Obituaries

May 3, 2022

Mr. Vito J. DiBenedetto, a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at age 85.

Vito was born in Boston on February 11, 1937, one of six children of the late John S. and Elena (Dantone) DiBenedetto. Raised in the North End, he graduated from Boston Trade School, and...

May 2, 2022

Mr. Roy W. Fowlie, a longtime resident of Stoneham, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, May 2, 2022 at age 81.

Born in Melrose on April 28, 1941, Roy was one of five children of the late Albert and Helen (Colby) Fowlie. He was raised in Melrose where he graduated from Melrose High School. He proudly...

May 1, 2022

Elizabeth H. “Betty” O’Connor, a lifelong resident of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, May 1, 2022, at age 89.

Betty was born in Malden on September 23, 1932, one of four children of the late Frederick O’Connor, Sr. and Elizabeth (Holtman) O’Connor. Raised in Melrose, Betty graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1950,...

April 27, 2022

Janet A. (Power) Ryan, longtime resident of Melrose, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 27, 2022 in Melrose.  She was 84.

Born in Everett on September 7, 1937, Janet was one of three children of the late Edward and Mary (nee Lyons) Power.  She grew up in Everett graduating from Everett High School in 1955.  At an...

April 21, 2022

Mr. Richard F. Laws, resident of Malden, passed away on Thursday, April 21, 2022.  He was 81.

Born in Boston on August 19, 1940, Richard was a son of Frank and Agnes Laws. Richard attended school in the Boston Public School system and worked to help support his younger siblings.

He moved to the Hyde...

April 15, 2022

Barbara A. (Battaglioli) Fortune, a resident of Melrose, passed away at home on Friday, April 15, 2022 at age 80.

Barbara was born in Cambridge on April 3, 1942, daughter of the late Leo Battaglioli and Margaret (Ramsdell) Battaglioli. Raised in Somerville, and Miami, Florida, Barbara graduated from Miami Senior High School in 1960. At age 23,...

April 8, 2022

Richard C. Perling, 64, of Melrose, MA died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on April 8, 2022.

He was born on April 26, 1957 to William G. and Nancy (Carson) Perling in Oneida, NY and moved to Nashua, NH in his pre-teen years. Richard attended Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua where he was active in...

April 6, 2022

Nicole M. (Colanton) Blasi, resident of Beverly, passed away on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. She was 38.

Born on December 13, 1983, she was the loving daughter of Dorinda Kelly and the late Daniel Colanton, Jr. and his surviving wife, Maria Snow, and the former wife of Jeffrey E. Blasi. Nicole...

April 5, 2022

Irene M. (Simon) Schwartz, of Malden formerly of W. Peabody, passed away peacefully at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Tuesday, April 5, 2022, at age 88.

Irene was born in Brooklyn, NY on April 20, 1933, daughter of the late Max and Ruth Simon. She was raised and educated in Brooklyn, and moved to W. Peabody with her family...

April 5, 2022

Gail A. Bekkenhuis, a resident of Wakefield and formerly longtime of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, at age 59.

Gail was born in Attleboro on September 7, 1962. She persevered through health challenges to live a full and happy life marked by many friendships, hugs, and lots of laughter.

March 18, 2022

Marilyn J. Boynton, 87, of Melrose, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 18, 2022 in the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA after a short illness.

Born on October 3, 1934, in Millinocket, ME, Marilyn was the daughter of the late Percy and Mina (Gordon) Boynton. Raised in Millinocket, Marilyn graduated from Millinocket High School in 1952....

March 16, 2022

Constance "Connie" King Frazier, of Melrose, passed away peacefully at Sunrise Assisted Living in Lynnfield on Wednesday, March 16, 2022, at age 89.

Connie was the beloved wife of the late Gerald J. Frazier. Devoted and loving mother of Cheryl F. King and husband William of Salem, NH, Patricia Coscia and husband Anthony of Melrose, Cindy Hickey...

March 11, 2022

Joseph J. Tompkins, resident of Melrose, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, March 11, 2022. He was 70 years old. Born in Boston on May 25, 1951, Joe is one of five children of the late Raymond C. and Josephine (Iannillo) Tompkins. He grew up in Charlestown and Chelsea. He loved playing highschool football and was an excellent receiver. When...

March 9, 2022

Ruth E. (Christie) LeSaffre, a long-time resident of Stoneham, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at Bear Hill Nursing Center. She was 77 years old at the time of her passing. Born in Winchester on November 22, 1944, Ruth was one of three children of the late James E. and Ruth (Westcott) Christie. She grew up in Wakefield, graduating from...

March 8, 2022

William Burns, Jr., longtime resident of Melrose, passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.He was 84 Born in Melrose on June 2, 1937, Bill is the son of the late William and Rhoda (Hislop) Burns, Sr.He grew up in Melrose graduating from Melrose High School in 1955.He enlisted in the United States Navy and was Honorably Discharged...

March 4, 2022

Mary A. Doherty, a resident of Melrose and formerly longtime of Somerville, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 4, 2022 at Glen Ridge Nursing Care in Medford, at age 82. Mary was born in Charlestown on June 19, 1939, one of three children of the late Catherine (Gorry) and Bernard Doherty. She was raised in Charlestown, graduated from Charlestown High...

March 1, 2022

Jon J. Albanese, a Melrose resident, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Tuesday, March 1, 2022, at Tufts Medical Center in Boston at age 41. Jon was born in Melrose on November 26, 1980. He was raised in Melrose, graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1999, and from Curry College with a Degree in Communications in...

February 26, 2022

Paul Szabo, resident of Melrose, passed away on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at Beth Israel Medical Center.He was 68. Born on August 26, 1953 in Winchester, Paul was one of five children of the late Stephen and Catherine (McCaffrey) Szabo.Paul grew up in Stoneham, graduating from Stoneham High School in 1971.He enjoyed playing softball, pick-up hockey, and playing guitar in...

February 25, 2022

Russell T. Priestley, lifelong resident of Melrose, departed the physical world on Friday, February 25, 2022. He was 99 years old. Born on July 17, 1922, Russ was one of five children of the late Bernard G. and Olive C. (Phippen) Priestley.He grew up on Washington Street in Melrose and graduated from Melrose High School (which he walked to through...

February 19, 2022

Helen M. (Domigan) Spinney, a longtime resident of Saugus, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 19, 2022 at Beverly Hospital, at age 80. Helen was born with her twin sister on June 24, 1941 in Revere, one of four of the late Richard C. and Shirley M. (Pariseau) Domigan. Originally from Revere, Helen moved with her family to Saugus where...