James Barberian
June 30, 1932 – July 31, 2025
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of James Barberian, a beloved member of our community and a cherished friend, who departed this life unexpectedly at the age of 93 on July 31, 2025.
Born on June 30, 1932, in Lawrence, James was a son of the late George and Mary (Laloian) Barberian. He was a lifelong resident of Chelsea, where he attended Williams School and graduated from Chelsea High School. During his high school years, he distinguished himself as captain of the Varsity Basketball team, showcasing both his leadership and athleticism.
James dedicated 25 years of his life to the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, working in street maintenance and as a painter until his retirement in 1997. A proud veteran of the United States Air Force, he served during the Korean War and held the rank of Airman 2nd Class upon his discharge in 1956.
A man of quiet demeanor and a humorous outlook, James was known for his joyful presence and his love of life’s simple pleasures, particularly his frequent strolls around Chelsea.
He was the beloved companion of the late Mary Ann (Pinabell) Yearout, who predeceased him in 2011; the dear brother of Lorraine Burge of California and the late Florence Mazzio, Joseph Barberian and John Barberian. He leaves behind a loving family, including many nieces, nephews, numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, and extended family members, all who will miss him dearly.
In honor of James’s life, relatives and friends attended calling hours and services at the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea, on Wednesday, August 13th. Services concluded with military honors and inurnment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.
As we gather to celebrate the life of James Barberian, we reflect on the joy he brought to those around him and the legacy he leaves behind. May he rest in peace.
To send expressions of sympathy, visit www.welshfh.com.
Sandra Padulsky
Sweet and kind, she had a talent for making people feel special
Sandra (Young) Padulsky peacefully passed away on August 9, 2025.
Sandra’s greatest joy was her family, and she built her life around them. She worked for the MBTA, but her proudest role was as a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Always up to date on the latest trends, she carried herself with curiosity, style, and heart—never leaving the house without her hair done up. She had a song for every moment, often humming or singing her way through the day, and her quick wit—captured in her unforgettable “Sandraisms” and her warm introduction of “Sandy… like the beach”—left family and friends smiling long after the moment passed. She was all about uplifting others, no matter how she was feeling, with a bubbly personality and a smile that could light up any room.
Sweet and kind, she had a talent for making people feel special. She loved the movies, traveled the world, and embraced new experiences, but she treasured her home in Chelsea most of all. She often said, “It’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it,” and she lived by it—always prepared for any occasion.
For 69 years, she was a devoted wife to her late husband, Morton “Morty” Padulsky—a partnership filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories.
Beloved mother of Karen Poverman and her husband, Steve, Robert Padulsky, daughter-in-law, Mary and Lynda Diamond and her husband, John, she was the dear sister of the late Norton, Elaine, Jordan and Carol, and is survived by Sheldon, Barbara, and Carl; loving grandmother of Kristen Padulsky and her husband, Philip, the late Timothy Padulsky, Stephen Padulsky, Michael Padulsky and his husband, Raphael Moraes da Fonseca and Sarah Diamond and loving great-grandmother of Elizabeth, William, Thomas and Malcolm.
Services were held at the Torf Funeral Chapel, 151 Washington Ave., Chelsea on Monday, August 11 at 12 Noon with interment following in Everett. Donations in Sandy’s memory may be made to the Timothy Padulsky Memorial Trust, 11 Dickson Road, Woburn, MA 01801. For online guestbook and directions please visit the funeral home website: www.torffuneralservice.com.