Thomas S. Wilson
December 29, 1946 – July 29, 2024
Relatives and friends attended a family gathering and visitation for Thomas S. “Tommy” Wilson on Tuesday, August 6th at St. Rose of Lima Church, 12 Park Street, Topsfield. The visitation was immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in the Church and services concluded with interment in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Topsfield.
At 77 years of age, Tommy passed away after a brief decline in health on Monday July 29th at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
Raised in Peabody, Tom was the eldest of three sons of the late William J. Sr. and Helen A. (Zaksheski) Wilson. Tom grew up in Peabody, attended local schools, and graduated from Peabody High School where he played tackle on the High School Football team.
He attended East Coast Aero Technical and worked as an aircraft engine mechanic for TWA and American Airlines in Boston and finished his career with American Airlines in St. Louis, MO. Working for the airlines gave Tom the opportunity to travel to many destinations, however he favored going to Jamaica where he made many lifetime friends.
He made Topsfield his hometown and has resided there since 1976. Tom was married to Eileen M. (Barry) and was devoted to his quiet unassuming home life together with his wife. As a young man, he helped his uncle build a sailboat and later he and a friend built his own sailboat that he named the “Sundown.”
Tom is lovingly survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Eileen M. Wilson at home in Topsfield. He was the dear brother of Stephen K. Wilson and his wife, Kathy and William J. Wilson, Jr. and his wife, Deborah, all of Peabody; cherished uncle of Andrea Margareci and her husband, Michael, Christopher Wilson, Shannon Wilson-Cutone and her husband, Christopher,and Matthew Halliday, and great uncle to Elora, and Andrew Margareci and Brooke Cutone.
To send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFH.com
Carmen Navarro Pastrana
She was recently honored by the Chelsea City Council on her 98th birthday as one of Chelsea’s oldest citizens.
Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend a funeral for Carmen Navarro Pastrana in the Welsh Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea today, Thursday, August 8th at 10:30 a.m. Her services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.
At 98 years of age, Carmen passed away on Sunday, August 4th with her loving family at her side.
Born in Loisa, Puerto Rico, Carmen was the daughter of the late Damaso Navarro and Juana Pastrana. She grew up in San Juan, married Francisco Carrion and raised two sons and three daughters. Carmen worked at a Children’s Hospital as a nurse.
She relocated to Chelsea and has lived here for 15 years. She is fondly remembered for her devotion to family and friends, residing in the Buckley Apartments where she would often prepare meals and deliver her homemade dinners to many neighbors in the building. Carmen was recently honored by the Chelsea City Council on her 98th birthday as one of Chelsea’s oldest citizens.
In addition to her parents, Carmen was predeceased by her husband, Francisco Carrion and daughters, Lillian and Laura Iris Carrion and her sons, Fernando and Jose Manuel Carrion. She is lovingly survived by her beloved daughter, Miriam Carrion and sisters. Aida Julia Lopez Pastrana, Ana Hilda Lopez Pastrana and Lillian Torres Pastrana, as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
To send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFH.com
Joseph Robert Finnigan
He loved to make people laugh
Joseph Robert “Sonny” Finnigan, 60, of Saugus passed away on July 12 due to multiple health complications.
Born and raised in Chelsea, he graduated from Chelsea High School. He was a hardworking man throughout his career. He worked as a longshoreman for Mobil Oil Corp. in East Boston and he also as a mechanic at Post Office Square Mobil in Lynnfield. He will be lovingly remembered by his family for his intriguing and fascinating stories about the Titanic and its Legacy. Joseph also loved making people laugh. He will be missed by all who loved him.
Joseph was the beloved son of the late Joseph G. Finnigan and the late Alvina “Betty” (Clark) Finnigan, beloved brother of Cathy and Frank DeAngelis of Newton, NH, Wendy and David Howell of Haverhill, Butchie (Gary) and Dee (DeAnna) Finnigan of Saugus and the late Robert “Bobby” Stone and Phylis Stone.
Joseph was married to Cheryl (Howell) Finnigan for 20 years and they had three children together: Shannon (Finnigan) and Reginaldo Silva of Saugus, Joseph Finnigan Jr. and Eboni (Butler) of Wilmington and Luke Charles Finnigan and Brianna of Wakefield. He was also a loving grandfather to four beautiful granddaughters: Emily, Sophia, Juliet and Lillian.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours in the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., Chelsea on Monday, August 12th from 4 to 6 p.m. Joseph’s Memorial Service will follow the visitation in the Funeral Home at 6 p.m. Please bring all of your loving memories and stories to share. All services will conclude at the Funeral Home.
We encourage family and friends to visit carafafuneralhome.com to offer condolences by means of the online guest book or to send a personalized sympathy card.
Richard C. “Richie” Cormier
January 21, 1955 – August 4, 2024
Richard C. “Richie” Cormier of Chelsea, also known as Dickie, passed away on August 4, 2024 at a private residence in Chelsea.
Born in Dover, NH, Richie lived most of his life in Chelsea, graduating from Chelsea High School. As a young man, he worked at the old newspaper offices on Heard Street, later working for Coldwater Seafoods/Preferred Freezer in Everett and he retired from Eastern Connection in Woburn.
A member of the Cary Square Club, Richie drove a taxi in Chelsea for many years and was a well-known figure around town.
Richard was predeceased by his daughter, Stephanie Cormier of Marshfield and Chelsea. He is survived by his daughter, Colleen Cormier and her husband, Stephen Troisi of Woburn. He was the cherished brother of Joan Cormier of Ladysmith, Virginia, Janice and Angus MacDonald of Methuen, Walter and Barbara Cormier of Everett, James Cormier of Hudson, New Hampshire, Daniel Cormier and Marta Priftis of Falls Church, Virginia and his brother-in-law, Robert Young of St. Albans, West Virginia. Richie was predeceased by his sisters, Catherine Mahoney and her husband, Joseph of Methuen, sister Mary Young of St. Albans, West Virginia, brother John Cormier of Chelsea and sisters-in-law Pauline Cormier of Londonderry, New Hampshire and Cynthia Cormier of Hudson, New Hampshire. Richie is fondly remembered by many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, and dearly missed by his most constant companion, his cat, Buddy.
Ever the cab driver, Richie was often seen shuttling friends and family around town. Rush hour, noon, or 3 a.m., if you needed a ride, just call Richie. He would talk your ear off, but he’d get you to the airport on time! He always felt a special obligation to the elderly and went out of his way to run errands and go grocery shopping for his older friends. He had a special bond with his friend Jimmy B., as they helped and supported each other through the pandemic and beyond.
Richie was gregarious, ready to strike up a conversation with everyone he met. He seemed to run into someone he knew wherever he went, and he did love to travel. He never missed family trips to Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. He flew to San Diego to see the Patriots, drove to Montreal to watch his nephews play hockey, and especially loved vacations to Ireland and Nova Scotia to see the places of his ancestors.
Richie was quick with a joke or anecdote, his sense of humor likely forged at the age of five when he would get up early, dress himself and cross the street to his aunt Josephine’s house to watch the Three Stooges over breakfast. His childhood was spent playing with neighborhood kids on the streets of Chelsea, most memorably when he was hit by a fire truck! As a young man, he played street hockey at Hockey Town USA, followed by a scorpion bowl or two at the August Moon. He loved cards, and no doubt has a poker game going right now, with his daughter Stephanie taking all his money.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joslin Diabetes Center https://giving.bilh.org/joslindiabetescenter/
Services are pending and will be announced at a later time.
To send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.WelshFH.com
