Agnes O’Neil
Lived a life of courage, sweetness and nobility
Agnes (Furlong) O’Neil of Charlestown died peacefully Oct. 16. She was 92 years old.
She lived a life of courage, sweetness and nobility. She was a loving mother who gave everything she had to those she loved.
Born April 17, 1919 on Ferrin Street in Charlestown, when she was six her family moved to Pearl Street, where she lived most of her life. Agnes was a competitive swimmer and champion speller. She graduated from St. Francis de Sales and then from Charlestown High School.
In 1941 she married Lon O’Neil. Together they raised seven children. As a Charlestown High School Booster, Agnes was one of the school’s avid football and hockey fans. Always supportive and forever optimistic about chances for a championship, she faithfully went to her kids’ hockey and football games.
She was an active member of many groups in Charlestown, including the Daughters of Isabella and St. Francis de Sales Parish. Her interest and love of Charlestown kept her involved in town issues. She vigorously opposed, with many other residents, Boston’s plans to tear down and rebuild Charlestown.
Agnes was a ceramicist and a bird lover, and a loving support to many of our friends. There was always room at our table, or in our ’49 Nash, for friends who wanted to tag along.
When she was in her sixties, after all the kids were grown and on their own and Lon had retired from fishing, she went back to school at Bunker Hill Community College. In film class she studied ‘Citizen Kane’ and in literature class she read Emile Zola’s ‘Inundation.’
She had an ever expanding mind and a keen curiosity in just about everything. She demonstrated faith through grief and hardship, and wore a peaceful, transcendent smile, even in her final days. She was never too tired to talk or to help, whether it was to do some late-night ironing or get up early, on little sleep, and get seven kids fed, dressed and out the door for school. Her compassion and love will always be present.
She was the loving wife of the late Lawrence (Lon) T. O’Neil; dear mother of the late Lawrence (Lonnie) Jr., Edward, Daniel, Michael, Helen, Nancy O’Neil Hannan, and Mary O’Neil Brock; beloved grandmother of Lynn, Kathy, Karen, Christine, Richard, Kerry, Deirdre, Bridget, Brendan, Kristen, Daniel and Jana; beloved great-grandmother of Jillian, Steven, Nickolas, Olivia, Sydney, Isabella, Colin, Aiden, Jessica, Will, Connor, Caity, Lila, Fiona, Anabel, Layla and Lucas; loving sister of Edward Furlong, aged 90, and sister of the late Anna Furlong Keenan, Marion, Nicholas, Walter, Lester, Thomas, William and John Furlong. She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews and was the mother-in-law to Joanne Baldwin O’Neil, Sheila Powers O’Neil, Abdul Hannan and Tom Brock; long time friend of Sarah Hwang and loving friend of Clare Deangelis.
A Memorial Mass was celebrated in St. Francis de Sales Church. Burial was private. In her memory, memorials may be made to the charity of choice, maybe keeping in mind the needs of children. To express thoughts about Agnes, people may go to www.murphyturnbull.com.
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Edward J. Keating
Retired Boston Police Department Lieutenant
Edward J. Keating, a retired Lieutenant for the Boston Police Department and lifelong Charlestown resident, died on Monday, Oct. 17 at his home in Charlestown following a courageous battle with cancer. He was 82 years old.
Ed was born in Boston and grew up in Charlestown where he attended Boston Public Schools and graduated from Commerce High School in Boston. He later attended Boston State College and graduated in 1972 with his degree in Criminal Justice. He enlisted into the United States Army in June of 1946 and served his country proudly and honorably during World War II and was discharged in 1947. Ed joined the Boston Police Department in 1961 and served in District 11 in Dorchester and later District 6 in South Boston and District 4. He retired in 1991 closing out his career at Boston Police Headquarters. He was a member of Bunker Hill Council # 62, Knights of Columbus, The Old Charlestown Schoolboys Association and The Retired Boston Police Officers Association.
Ed is the beloved husband of the late Theresa (Hughes) Keating. He is the devoted father of Edward Keating of North Attleboro, Terry Curran and her husband Frank of Melrose, Karol Keating of Charlestown, Kevin Keating and his wife Susan of Reading, Daniel Keating and his wife Kate of Melrose and Annette LaPointe and her husband Warren of Malden. He is the loving grandfather of Eddie, David and Jimmy Keating, Derek, Jeff, Mark and Ryan Curran, Eric, Matthew and Michelle Keating, Jack Keating, Michael, Lauren and Stephen LaPointe. He is the beloved brother of John “Jake” Keating (Retired Chief of Medford Police Department) of Medford.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend Ed’s Funeral on Thursday, October 20, 2011 at 9 a.m. from The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by his Funeral Mass in St. Francis de Sales Church, 313 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown at 10 a.m. Interment at Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford.
In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Ed’s name to The American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St. Framingham, Mass. 01701
To send a message of condolence, please visit www.carrfuneral.com.
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George Duffy
President of James J. Duffy Inc.
George P. Duffy of Arlington and St. Pete Beach, Florida, formerly of Charlestown, died on Oct. 16.
President of James J. Duffy, Inc. in Charlestown, he served in the US Air Force during the Korean War and was a graduate of Wentworth Institute of Technology. He was a Senior Life Member of the Ancient & Honorable Artillery Company, 100 Club of Massachusetts, Charlestown Lions Club, The Halligan Club of Charlestown, K of C Council 109 of Arlington, American Legion Post 26 of Charlestown, Irish American Club of Malden, and the PGA Hole in One Club.
He was the son of the late James J. and Winifred (Talbot); beloved husband of Kathleen (McCarthy); loving father of Christopher and his wife, Julie of Pennsylvania, Patrick and his wife, Joan of Reading and David and his wife, Judy of Belmont; devoted Papa of Christopher, Doireann, Brendan, Patrick, Connor, Emily, Nolan, Mackenzie, and Lily; dear brother of James J. Jr. and his wife, Molly of Natick, Francis X. and his late wife, Barbara of Brockton, John R. and his late wife, Dottie of Charlestown, and Susan Graham and her husband, Bill of Oregon.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Keefe Funeral Home, Arlington. Burial was in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, in Arlington. In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to the Pacemaker Research Fund, c/o Dr. J. Warren Harthorne, Mass General Hospital, 55 Fruit St., Boston, MA 02114; or to the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club, 60 High Street, Charlestown, MA 02129. For obituary or to send a condolence, visit www.keefefuneralhome.com.
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Marie Walsh
Old Charlestown Schoolgirls Association Secretary, Former Kennedy Center receptionist
Marie (Flynn) Walsh of Charlestown died on Oct. 12.
She was the Secretary of the Old Charlestown Schoolgirl’s Association, the former receptionist at the Kennedy Center and a US Marine Corps veteran of World War II.
She was the beloved wife of the late James L. Walsh; devoted mother of Marie B. Walsh of Charlestown, and Erin Walsh Palmer of Peabody; grandmother of David Palmer of Lynn, Colleen DiBono of Salem, Shannon Palmer of Charlestown, and James Palmer of Lynn; sister of Irene Mullaley of Charlestown and the late Claire Keady. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren.
Arrangements were by the John H. Sawyer Funeral Home, Charlestown. Burial was in the Mass National Cemetery, Bourne. In lieu of flowers, remembrances in her name may be made to the Old Charlestown Schoolgirl’s Assoc., P.O. Box 276, Charlestown, MA, 02129.
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Gail Frances Ahearn
Of Milton, formerly of Charlestown
Gail Frances Ahearn of Milton, formerly of Charlestown, died on Oct. 13.
She was the beloved daughter of the late Francis and Margaret (McDonough) Ahearn; cherished sister of Ann Marie Murphy and her husband, William of Melrose, and the late Ruth M. Ahearn; loving aunt of Brian Murphy and his wife, Michelle of Weymouth, Brenda Kopylov and her husband, Andrei of Stoneham and Steven Murphy and his wife, Tara of Saugus; dear great aunt of Liam and Margaret Murphy, Sean Kopylov and Owen Murphy. She is also survived by many cousins, relatives and friends.
Funeral arrangements were by the John J. O’Connor & Son Funeral Home, Dorchester. Burial was in New Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Arthritis Foundation , P.O. Box 96280, Washington, DC 20078-7491. For expressions of sympathy, www.oconnorandson.com
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Virginia ‘Ginny’ Spencer
Of Florida, formerly of Charlestown
Virginia F. “Ginny” Spencer of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, died on Oct. 11. She was 85 years old.
Born in Boston, she was from the Charlestown and Somerville area and was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend.
She is survived by her children, Pat (Ken) and Rick; grandchildren, Spencer (Julie), Samantha and her mother Dawn; great grandchildren, Patrick and Madison; sisters, Winifred and Mildred (Burt); and many nieces, nephews, and family. She was the wife of the late Edwin Spencer and the last of eight other siblings.
Arrangements were entrusted to the Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home, Ft. Lauderdale. www.kraeerfairchild.com.
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Lia Raptis
Of New Hampshire, formerly of Charlestown
Lia M. Raptis of Nashua, N.H., formerly of Charlestown, died on Oct. 7. She was 71 years old.
A former employee of Plymouth Rock Insurance Co. and Filene’s Dept. Store, Boston, she was the beloved daughter of the late Anna (Padios) and George K. Raptis; devoted sister of Tina Raptis of Smyrna, Georgia and the late Sandra Raptis; loving aunt of Jenna Raptis.
Arrangements were by the Frank H. Carr Funeral Home, Charlestown. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery, Nashua. N.H. Kindly make memorial donations in her name to the Mass. General Hospital Fund, 165 Cambridge St., Suite 600, Boston, MA 02114-2792. For guest book and obituary visitwww.carrfuneral.com.
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Terence McGonagle
Boston Fire Department Retiree
Terence J. McGonagle of Milton, formerly of Charlestown, died on Oct. 9.
He was the retired Manager and Treasurer of the Boston Firefighters Credit Union, retired member of the Boston Fire Department and a US Army veteran.
He was the beloved husband of the late Mary T. (Kearns); father of Mary Anderson and her husband, Raymond of Dedham, Margaret Foley and her husband, Richard of Braintree, Carole Condon and her husband, Patrick of Weymouth and Eileen Rielly and her husband, Donald of E. Sandwich; brother of Mary Burns of Mashpee and is also survived by eight grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were by the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home, Canton. Burial was at New Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Boston Firefighter’s Relief Fund, Attn George Patukonis, 115 S. Hampton St. Boston, MA 02118. For complete obituary and guestbook, see Dockrayandthomasfuneralhome.com.