Obituaries – 07/07/09

Michael Valletta, 72
Owned and operated Michael A. Valletta Plumbing of Saugus

Michael A. Valletta of East Boston, formerly of Saugus, died on July 2, following a long illness, at Kindred Hospital in Boston. He was 72 years old.

Born and raised in East Boston, he was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1955. He owned and operated Michael A. Valatta Plumbing of Saugus for more than 20 years. He lived in Saugus from 1986 to 2006 before returning to East Boston.

He was the beloved father of Michael A. Valletta Jr. and his wife, Nancy, of Quincy, Donna Francis and her husband, Joseph, of Brockton and Albert J. Valletta and his wife, Andrea, of Cary, NC. He is also lovingly survived by his devoted companion, Barbara A. Jefferson, and her family of East Boston. He also leaves the mother of his children, Beverly A. (Vozzella) Valletta of Brockton and several nieces and nephews. He was the cherished grandfather of Dana, Justin and Joseph Valletta and Joseph and Stacy Francis; and the dear brother of the late Irene F. Coffey, Marie Covey, Rose Gillis and Regina Copithorne.

Family and friends are invited to attend his funeral from the Vertuccio Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107), Revere, today, Wednesday, July 8, at 9 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in the Sacred Heart Church, East Boston, at 10 a.m. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Friends of the 102nd, 101 Jaffrey St., Weymouth, MA 02189, an organization founded for the benefit of all those deployed and discharged veterans of the war in Iraq. This charity is totally staffed and supported by volunteers.

Adriana Marie Schettino
Died after heroic battle with cancer

Adriana Marie Schettino died on July 4, after a heroic battle with cancer at the Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston,

She was the loving mother of Gianna Marie; cherished daughter of Roseanne (Cioffi) and John Schettino Sr. of East Boston; beloved sister of John Schettino Jr. and Joseph Schettino and his wife, Simone, all of East Boston; loving granddaughter of Anne Schettino and her late husband, Anthony, and Josephine Cioffi and her late husband, Joseph; beloved aunt of Raquel and Hayden. She is also survived by many loving aunts, uncles, relatives, friends, and the father of her child, Richard Festa, and his loving family. Her friends and family say, “Our lives will never be the same without our beautiful Adriana. Her shining smile and angelic goodness will illuminate our lives forever.”

Services and committal will be private, with arrangements by the Caggiano Funeral Home, Winthrop. To sign her online guest book, go to www.caggianofuneralhome.com.

Mildred Covitz
Of Florida, formerly of Revere

Mildred (Weaver) Covitz of Port Charlotte Fla., formerly of Revere, died on July 1.

She was the beloved wife of the late Wilbur Covitz; loving mother of Gary Covitz and his wife, Jane, of Marshfield, Cheryl Bedrosian (Covitz) and her husband, Greg, Stephen Covitz of Chelsea, Susan Machado (Covitz) of Warren, RI and Karen Covitz of Malden. She also was the sister of Arthur Weaver of Peabody and the late Ernest Weaver and Claire Smith, and the grandmother of eight.

There will be a graveside ceremony on Friday, July 10, at 10 a.m. in Woodlawn Cemetery, 302 Elm St., Everett. Please meet at the entrance of the cemetery, to proceed to Wedgewood #881.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA 02472.

Mario Imbriano
Saugus resident

Mario P. Imbriano of Saugus died on July 4.

He was the husband of the late Gloria (Masiello) Imbriano; loving father of John Imbriano and his wife, Jane, of New Jersey and Vincent Imbriano of Saugus; cherished grandfather of Christina and Katie; beloved son of Maria (Moscaritolo) Imbriano of Saugus and the late Giovanni Imbriano; dear brother of John Imbriano and his wife, Anita, of Lynn, Katherine Moore and her husband, Robert, of Chelmsford, Jean Sousa and her husband, Joseph, of Revere; brother-in-law of Josephine Crescenzi and her husband, Italo, of Lynnfield; and the loving friend of many years, Emma Rossi of Peabody. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held from the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Ave., Saugus, on Thursday at 9:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church, 14 Summer St., Saugus, at 10:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited. Visiting hours are today, Wednesday, from 4 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.

