alizah Pierre-Louis, Jerimiah Pierre-Louis and the late Milani Lopez. He is also survived by his maternal grandparents, Toribia Lopez and Estaban Garay, paternal grandfather, Feliciano Guzman and by many beloved uncles, aunts and cousins and his canine companion “Talon.”
Visiting hours will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Sunday, February 6 from 2 to 6 p.m. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. Per order of the Chelsea Board of Health, all visitors are required to wear face masks while in the Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home on Monday at 10 a.m. Services will conclude with interment at Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn.
Arrangements were given to the care and direction of the Welsh Funeral Home.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.