Page 18 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 4, 2025 OBITUARY Patricia M. Audet Of Malden. Passed away March 24th 2025. The daughter of Thomas and Wilma Audet. Patricia was born in Boston and raised in Everett. For many years Patricia volunteered at the Malden Chamber of Commerce. She was also very involved with the Catholic Daughters of America and the Eagles; she was a strong advocate for herself and for others. During her free time Patricia enjoyed drawing, painting anything artsy. She also had a love for cats and outdoor activities like bicycling, waSavvy Senior by Jim Miller Are You at Risk for Kidney Disease? Dear Savvy Senior, What are the risk factors for kidney disease? My mother died from kidney failure a few years ago at age 75 but didn’t even know she had a problem until it was too late. Inquiring Daughter Dear Inquiring, Anyone who has diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems or has a family history of the disease is at increased risk for chronic kidney disease, a condition in which the kidneys can no longer effectively filter your blood. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, around 37 million U.S adults have chronic kidney disease, and millions more are at risk of developing it, yet most people don’t realize it. That’s because kidney disease develops very slowly over many years before any symptoms arise. But left untreated, the disease can eventually require people to spend hours hooked up to a dialysis machine or get a kidney transplant. Even mild kidney problems can double a person’s risk of heart attack and stroke, as well as cause anemia and bone disease. The reason kidney disease has become so widespread today is because of the rise of obesity, type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure which all strain the kidneys. Another factor is the increasing number of people who take multiple medications, which can overtax the organs. People over age 60 are especially vulnerable both because they tend to take more drugs, and because kidney function normally declines somewhat with age. Get Screened Because kidney disease is often symptomless, it’s usually undiagnosed. The only way to catch it before it advances is to have a routine blood and urine test by your doctor. So, anyone that has diabetes, high blood pressure or heart disease, or is age 60 or older needs to be tested annually. If your lab tests show a decline in kidney function for more than three months in a row, you might be diagnosed with kidney disease and referred to a nephrologist. You also need to know that while kidney damage cannot be reversed, there are a number of effective lifestyle steps and treatments that can help contain the damage, including: Control your blood pressure: If you have high blood pressure, get it under 130/80. If you need medication to do it, ACE inhibitors and ARBs are good choices because of their proven ability to protect the kidneys. Control your diabetes: If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar as close to normal as possible. Diabetes medications called SGLT-2 inhibitors have also shown to be effective in helping slow the progression of kidney disease, even in non-diabetic patients. Adjust your diet: This usually means reducing the amount of protein and phosphorus you eat and cutting back on sodium, sugar and possibly potassium. Your doctor can help you determine an appropriate eating plan, or you may want to talk to a dietitian. Watch your meds: Dozens of commonly used drugs can damage the kidneys, especially when taken in high doses over long periods – most notably NSAIDs like ibuprofen and naproxen. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications taken for heartburn and GERDS, and herbal supplements can also be problematic. Talk to your doctor about all the prescription, over the counter and herbal products you take to identify potential problems and find alternatives. Exercise and lose weight: If you’re overweight and inactive, start an aerobic fitness routine (walk, swim, cycle, etc.) that gets your heart pumping. This will help lower blood pressure, control diabetes and help you lose excess weight all of which will help your kidneys. Stay hydrated: Dehydration can affect kidney function, so try to drink at least six to eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day. Quit smoking: If you smoke, quit. Smoking damages the kidneys and doubles the rate of progression to end-stage renal failure. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior. org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book. ter tubing and water skiing. She didn't make mistakes, she just had a few "my bad" moments. Patricia is survived by her cousins Regina Marsh, Sandra Kenney, Donna Harvey, Deborah Rappa, Diane Nardone and her cousin Ed Smolak as well as many other family members and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Thomas and Wilma Audet and her siblings John Squires and Barbara Dombrowski. Services for Patricia will be determined at a later date Yongcong Bai Of Malden. Passed away on March 25, 2025. Born in TaiShan China on October 5, 1977, Youncong moved to the United MUSINGS | FROM PAGE 7 aches and pains. 6. He complained about the music he was playing. 5. When he talks about “those young whippersnappers” he’s usually referring to Peter Levine. 4. He remembers his high school days as if they were yesterday but can’t remember yesterday. 3. When he reminisces about the good old days it’s in black and white. 2. He gets up once a night to pee when he should get up three or four times. 1. He won’t remember I’ve used this same top 10 list for the last 20 years. As Peter Falk’s iconic TV character Columbo would say, “Just one more thing, sir” – last year we lost an Edgeworth/Malden icon, but we’ll never really lose the memory of our Patron Saint, Salvatore “Butch” Gennetti. His spirit still lingers in every corner of his home away from home – the Italian American Citizen’s Club – and echoes through the laughter and camaraderie of the San Rock Festa, his sweet spot. Just yesterday morning, made my day when I saw Butch’s headstone was finally in place at the Forestdale Cemetery – a tribute States in 2009. He lived in Boston for a short period of time before settling in Malden for the rest of his life. Yongcong worked as a cook and had a great passion for computers and related fields. He was solely parenting his 14 yearold daughter, Vinci Yingsi Bai after her mother (HuiYing Liu) died while giving birth in 2010. Yongcong is survived by his father, ChuanShou Bai and his mother SiQin Bai. He also leaves his sister, Stephanie Bai Mahoney and her husband Vincent Patrick Mahoney, and his brother YongHui Bai and his wife Yanli Yu. Yongcon is also survived by his ex-wife PeiCi Zhao and their triplets YingWen Bai, Yuhang Bai and YuXing Bai and three nieces Crystal YuYin Liu, Katy YeQi Bai and Phoebe YeXi Bai. Visiting hours were held at the A. J. Spadafora Funeral Home, Malden, on Saturday March 29th. as timeless and fitting as the man himself. He wasn’t just a part of Malden; he was Malden – woven into its stories, its traditions, it’s very soul. We’ll keep him alive in every toast, every tale and every gathering. Butch, you’re forever in our hearts. For real, my friend. Postscript: Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Christian Falzarano turns the big 1-5! Yes, my precious grandson, Christian, officially hit Sweet 15 last week – but in my heart, he’ll forever be that wide-eyed, cuddly threeyear-old perched on my lap as we dove into endless Chip & Dale marathons on my old-school, chunky Compaq desktop. Christian, you are a brilliant burst of light in my life – more than words could ever capture. Your laughter, your kindness, your very presence is a gift I cherish every single day. So, here’s to another 15 years of adventure, love and magical moments! Keep shining, my beautiful little rainbow connection. —Peter is a longtime Malden resident and a regular contributor to The Malden Advocate. He can be reached at PeteL39@aol.com for comments, compliments or criticisms.
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