For directions and online obituary, visit www.BisbeePorcella.com.

Leo Gatti, 84
US Postal Service retiree

Leo L. Gatti of Orient Heights, East Boston, died at home on July 4, following a long illness. He was 84 years old.

Mr. Gatti was born and raised in East Boston and was a 1942 graduate of East Boston High School. He was a US Army veteran of World War II, serving from April 1943 until June 1945. He retired from the US Postal Service (Logan Airport facility) after 30 years of service. He served in a supervisory position for many of those years until his retirement in 1989. He was one of the founding members of St. Mary Star of the Sea Men’s Club of East Boston.

He was the husband of the late Bernadette (O’Hanley), who died in November 1993; cherished father of Gail P. Goldstein and her husband, Mark, of Framingham, Karen L. Gatti of Lakeside NJ, Elizabeth G. Storlazzi and her husband, Ernani, of Revere and the late Gina E. Drohan, Ellen B. Gatti and David and Kevin Gatti; dear brother of Elizabeth “Betty” Sablone of Alexandria, Va. and the late Corry Gatti and Brunetta Gatti. He is also lovingly survived by nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and his nephew, Joseph J. Boyan, and his wife, Joyce, of Reading.

Family and friends are invited to attend his funeral on Thursday, July 9, at 10 a.m. in the Vertuccio Home for Funerals, Revere, followed by the funeral service at Woodlawn Cemetery Chapel, Elm Street, Everett, at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Visiting hours are in the funeral home today, Wednesday, July 8, from 4 to 8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to the N.E. Shelter for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court St, Boston, MA 02108.

John Leo Morris
Florida resident

John Leo of Fort Myers, Fla. died recently.

He was the loving husband of Blanche I. Doherty; beloved brother of George R. Morris and his wife, Mary, of Saugus, William N. Morris of Revere and the late Helen M. Wasiuk; son of the late John and Catherine (McKenna) Morris; brother-in-law of Michael and Jane Doherty of Florida; and he is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, with arrangements by the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home of Saugus.

Frank Volpe
Of Medford, formerly of the North End

Frank Volpe of Medford, formerly of Boston’s North End, died on July 4.

He was the beloved husband of the late Loreta (DiCenzo); devoted father of Emma Centofanti of Medford and Albert Volpe of Scituate; loving grandfather of Helen Centofanti-Berriola of Medford, Cindy Ciambelli of Revere, Kim Paone, Frank Volpe, both of Medford, and Albert Volpe II of Scituate; loving great- grandfather of Michele, Alisa, Nicholas, Steven, Geena, Gia, Anthony, Nico, Conor and Adriana; and the brother of Gino Volpe of Arlington, Evelyn DiPietro of Medford, and the late Domenic Volpe.

His funeral will be held from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., Medford, today, Wednesday, July 8, at 10:30 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Joseph Church, 118 High St., Medford, at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit with the family this morning from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Services will conclude with entombment at Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum, Malden.

It has been requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, Mass. Chapter, 720 Harrison Ave., Suite 707, Boston, MA, 02118. For directions, obituary and guest book, visit www.dellorusso.net.

Clifford Harrington, 85
Truck driver

Clifford L. Harrington of Medford, formerly of Malden and Revere, died on July 2. He was 85 years old.

A US Navy veteran of World War II, he was raised and educated in Revere. He has been a resident of Medford for several years and was previously a longtime resident of Malden. He worked as a truck driver for many years for the Tip Top Bread Company and for the Accent Courier Company and was a longtime member of the Moose Lodge in Revere.

