Obituaries 10-31-2024

Frederick G. MacDonald

Retired Ironworker

A Celebration of Life for Frederick G. MacDonald, (best known to many as “Fred” or “Rick”) will be held at Anthony’s Function Facility, 105 Canal St., Malden, on Saturday, November 2nd from 2 to 5 p.m.  Family and friends are most kindly invited to attend, enjoy some conversation, some great food, not to mourn but to celebrate life.

At 73 years of age, Fred passed away peacefully and without pain on Thursday, September 26th at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington.

Born in Madison, Tennessee, he was a beloved son of the late Frederick G., Sr. and Nadine (Colins) MacDonald.  He was raised in Madison, Tenn. where he attended local schools. 

Rick worked as an ironworker and for demolition contractors in the building trades for many years before retiring.

He married Gail (Spiliotis) and they shared many years together.  Rick was widowed in 2016.

A resident of Malden for the past eight years, Rick formerly resided in Salem.

In his lifetime, Rick enjoyed playing golf, watching sports, especially football, and loved old westerns on TV.

Rick was predeceased by his beloved wife, Gail.  He leaves behind his dear brother, Michael MacDonald and his wife, Carol of Malden.  He was also thea stepfather of Michelle Stuart of Georgia.

In accordance with Rick’s wishes, a private cremation was held earlier.  For online guest book or to send expressions of sympathy, visit www.welshfh.com.

Eugenia “Jean” Zullo

She was a joyful person, with a genuine smile and an infectious laugh

 Relatives and friends attended visiting hours in the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea, for Eugenia R. “Jean” (Doucette) Zullo, 93, on Sunday, October 27, and her funeral was conducted from the funeral home on Monday, October 28th immediately followed by a Funeral Mass in Our Lady of Grace Church, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea. Services concluded with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

Eugenia passed away peacefully on October 22, 2024 at Kaplan Family Hospice House. Born to parents Basil and Eugenia (Muise) Zullo in Chelsea on October 18, 1931, she was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and cherished friend to many.

Jean was a longtime resident of Chelsea, where she grew up, attended the local schools and where she later raised her own family. Jean was a joyful person, with a genuine smile and an infectious laugh. She had a beautiful voice that captivated her late husband of 57 years, Felix Zullo, when they “met” for the first time over the telephone. They later married and went on to have four children. Jean spent part of her adult life working outside the home in the Lester Shoe Factory, and she enjoyed several hobbies, including playing bocce, bingo and bowling via the Chelsea Senior Center.

 But to Jean, family was everything. She was a natural caretaker and mother, and her greatest joy in life was raising her children. When looking back, she often said that her “head was in the clouds” because of how much she enjoyed those years. Jean’s heart was so full of love to give that she also spent over 30 years fostering 75 pre-adoptive infants with Catholic Charities.

Jean was a devoted Catholic, and her faith was very important to her. She was an active churchgoer, attending every Sunday, and was a member of the choir for many years. Jean lived true to her values, and was an incredibly honest person who always kept the promises she made.

Jean was predeceased by her husband, Felix A. Zullo Sr.; her grandson, Christopher; and her siblings, Frank, Arthur, Hilda, Mildred and Irene.   She is survived by her children: Christopher “Chris” Zullo Sr. and his wife, Marie, Felix “Philly” Zullo Jr. and his wife, Vicky, Donna Zullo-Allevato,and Eugenia “Gina” (Zullo) Kearns; her grandchildren: Jaime, Joshua, Melissa, Nicholas, Alex, Emily, and Amy; and her great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Aurora and Brandon.

“I miss the old hymns when she used to sing

The sparrows spread their mortal Wings

Now they’ve all lighted

Like notes on the pages,

she breathed life into all things.”  with the silence of strings

 To send expressions of sympathy, visit www.welshfh.com.

Richard D. “Richie” Smith

Gave 50 years of dedicated service to the City of Chelsea

Richard D. Smith, 69, of Revere, passed away on Monday, October 21, 2024 at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.  Richard lived courageously battling G.I.S.T. for the past year.

Born and raised in Chelsea, Richard was one of four children of the late Joseph B. Sr., and Teresa E. (Francis) Smith.  A resident of Revere, Richard was a longtime former resident of Chelsea where he attended local schools.  He worked for the City of Chelsea beginning in 1974 as a Fire Alarm Operator, was promoted to Chief Fire Alarm Operator in 1985 and was appointed as the Chelsea 911 Director in 1995. He served the remainder of his career as Senior Lead Dispatcher from 2003 until his retirement in 2019.  After retiring he continued in a part-time capacity culminating 50 years of dedicated service to the City of Chelsea. He also worked for a period at Encore Casino in Everett.

In his lifetime, Richie enjoyed playing Ice Hockey and was an avid sports fan.  He also enjoyed classic rock and roll music, collecting Chelsea Clocks and excursions to Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.

 Richie is lovingly survived by his beloved life partner of over 30 years, Toni Tatarouns.  He was the devoted father of Noelle Spagnuolo and her husband, Danny of Revere; dear brother of Patricia Aniello and her husband, Joseph of Atkinson, NH and the late Joseph B. Smith, Jr., and Barbara Crowell and her late husband, Gordon; cherished uncle of Julie DiLeo of Medford, Joseph, and Mark Aniello of New Hampshire and adoring great uncle of Stephen DiLeo of Medford. He is also survived by his canine companion “Chelsea” along with many extended family members and friends.

Relatives and friends gathered for visiting hours at the Carafa Family Funeral Home in Chelsea, on Monday, October 28th .  Services concluded with a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Revere.

Donations in Richie’s memory may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, PO Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or on-line at www.dana-farber.org

We encourage family and friends to visit carafafuneralhome.com to offer condolences by means of the online guest book or to send a personalized sympathy card.

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