Ralph Campbell
Formerly of Charlestown
Ralph Campbell of Fort Washington, MD, formerly of Charlestown, passed away on Friday, Aug.7 27, at the Specialty Hospital of Washington in Washington, D.C. at the age of 73.
Ralph was born on July 16, 1937 to late Daniel and Maude (Davidson) Campbell. Ralph grew up in Charlestown on Albion Place. He attended Charlestown Public Schools. In 1954, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy to serve his country and to see the world. Ralph served during the Vietnam Conflict. While in the Navy, Ralph lived in several locations: California, Tennessee, Washington, Guam, North Carolina, Florida and Maryland. In 1981, after 27 years of serving his country, he retired with the rank of Sr. Chief. After retirement Ralph settled in Fort Washington, MD, and served as a government contractor doing logistic engineering for military air programs. Ralph was best known in the Washington, D.C. area as “Grandpa Hogette” and was one of the founding members of the Hogettes, a Washington Redskins Football fan group who dressed up in women’s clothing with pig snouts. The Hogettes raised millions of dollars for local charities, which earned him a place in the NFL Hall of fame. Ralph could be seen at Redskins games in his trademark yellow dress and referred to himself as “just another pretty face in the crowd”. Because of the Navy, Ralph had a love for the sea and in his retirement learned how to sail and became an avid sailor. To Ralph, family came first. He never forgot his Charlestown roots. Ralph would schedule vacations whenever he could to be home in Charlestown during Bunker Hill Day.
Ralph is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 50 years, Tommie Campbell, of Fort Washington, MD. He is the loving father of Melanie Woodson, Cheryl Andrews and Lori Cole all of Virginia. He is the adored grandfather of Jennifer and Patrick Day and Joshua and Jacob Andrews, all of Virginia. He is the loving brother of Daniel Campbell and his wife Grace of Charlestown, Muriel Davis of Medford and the late, Lawrence, Richard and Steven Campbell.
Ralph’s Funeral Service was held on Sept. 5, at the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home in Fairfax, VA. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the National Children’s Medical Center, http://www.childrensnational.org. To send a condolence message visit www.carrfuneral.com.
Helen Kessel
Florida resident
Helen Kessel of Delray Beach, FL, formerly of Salem and Chelsea, died on Sept. 5 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. She was 91 years old.
Born in Chelsea on April 16, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Daniel and Rose (Paul) Ribok and the wife of the late Abraham Kessel. She was raised in Chelsea and graduated from Roxbury Memorial High School and Boston University. She took pride in being a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She also enjoyed being active within her community. She was an auxiliary member of many organizations including, the JRC in Swampscott, Jewish Memorial Hospital in Roxbury as well as the Jewish Recuperative Center in Roslindale. She was a member of Hadassah and Congregation Ahabat Sholom and its Sisterhood.
She was the devoted mother of Joel Kessel and his wife, Sheila, of Charlestown, Herbert Kessel and his wife, Barbara, of Shelburne, VT and Richard Kessel and his wife, Joan, of Marblehead; loving sister of Frances Sitrin of Sunrise, FL and the late Samuel Ribok and the late Mildred Freedman; dear grandmother of Eric Kessel and his wife, Tamara, Greg Kessel and his wife, Katie, Randi Kaplan and her husband, Michael, Adam Rosi-Kessel and wife, Rachele, Jonah, Andrew, Jeffrey and Bradley Kessel; dear great grandmother of Madeline, Scott, Julie, Esther and Havi.
Funeral arrangements were by the Stanetsky-Hymanson Memorial Chapel, Salem. Burial was at Ahabat Sholom Memorial Park in Danvers. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jewish Rehabilitation Center of the North Shore, 330 Paradise Rd, Swampscott, MA 01907; Hospice of the North Shore, 75 Sylvan St, Danvers, MA 01923 or to the American Jewish World Services, 45 West 36th St, 11th floor, New York, NY 10018.
P. Eileen Cranford
Melrose resident
P. Eileen (Rowsell) Cranford of Melrose died on Sept. 11.
She was the beloved wife of the late Edwin G. Cranford with whom she shared 33 years of marriage; devoted mother of Susan and Dale Furr of Rockingham, NC, Douglas G. and Joyce Cranford of Salem, Judith McInnes and Michael Harland of Florida, Richard E. Cranford and Laura Jennings-Cranford of Charlestown, Elaine and Richard Parsons of Melrose, Laura and Martin Finigan of Melrose, and Jeffrey A. and Cheryl Cranford of Wilmington; dear sister of the late Charlie, Douglas, Rex, Bert and Jack Rowsell; loving sister-in-law of Frances Rowsell of Virginia and Doris Floyd of Burlington; cherished grandmother of John David and Carrie, John Anthony, Lisa, Simeon, Samuel, Dale, Jennifer, Stephanie, Alicia and Justin, Jason, Meghan and Andrew. She is also survived by seven loving great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Service was held at Trinity Church, Melrose, with arrangements by the Robinson Funeral Home, Melrose. Burial was in Pine Hill Cemetery, Tewksbury. Gifts in her memory may be made to A Servant’s Heart Food Pantry, c/o Faith Evangelical Church, 200 Franklin St, Melrose, MA 02176. For online tribute or to send a condolence, visit www.RobinsonFuneralHome.com.
Linda Kelly
Of North Billerica, formerly of Charlestown
Linda M. (Noone) Kelly of No. Billerica, formerly of Charlestown, died on Sept. 11. She was 62 years old.
She was a past member of Mailhandlers Union Local 301.
The beloved wife of 41 years of Dana J. Kelly, she was the devoted mother of Brian P. Kelly and his wife, Wendy, of Billerica, Kristin Ward and her husband, Kevin, of No. Andover and David M. Kelly and his wife, Kristin, of Billerica; loving Nana to Sean, Ryan and Meagan Kelly and Eryn Marie Ward; beloved sister of William Noone of Arkansas and the late Claire Schraffenberger, James and Walter Noone and Mary Brooks. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Frank H. Carr Funeral Home, Charlestown. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in her name to VNA Carenet Work & Hospice, 8 Angle St. Gloucester, MA 01930. For obituary or to send a condolence, visit www.carrfuneral.com.
Catherine ‘Kay’ McSweeney
A&P retiree
Catherine T. “Kay” (McCarthy) McSweeney of Hyde Park died on Sept. 7. She was 91 years old.
A former employee of the A&P Produce Warehouse, she was a member of Teamsters Local 829.
She was the beloved wife of 57 years of the late Paul T. "Pinky" McSweeney; devoted sister of the late Charles McCarthy of West Roxbury; cherished sister in law of Mary McSweeney of Dorchester, James McSweeney of Holbrook, Helen McCarthy of West Roxbury and is also survived by many nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Funeral arrangements were by the Carroll-Thomas Funeral Home, Hyde Park. Burial was at the National Cemetery, Bourne. For guestbook please visit thomasfuneralhomes.com Carroll-Thomas Funeral Home Hyde Park
Mary De Marco
Charlestown resident
Mary L. (DiStefano) De Marco of Charlestown, formerly of East Boston, died on Sept. 7.
She was the beloved wife of the late Severino De Marco with whom she shared 24 years of marriage; loving mother of Diane Tiro and her husband, Dennis, of Lynn; dear sister of the late Josephine DiFronzo, John, Michael, Salvatore and Damiano DiStefano.
Funeral arrangements were by Vazza’s "Beechwood" Funeral Home, Revere. Burial was in Woodlawn Cemetery Everett. For guest book, www.vazzafunerals.com.