A loyal, humble and kind family man
WAKEFIELD — Robert M. Terravecchia, 83 of Wakefield, died on Saturday, December 11 at Holy Family Hospital in Methuen.
Born in Chelsea on January 3, 1938 he was the son of the late William and Beatrice (Kisil) Terravecchia.
Mr. Terravecchia was a graduate of Wakefield High School Class of 1956 and Bentley College with a degree in accounting. He had a distinguished career with positions at Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield and Boston Regional Medical Center. He was an Airman 3rd Class in the US Air Force Reserves in the 1960’s and was honorably discharged. He was also a 4th degree knight in the Knights of Columbus.
Mr. Terravecchia is survived by his wife of 33 years Geraldine (Murphy) Terravecchia and her son Sean Flynn; his four children Nancy Rollins and her husband, Rick; Catherine Connell and her husband, Joe; Robert Terravecchia Jr. and his wife, Charlene; and Cynthia Pappalardo and her fiancé TJ Carroll; his brother John of Bedford, NH; his 17 grandchildren Alyssa, Lindsay, Katie, Michael, Aimee, Natalie, Jake, Gianna, Marisa, Robert, Anthony, Nicholas, Joseph, Cole, Madison, Nick and Andy; and his great-grandson Christopher. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Janet (Palizzolo) Terravecchia, his grandson Christopher Rollins, his son-in-law Keith Reynolds and his stepson Andrew Flynn.
Mr. Terravecchia was affectionately called Rob by his wife Geri, and Papa by his adoring grandchildren. He was a man of great faith and served in many church parishes in the towns in which he lived over the years in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. He loved his family and friends and was most happy when he was spending time with them. He was loyal, humble and kind, and his smile would light up a room.
This quote that he posted on Facebook after a surprise party for his 80th birthday sums it all up: “I want to thank what my eyes and my heart witnessed yesterday and that was a family gathering together to celebrate a birthday. It didn’t matter whose birthday it was, what did matter was the love, laughter and affection that was there in that room. Never lose that love and affection that comes with family. Love, Papa.”
Papa, we will never lose that love and affection that we learned from you and will carry it in our hearts and in our actions forever.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Church on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. Relatives and friends may call at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield prior to the Mass from 9 to 11 a.m. Interment will be in Forest Glade Cemetery, Wakefield at a later date. For guestbook, please go to www.mcdonaldfs.com.
