Melrose Obituaries

SAUGUS — Purificacion (Layon) Bernacki, 82, of Saugus, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 5, at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Purificacion, lovingly known by all as “Puring,” was born on June 30, 1932 in Dinalupihan, Bataan in the Philippines, one of 10 children of the late Victoriano M. and Teodora E. (Sandoval) Layon.

She…

MELROSE — Sebastian J. Cannata, a 57-year resident of Melrose, entered into eternal life on Saturday, June 6, at Genesis Wakefield Care & Rehabilitation Nursing Home in Wakefield following an extended illness. He was 87 years old.

Sebastian was born in Messina, Italy, on Oct. 14, 1927, a son of the late Orazio and Mary…

MELROSE — Ann H. Cassidy, 103, a longtime resident of Wakefield, passed away peacefully at the age of 103 on Saturday, May 30 at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

Ann was born on September 21, 1911 in Lowell, the oldest of six children born to the late William and Ann (Maguire) Handley. A daughter of a local construction…

MELORSE — Veronica A. (DeLuca) Williams, 78, a resident of Stoneham and formerly of Melrose, passed away peacefully at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital on Friday, May 29.

Veronica was born in Everett on January 26, 1937 and was one of two children of the late Joseph and Anna (DeSalvo) DeLuca. Raised in Everett and Malden, Veronica owned…

BEVERLY — Rita P. (Hoar) Scott, 92, a resident of Beverly and formerly of Wakefield and Danvers, passed away peacefully surrounded by the loving care of her family on June 1, 2015. .

Rita was born on March 9, 1923 in Boston, one of six children of the late James P. Hoar and Anna (Claus…

CHELSEA — William J. “Bill” Harris, 81, passed away at the Chelsea Soldiers Home on Saturday, May 30.

Bill was born in Melrose on November 7, 1933 to the late Kendall B. & Lula V. (Forbes) Harris. He was raised in Melrose, attended Melrose schools and has been a lifelong resident of Melrose. Mr. Harris…

MELROSE — Despin (Angelopoulos) Kotsakis, 88, of Melrose, died at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers on May 20.

Despin was born and raised in Melrose, was a lifelong Melrose resident and attended Melrose schools. She worked for many years at Peter’s Market in Melrose and enjoyed shopping, gardening, needlepoint, cooking, arts and crafts…

PALM BAY, Fla. — Phyllis K. (Sheppard) Moore, 85, of Palm Bay, Fla., and formerly of Melrose and Malden, passed away on March 26, in Melbourne, Fla.

Phyllis was born in Chelsea, one of nine children of the late Frederick and Mabel (Rholand) Sheppard. She was raised in Chelsea and graduated from Chelsea High School…

MELROSE — Mary M. (Graham) Spagnolo, of Melrose, died peacefully on May 21.

Mary was born in Somerville on February 27, 1928 to two Irish immigrants, William and Nora (O’Sullivan) Graham. She was raised in Charlestown, graduated from Charlestown High School and was a member of the Old School Girls Association in Charlestown. Mary married…

MALDEN — Virginia “Gini” A. (deMara) Pineau, 90, of Malden, formerly of Melrose, died peacefully on May 23.

Gini was born on March 22, 1925 in Providence, Rhode Island to William and Mary (Flately) deMara. She was raised in Melrose and graduated from Melrose High School. Gini married Frederick “Gene” Pineau at St. Mary’s Church…

WILMINGTON — Jacqueline F. (Mason) Joyce, 85, came into this world on Memorial Day on May 30, 1929 and passed away at Woodbriar Nursing Home in Wilmington on Memorial Day on May 25.

Mrs. Joyce was born in Revere, was raised in Revere, and graduated from St. Rose High School in Chelsea before marrying her…

MELROSE — Donato Ventresca Sr., 81, passed away at Melrose-Wakefield Hospital, on May 13.

Donato was born in Italy on September 2, 1933 to the late Giovanni & Loreta (Federico) Ventresca. He was raised in Italy and came to America at the age of 19. Mr. Ventresca lived in the North End of Boston for…