He was the beloved husband of Dee (Neal) Harrington; father of Robin Grealey of Lawrence, James Grealey and his wife, Martha, of Medford, Laura Santos and her husband, Phil, of Wilmington, John Grealey and his wife, Jennifer, of Medford, Daphne Wentzell and her husband, Michael, of Stoneham and Kim Harrington and her husband, Julio Osorio, of Malden; grandfather of Alan-Michael, Robbie, Seana, Nicholas, Aidan, Andrew, MacKenzie and Jayda; brother of Jeanette Landanno of South Carolina, Dot King of Revere and the late Norman and Kenneth Harrington. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral from the Breslin Funeral Home, 610 Pleasant St., Malden, today, Wednesday, July 8, at 8 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at Immaculate Conception Church in Malden at 9 a.m. Services will conclude with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford. For his online obituary, guest book and directions, visit www.breslinfuneralhome.com.

Gail Ferrara-Gradozzi
East Boston resident

Gail Ferrara-Gradozzi of East Boston died suddenly on July 4.

She was the devoted mother of Michelle, Joseph and Tracy Ferrara, all of East Boston; dear sister of Zeta Assini, Rita Shea, Joy Viola, and the late Arlene Caterino; former wife of Richard Gradozzi; cherished grandmother of Nelson, Jamie, and Joseph; and she is also survived by her many loving nieces and nephews.

Funeral arrangements were by the Ruggiero-Mazzarella Memorial Home, (Orient Heights) East Boston. For more information or to send an online condolence, visit www.ruggieromh.com.

Margaret Draper, 75
Of Saugus, formerly of Revere

Margaret L. (Alioto) Draper of Saugus, formerly of Revere, died at the Massachusetts General Hospital on July 2, after a brief illness. She was 75 years old.

Wife of the late Earl F. Draper Jr., she was born in Boston, daughter of the late Ernest and Mary (Cameron) Alioto. She lived in Revere with her husband and was a devoted mother and homemaker.

She is survived by two sons, Earl F. Draper III and his wife, Cheryl, of Canton and Paul E. Draper of Saugus; one daughter, Patricia Draper-Balley and her husband, Peter, of Peabody; five grandchildren: Christopher, Kimberly, Mathew, Paige and Zachary; and many nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Frank Alioto and Frances Alioto.

Her funeral will be held today, Wednesday, July 8, from the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, 549 Lincoln Avenue, Saugus, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 250 Revere St., Revere. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Stroke Association, 5575 Thompson Road, Syracuse, NY 13214.

Charles Hunt, 67
Pre-press Computer Design Engineer

Charles “Chick” Hunt of Lakeland, Fla. died May 8 of complications from leukemia. He was 67 years old.

Born on January 13, 1942 in Medford, he was a pre-press computer design engineer. He came to Florida from Hampstead, NH six months ago. He was a member of the Super Sport Roadster Club, was an Amateur Radio Operator, volunteer examiner with the Amateur Radio Relay League, and held a Brown Belt in karate.

He was the brother of the late John Hunt. Mr. Hunt is survived by his wife, Janice Lee Hunt, of Lakeland, Fla.; his son, Devon Hunt, of Lakeland; his daughters, Melissa Hunt, of Durham, NH and Lori Frye, of Palm Bay, Fla.; his granddaughter, Kendall Lee Rose Leighton, of Durham, NH; his brother, Paul Hunt, of Malden; and his sister, Sheila Morris of Revere.

Visiting will be at the Beals-Geake-Magliozzi Funeral Home, 29 Governors Avenue, Medford, Sunday, July 12, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., followed by his funeral service at 2:30 p.m. Relatives and friends are most welcome to attend. Burial will be private.

For additional information, please visit www.magliozzifuneralhome.com.

William Buckley, 67
Member of Pipefitters Union

William G. Buckley of Beachmont died on June 29 at his late residence, after a long illness. He was 67 years old.

A member of Local 537 Pipefitters Union, he was the born in Somerville, son of the late Walter Buckley and Josephine (Flynn) Buckley. He was the beloved husband of Emilie Orlando Buckley; father of William G. Buckley II of Revere and Dana V. Buckley of Canyon Lake, Calif.; brother of Mary Elizabeth of Cape Cod and Geraldine of Somerville; and he is also survived by five nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by the O’Maley Funeral Home of Winthrop.

