Leo Templehof
Former Chelsea Resident
Leo E. Templehof of Arkansas, formerly of Chelsea and Fryeburg, Maine, died unexpectedly at CHI St. Vincent’s Hospital in Hot Springs, Arkansas on Friday, January 28, at the age of 73.
He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Eleanor (Ellie) L. (Parmenter), his parents, Henry L. and Edwina E. (Greenlaw), and a brother James Templehof. Survivors include his loving daughter and son-in-law, Denise M. and Michael Boivin of Conway NH, a brother, Thomas Templehof of Lawrence and two sisters, Linda Stefanowicz of Chelsea and Lisa Templehof of Quincy and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Leo’s early career began on the North Shore of Boston including Everett, Watertown and Chelsea where he worked as a civilian in the Boston Fire Department as a mechanic and auxiliary firefighter. He was Vice President of the Local 944 A.F.S.C.M.E. and a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters AFL-CIO-CLC. He was a bartender and event coordinator of the Merit Club in Chelsea for many years.
He then moved on to own and operate Valley Fire & Safety Co. in Fryeburg, ME with his wife, Ellie up until her death in 1996 and for many years he travelled the states buying and selling new and used fire equipment.
He later moved south where he resided in Georgia, South Carolina and Arkansas.
He was so proud of his service to the Fire Department and the friends he made over the years. His entire career was dedicated to serving his community and he was an avid NASCAR fan.
A memorial service will be determined at a later date.
Donations in Memory of Leo may be made to St. Jude on line at http://giftfunds.stjude.org or by mail at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Attn: St. Jude Gift Funds PO Box 1000 Dept 142 Memphis, TN 38148-0142.
Richard Collette
November 19, 1938 – February 6, 2022
Retired Chelsea Firefighter, Richard G. Collette, passed away suddenly on February 6 at the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett. He was 83 years old.
Born and raised in Chelsea, the beloved son of the late George R. and Marion E. (DeMone) Collette, he attended local schools and was a lifelong resident of Chelsea.
He was married to Diane L. (Gill) Collette for 30 years and raised his family in Chelsea.
Richard worked as a Firefighter and first responder for the Chelsea Fire Department for twenty-five years and was member of IAFF Chelsea Firefighters Local 937. He retired in 1992. For 50+ years he was also the proprietor of Collette Appliance Repair.
In his lifetime Richard enjoyed boating and was a longtime member of the Winthrop Yacht Club. He loved to play a weekly game of Bridge, and he played hockey to the age of 65. He is remembered by his family as the original “Mr. Fix-it” and family handyman.
Richard was predeceased by his wife, Diane in 2006 and his sisters; Cynthia Bryman, Josephine Langille and Dolores Maccini.
He is survived by his children and their spouses; Jackie Pann and her husband, Robert of Manchester NH, Tracey Visconti and her husband, Michael of Chelsea, Robin Krivit and her husband, John of Marblehead, Leah DeStefano and her husband, Richard of Saugus, Keith Collette and his wife, Keri of West Warwick, RI, and Christine Collette of Chelsea. He is also survived by 16 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were by the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea. For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.
Mary Welch
January 17, 1933 – February 1, 2022
Mary A. (Pietropaolo) Welsh, 89, passed away suddenly Tuesday evening, February 1 at the MGH in Boston. Mary recently lived courageously with pulmonary disease.
Born and raised in Chelsea, Mary was one of five daughters of the late Gaetano and Giovanna (Magazzu) Pietropaolo. She was a lifelong resident of Chelsea where she attended local schools.
Mary was married to George V. Welch for 46 years and together raised two daughters and one son. She was passionately devoted to home and family and also worked for Seiler’s Caterers, later as a salesclerk for K-Mart in Chelsea and Somerville and was a longtime member of the former PAV Ladies Aux, Post 13 Chelsea. There, together with her husband, she attended many dances and social gatherings. While raising a beautiful family, she also enjoyed doing her own yard work and gardening around her home.
