Ralph Rizzo
Member of Teamsters Union Local 25, Bunker Hill Council K of C and Old Charlestown Schoolboys Association
Ralph J. Rizzo, a lifelong Charlestown resident, entered into eternal life on September 17 at the Courtyard Nursing Care Center in Medford following an extended illness. He was 78 years old.
Ralph was born in Boston on June 10, 1937, a son of the late Edmund “Pete” Rizzo and Mary (Hannon) Rizzo. He grew up in Charlestown where he was educated at St. Catherine’s Parochial School and graduated from Charlestown High School in 1956. Ralph enlisted in the United States Army on September 12, 1958 and served his country faithfully and with honor. He was honorably discharged on September 6, 1960 with the rank of SP4.
Ralph worked as a milkman for Hoods Milk Company in Charlestown many years ago before he began working for Brockway Smith Trucking Company as a warehouseman and was a member of Teamsters Union Local # 25 and retired after over 30 years of dedicated employment. He was a member of the Bunker Hill Council # 62, Knights of Columbus and The Old Charlestown Schoolboys Association.
Ralph was the beloved husband of the late Elena M. (Venezia) Rizzo; the devoted father of Lieutenant Colonel Ralph J. Rizzo Jr., United States Marine Corps and his wife, Mila of Virginia Beach, Virginia, Natalie Rizzo and Noreen Rizzo, both of Charlestown and the late Mark Paul Rizzo; the loving Papa to Mark Anthony Rizzo, Nicholas Scott Rizzo and Arlene Marie Rizzo; the beloved brother of Paul Rizzo and his wife, Mary of Charlestown and the late Edmund “Buddy” Rizzo and his surviving wife, Judy of Everett; the beloved brother-in-law of Michael Venezia of Saugus; the dear friend of Mary Phinney of Somerville and is also survived by several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements were by The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Charlestown. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Ralph’s name to The Semper FI Fund, 825 College Boulevard, Suite 102, PMB 609, Oceanside, California 92057.
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Mary ‘Nana Lou’ Leonard
Lifelong Charlestown resident who dedicated her life to caring and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
Mary L. “Nana Lou” (Findlay) Leonard, a lifelong resident of Charlestown, entered into eternal life on September 13 while under hospice care at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home in Chelsea. She was 78 years old.
Nana Lou was born in Boston on June 7, 1937, a daughter of the late Reginald Findlay and Mary (Devlin) Findlay. She grew up in Charlestown where she was educated in the Boston Public School system. Nana Lou was a homemaker who dedicated her life to caring and spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as her best friend Margaret “Peggy” Gorrell. She enjoyed traveling with family and friends and especially enjoyed her yearly 4th of July weekend trip to Gavins Resort in New York. She also enjoyed spending a great deal of time playing bingo and baking for her friends at the Golden Age Center in Charlestown. Nana Lou’s final days were spent surrounded by her family and friends she had touched in some way throughout her 78 memorable years.
Nana Lou was the wife of the late Stanley J. Leonard; the devoted mother of Boston Police Officer Stanley Leonard and his wife, Anna of Charlestown, Regina McGann and her husband, Thomas of Revere, Michele Leonard-Burns and her husband, Boston Firefighter Daniel of Stoneham, Maureen Boudrow and her husband, Alvin of Winthrop, Michael Leonard and his wife, Michele of Revere and the late George Leonard; the loving Nana Lou to Tegan, Boston Firefighter Michael, Nathan, Fallon, Bryan, Madison, Meredith, Joseph, Cody, Chantelle, Clinton, Dylan, Melanie, Taylor and the late Steven and also her great-grandchildren: Isabella, Sofia, Phoebe, Aidan, Collin, Cassidy, Quinlynn, Tyler, Cienna, Nyjah and the late Brayden. She was the sister of Catherine Lavallee, Joanne Findlay, James Findlay and the late Bernice “Bunny” Marsh, Robert Findlay and Bernard Findlay and is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Francis De Sales Church, Charlestown. Her burial was private. There were no funeral home visiting hours. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Mary’s name to the Golden Age Center c/o Beverly Gibbons, 382 Main St. Charlestown, Mass. 02129.
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Frederick ‘Fred’ Stearn
Owned Million Dollar Mary Smoke Shop
Frederick E. “Fred” Stearn, a 22 year resident of Tewksbury, formerly of Charlestown, entered into eternal life on September 16 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston following a short courageous battle with cancer. He was 70 years old.
Fred was born in Somerville on July 6, 1945 to the late Mary DeFusco and was adopted a short time later by Herman Stearn and Irene (Manley) Stearn. He grew up in Charlestown where he was educated in the Boston Public School system and graduated from Charlestown High School in 1965. Fred was the owner of the Million Dollar Mary Smoke Shop located at 36 Province St. in Boston for over 25 years. Prior to owning his own establishment, Fred worked as a butcher at the Meat Market located at the corner of Trenton St. and Bunker Hill St. for several years. Fred was an avid fisherman and enjoyed hunting and walking the beach with his metal detector. Fred’s passion was his gardening expertise in Charlestown and Tewksbury where he was very proud of the vegetables he grew each year.