Ralph Buonopane
Revere resident

Ralph J. Buonopane of Revere died suddenly on June 25.

He was the husband of Sandra (Taglieri); brother of Anthony and Augostine Mantia, Angelo, Stephen and Michael Buonopane and Ann Barry; son-in-law of Alfred and Louise Taglieri, and uncle of many.

A memorial service celebrating his life will be held in St. Anthony’s Church, Revere, today, Wednesday, July 8, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruggiero-Mazzarella Memorial Home, East Boston.

Leonarda Gallo
Of Lynnfield, formerly of Revere

Leonarda M. (Turino) Gallo of Lynnfield, formerly of Revere, died on June 29.

She was the beloved wife of the late Joseph Gallo; loving mother of Joseph Gallo and his wife, Jeannine, of Lynnfield; cherished grandmother of Gregory J. and Carolyne Gallo; dear sister of Rudolph Turino of Wollaston and Olga Skelton of Revere and the late Carmella Rizzo, Lucille Campbell, Gaetano, Anthony, Roger and Joseph Turino.

At the family’s request, her funeral was private, with arrangements entrusted to Vazza Funeral Homes.

Ronald Tempesta
Owned Tempesta’s Roofing & Remodeling

Ronald P. Tempesta of Revere died suddenly on June 29.

The owner of Tempesta Roofing & Remodeling, he was the beloved son of Armand and the late Pauline; dear brother of Donnie of Revere, Theresa Mosko of Peabody, Jean D’Amico and her husband, James, of Saugus and the late Norma Tempesta; best friend and loving companion of Christine DeRosa; loving and adored uncle of Dan, Michelle and her husband, Brian, Jimmy, Eric and his wife, Laura, Brian, Sherylann, Lauren, Shawn and Michael. He is also survived by many friends and extended family.

Funeral arrangements were by the Paul Buonfiglio & Sons-Bruno Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery. For his guest book or flowers, visit www.buonfiglio.com.

Paul Cotter Sr., 63
Diesel mechanic, outdoorsman, historian

Paul A. Cotter Sr. of Lynn, formerly of Revere, died on June 28 in the Boston Medical Center, after a brief illness. He was 63 years old.

Born and raised in Revere, he lived in Lynn for the last 35 years. A graduate of Revere High School, he worked as a diesel mechanic in the Lynn area. Mr. Cotter enjoyed reading and fixing things. He was an outdoorsman and an historian.

Mr. Cotter overcame many challenges in his life. In 1954, when he was 8 years old, he underwent heart valve replacement surgery. Since this type of surgery was unheard of during this era, and was such a success, Mr. Cotter’s doctors ended up writing a paper about him and his operation and the success of this type of procedure. Ten years later, at the age of 18, Mr. Cotter underwent another successful open heart surgery procedure.

In 1996, Mr. Cotter overcame a serious infection, which damaged his heart and required additional open heart surgery in 2001. In 2002, he suffered a serious stroke that left him paralyzed and robbed him of his speech.

Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Cotter continuously and courageously battled many medical challenges, indicating what a strong person and fighter he was. He will always be remembered by those who knew him as a strong-minded, big-hearted person who always put his family and others before himself and will be missed forever.

He was the husband of 39 years of Eleanor (Solar) Cotter and the son of the late Francis and Dorothy (Wilson) Cotter. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Eleanor Cotter Salvati, and her husband, Gerard, of Peabody; his son, Lynn Police Officer Paul A. Cotter Jr. of Lynn; and two brothers, Mark Cotter and his wife, Noreen, of Billerica and Stephen Cotter of Lincoln, Maine. He also was the brother of the late Jane Rhines and the Rev. Francis X. Cotter.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Solimine Landergan & Richardson Funeral Home, Lynn. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 8 South Common St. Lynn, MA 01902.

For his guest book, visit www.solimine.com.

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