In her later years, Mary kept herself active at the former Boston Sports Club “BSC” in Lynnfield where she loved water aerobics and her new friends. She enjoyed playing Bingo and especially cherished playing card games of “Scat”, “Crazy 8’s”, “LCR” or “500 Rummy” with friends and family.
Mary was predeceased by her husband, George V. Welch Sr., her sisters and their spouses; Rose and Pat Leone, Grace and Leon Foubert and Josephine and Mickey Drago and is survived by her dear sister Jennie Citro and her husband, Romolo of Burlington. Mary is also survived by her loving and caring children and their spouses:
Susan Wiseman and her husband, Brian of W. Newbury, Carol LaCommare and her husband, Manne of Revere and George V. Welch Jr. and his wife, Mary of Saugus.
Mary was the cherished grandmother of the late Jonathan Wiseman, Jason Wiseman and his wife, Jena, Joshua Wiseman and his wife, Caitlyn, Jeremy Wiseman, Jackie
LaCommare and his wife, Alicia, Lauren Carvalho and her husband, Steven, George V. Welch, III, and his fiancée, Cristin and Meghan Welch and her boyfriend, Michael. In addition, to being a grandmother, Mary was the great-grandmother of Madison, Bradley and Julian Wiseman, Joseph Carvalho and Landon LaCommare.
She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends.
Visiting hours were held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea on Monday, February 7.
And her Funeral was held from the Welsh Funeral Home on Tuesday, February 8 immediately followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Revere. Interment was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
Should friends desire, contributions in Mary’s name may be made to the Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, 1801 Willamette St., Ste. 200, Eugene OR 97401 or visit www.Fanconi.org.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.
Dorothy Josephine O’Connor
Formerly of Chelsea
Dorothy Josephine “Dottie” (Kuminski) O’Connor passed away on Saturday, Feb. 5, while receiving palliative care at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. She marked her 90th birthday last week.
Born and raised in Montague, she was one of four daughters born to the late Joseph C. and Mary R. (Naperkoski) Kuminski. Dottie attended school in Montague and graduated from Turner Falls High School. She was married to Paul J. O’Connor for 42 years and raised three sons and three daughters.
A resident of Chelsea for most of her life, she was a devoted homemaker and mother. Dottie also worked outside of her home as an Insurance Underwriter for the Aetna Insurance Company for 20 years, retiring in 1995.
Dottie loved her time with family, enjoyed trips to the “country” where she was born. She also loved to travel to California to visit her son Tommy, daughter Paula and their families. In her lifetime Dottie also enjoyed gardening around her home, feeding wild birds from her backyard, traveling with her family to Old Orchard Beach, listening to country music, Elvis Presly, visiting Graceland in Memphis TN. and caring for her pet parakeet “Charlie”.
In addition to her parents, Dottie was predeceased by her beloved husband, Paul J. O’Connor, her son, James J. O’Connor, her daughter, Paula Knudsen, her sisters; Helen Rogerleski, Jennie Wozniakewicz and Mary Grosberg.
She was the devoted mother of Thomas “Tommy” O’Connor and his wife, Flor of California, Cathy Buckley and her husband, Timothy of Wakefield, David O’Connor of Chelsea, Linda O’Connor of Lynn, and her son-in-law, Chris Knudsen of Boxford.
She was the cherished grandmother of Steven Santosuosso and his wife, Sue of Westford, Laurie Bryson and her husband Joey of Westford, Cheryl Usuga and her husband, Huberley of Wakefield, Christine Knudsen of Connecticut, Michelle Knudsen of Ipswich, Brian O’Connor and his spouse, Andrew Greenough of Beverly, Stephanie Hudson of Lynn, Joshua Nash of Lynn, Jessie O’Connor of North Carolina, Noel O’Connor of Alaska, Paul O’Connor of California, Paul O’Connor and his wife, Kim of Phillipston, and Amanda Silveira of Maine. She is also lovingly survived by her 14 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.
Visiting hours will be held from the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, February 10 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. Funeral from the Welsh Funeral Home on Friday, February 11 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 Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit; www.WelshFH.com.