Obituaries 07-14-2016

Michael ‘Walshie’ Walsh

Former Bunker Hill Billy and former “Townie Santa”

Michael K. “Walshie” Walsh of East Boston, formerly of Charlestown, died on June 30. He was 54 years old.

He was a graduate of Charlestown High School and a Milt Schmitt Hockey Player,  AF & AM Mt. Vernon/Galilean Lodge, Allepo Shriner Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill, Royal Arch Chapel of the Tabernacle, former Bunker Hill Billy and former “Townie Santa” and friend of Bill for 25 Years

The son of the late Timothy J. and Patricia Margaret (Attridge) Walsh, late of Skibbereen Co Cork, Ireland and Charlestown, he was the father of Shayla Pantone of Medford, brother of Angela Callahan and her late husband, Michael of Tewksbury, Patrick and  Arlene (Wolski) of Lynn and Timothy Walsh of Charlestown;  brother-in-law of Edward Milchunes and his late wife, Ann (Walsh) Milchunes of Bridgewater, formerly of Brockton and is also survived by many dear nephews and nieces and cousins especially John Attridge and Michael “Tony” Mahoney and his life time friend, Michael D’Ambrosio.

At his request, funeral services are private.  Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society,  30 Speen St. Framingham, MA 01701 or www.cancer.org/donate visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com

Helen M. La Rocque

Of Maine, formerly of Charlestown

Helen M. La Rocque passed away on the evening of Saturday, June 25 at Chase Point in Damariscotta, ME. A long-time resident of Newcastle, and later Damariscotta, she was just a few months away from her 97th birthday. She had been a resident of Chase Point Assisted Living since 2012.

Helen was born on September 5, 1919 in Boston, and grew up in Charlestown. She attended the Bunker Hill School, and graduated from Girls High School.   She married her sweetheart, Joseph W. La Rocque, on January 2, 1942, right after America’s entry into World War II. He was shipped out to the Pacific Theater soon after that year. During the war, Helen worked on an assembly line fastening clasps to flight jackets, raised vegetables in victory gardens, and in 1944 went to Texas to nurse her husband back to health after his service in Guadalcanal.

In the 1950’s, she started a thirty-plus year career with the First National Bank of Boston. During her working career, she began tutoring students at Charlestown’s Boys Club, and later in Somerville, MA. While living in Newcastle, ME, she began a 14 year-long career as a volunteer tutor at Great Salt Bay Community School, helping first-graders master reading.  Helen was a strong advocate for Miles of Friends, an intergenerational program that matched residents of Schooner Cove and second graders from Great Salt Bay Community School.  She was involved with this program for six years.

She attended Damariscotta Baptist Church, and worked as the church’s representative to the Ecumenical Food Pantry.  Her charities were her church, the Great Salt Bay Community School, and the Ecumenical Food Pantry.

Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her husband, Joe. She is survived by her son, Alan David La Rocque and his wife, Zenaida, son, Stephen James La Rocque and his wife, Dalisay and her granddaughter, Lara Ruth Sadr and her husband, Bobby..

A memorial service was held at the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, Damariscotta, Maine. She was laid to rest next to her husband in the Hillside Cemetery in Damariscotta following the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Ecumenical Food Pantry, PO Box 46, Newcastle, ME 04553.


Arrangements were under the direction and care of the Strong-Hancock Funeral Home, 612 Main Street, Damariscotta, ME 04543.  Condolences and messages for the family may be expressed by visiting: www.StrongHancock.com.

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