He was the beloved husband of the late Mary F. (Nardone) Stearns; the devoted father of Tina Dalli of North Carolina, Sharlene Cahill and her husband, David of Charlestown, Michael Stearns of Charlestown, Kimberly Stearns-Cifelli and her husband, Michael of Andover and Frederick “Ricky” Stearns and his companion, Pam Butler of Tewksbury; the loving Papa Fred to Dante, Taylor, Michael, MacKenzie, Calan, Colby, Carly and Sadie and the beloved brother of Joanne Peck of Charlestown.
Funeral arrangements were by The Carr Funeral Home, Charlestown. A Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, Charlestown was followed by burial at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation in Fred’s name to The Salvation Army, 187 Columbus Avenue, Boston, Mass. 02116.
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Joanne Doherty
Lifelong Charlestown resident, worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield
Joanne M. Doherty, a lifelong resident of Charlestown, entered into eternal life on September 16 at Chestnut Woods Rehabilitation Center in Saugus following a long illness. She was 70 years old.
Joanne was born in Boston on March 29, 1945, a daughter of the late Barney Doherty and Mary (Burns) Doherty. She grew up in Charlestown where she was educated at St. Catherine’s Parochial School and graduated from Cardinal Cushing High School in South Boston. Joanne worked for many years with Blue Cross Blue Shield Insurance Company in Boston.
Joanne was the beloved wife of the late Roderick Lynch, the beloved sister of Danny Doherty and his wife, Lilly of Saugus, the late Kathleen “Kay” Doherty, Bernard Doherty, Tommy Doherty and Johnny Doherty of Charlestown. She was also the sister of Nancy Ryan of Reedville, Mary Deery and Peggy Gillis, both of East Dennis, Barbara Hunter of Florida, Hugh Doherty of Saugus and Roger Doherty of Charlestown; the cherished aunt to Lilli Maltais, Katie Swales, Dano Doherty, Jacqueline Doherty and many more nieces and nephews. She was the dear friend of Betty Simpson of Revere.
Joanne’s Funeral Mass was at St. Francis De Sales Church, Charlestown. Her burial was private and there were no funeral home visiting hours. Kindly make a memorial donation in Joanne’s name to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
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Jillian McLaughlin
Lifelong Charlestown resident, worked as manager at MGH
Jillian M. (Doherty) McLaughlin, a lifelong resident of Charlestown, entered into eternal life suddenly on Thursday, September 17 at her home. She was 36 years old.
Jillian was born in Boston on January 10, 1979, a daughter of Joseph F. Doherty and Frances T. (Nardone) Doherty. She grew up in Charlestown where she was educated at St. Catherine’s Parochial School and graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge in 1997. She furthered her education by attending attended Suffolk University for two years and worked as a Manager at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston for over 15 years. Jillian was a very passionate mother who was so very proud of her three children and their accomplishments.
She was the wife of Timothy McLaughlin; the loving mother to Jaden McLaughlin, Ava McLaughlin and Peyton McLaughlin; the devoted daughter of Joseph F. Doherty and Frances T. (Nardone) Doherty; the beloved sister of Jamie Strickland and Paul Doherty; the beloved granddaughter of Lena Doherty and is also survived by many aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to The Carr Funeral Home, 220 Bunker Hill St. Charlestown. A Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 55 Warren St. Charlestown was followed by burial at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. In lieu of flowers, kindly make a memorial donation to benefit Jillian’s Childrens Fund on the Go Fund Me website: https://www.gofundme.com/4p4dpevk
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Pauline ‘Polly’ Charbonnier
Proud Lifelong Charlestown Townie
Pauline I. (Olsson) “Polly” Charbonnier, a proud lifelong Townie of Charlestown, passed away peacefully on September 17. She was 83 years old.
Born on April 19, 1932, Polly was the daughter of the late Stella E. and the late Andrew H. Olsson. She was the devoted mother of Raymond F. Montgomery of Charlestown, Michael S. Montgomery and his wife, Carol of Sandown, New Hampshire, Robert P. Montgomery of Charlestown, and the late Linda Marie; the loving sister of the late Earnest Olsson of Charlestown, the late Grace Hobson of Medford, Patricia Tagen of Charlestown, the late Genevieve Ferreira of Charlestown, Andrew Jr. Olsson of Maine, William Olsson of Florida, James Olsson of Stow, the late Sally Karos of Charlestown, the late Carl Olsson of New Hampshire, Virginia McGonagle of Wakefield, Stanley Olsson of Norwood, John Olsson of Charlestown, Richard Olsson of Charlestown, and Christine Conrad of Florida; the cherished grandmother of Amy Telles, Tracey Montgomery, Michael Montgomery Jr, and Mikey Montgomery, Polly was the great grandmother of Sadie and Reid Telles. She is also survived by numerous extended family members and dear friends.
A Memorial Service celebrating Polly’s Life will be held on Monday, September 28 at 10 a.m. in the First Church in Charlestown, 10 Green St. Charlestown. Polly’s favorite charity was the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. If you wish, kindly make a donation in her name by going online to www.stjude.org or by mail at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105.To send a memorial condolence, visit: www.barilefuneral.com or www.facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome