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THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2023 OBITUARIES Page 19 Florence J. Abbene al Mass in the Immaculate Conception Church, Revere. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, remembrance may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105. Michael John DiGregorio Sr. O f Revere. Peacefully departed on April 14 in her 98th year. For 72 years, she was the wife of the late Atty Antonio Abbene Jr of Revere. She was the loving mother of Pamela Floridia and her husband, Richard, of Marlborough and Anthony ‘Skip’ Abbene and his wife, Karen, of Melrose. She was the devoted Nana of Charles D. Abbene of South Carolina and Anthony J Abbene and his wife, Lauren, of Ipswich. She was the great grandmother of Emma Jean Abbene. She was the sister of the late Mary Commito of Reading. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Daughter of Thomas and Vera Lepore, Florence was born in Everett and lived most of her young life in Medford. She graduated from Medford High School in 1942 and went to work at the John Hancock Insurance Co. She married Tony on June 13, 1948 at St. James Church in Medford. Florence was ahead of her time – a working mother in the 1950’s and 1960’s – when she became the office manager and legal secretary of her husband’s law fi rm. She was a life-long learner who enjoyed reading, playing golf at Bellevue Golf Club in Melrose and going to lunch with her sister and friends. She loved to travel and enjoyed several cruises with her husband. Family & friends were welcomed to attend Visiting Hours in the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals, Revere, on Wednesday, April 19th, followed by a FunerHOUSING | FROM Page 1 er, that’s next on my agenda.” Board Chairman Joe Gravellese then jumped into the affordable home ownership project. “I think there’s a strong consensus it’s an actionable thing and something we want to pursue,” he said. “But how do we make the rubber hit the road? I’m not sure it’s best to do everything in-house.” Gravellese said he and other board members have had a discussion with the regionicas, and, of course, the DiGregorios. He was especially fond of his last remaining aunt, Phyllis (DiGregorio) Falzone, who is currently in her 90s. Over 50 years ago, Michael met Patricia (Colarusso), who would become his loving wife of almost 43 years. They would go on to have his beloved only child, Michael Jr., whom he always called his greatest joy in life. In addition to being father and son, Michael and Michael Jr. also considered each other best friends, and they shared all the same interests and hobbies. Michael was never happier than when he was with his son — and vice versa. Michael was also very close I t is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Michael DiGregorio Sr., age 71, on April 15th due to complications from cancer. His devastated family was at his bedside. Michael bravely fought early onset Alzheimer’s disease, an abdominal aortic aneurysm, and multiple myeloma hematological cancer for several years. Against all odds, he rallied forward, never losing his faith or his exuberant, joyful love of life. The center of Michael’s world was always his endless devotion to his family. Michael was born and raised in Chelsea before moving to Revere. He was the son of the late Mario DiGregorio Jr. and Angelina (Spellino). Michael cherished and selfl essly devoted his time to caring for his mother and visiting her almost daily in her nursing home for many years until she passed in 2017, one month short of her 91st birthday. He was very close with his two siblings: his older brother, Anthony and his wife Judith (Sherriff ), and his younger sister, Josephine and her late husband Kenneth Sacco. Michael also grew up very close to numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, especially the Loycanos, the LaMonal director of Habitat for Humanity. While many people know Habitat for Humanity as an organization that comes in and builds new homes, Gravellese said they also rebuild and renovate houses. Gravellese stressed Habitat has the experience and expertise to get the actual work done and they have a reputation that attracts donors and volunteers. “The way it would work is the AHTF would put up funds to purchase a property and turn it over to Habitat to manage it,” said Gravellese, adding to his brother-in-law, Frederick Colarusso and his wife Rosanne (Pallotta). He always adored and took great pride in his six nieces and nephews: Craig, David, Cheryl, Gina, Alison, and Lauren. He cherished his four beautiful grandnieces: Luciana, Cleo, Hazel, and Eloise, and he loved his precious grandnephew, Vincent. A proud Roman Catholic, Michael was educated by the Sisters of Providence at St. Rose School in Chelsea for primary school, and then by the Salesians of Don Bosco at St. Dominic Savio High School in East Boston. He received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a major in history from Salem State College. He later continued his post-graduate education, attending business school at Northeastern University. Michael worked extremely hard his entire life, from summer jobs packaging hazardous materials at Howe & French chemical factory, to helping his father run his furniture upholstery business. It was while working at Almys Department Store in Revere, during college, that he met his future wife and fellow employee, Patti, and a large group of friends with whom he kept in touch and maintained close friendships for decades. After taking over as store manager at another Almys location in Salem, Michael was hired to work as a corporate buyer and that there are pros and cons with that arrangement. “We wouldn’t be in complete control; we would have to use Habitat’s guidelines for eligibility, which are based on fair housing law,” he said. But there are pros that outweigh that limitation. “These guys are professionals with a lot of experience,” said Gravellese. Habitat’s regional director is scheduled to speak at the next AHTF meeting to share more details of how a partnership would work. Aff ordable home regional purchasing manager at Bradlees Department Store chain. It was during this time that he solidified many more lifelong friendships and was given the opportunity to travel extensively across the country to dozens of states, and, very often, to New York City. After leaving Bradlees, Michael was hired as an executive vice-president of one of the last remaining textile manufacturers in the city of Boston. Subsequently, he started a small business as a retail store owner, and eventually, he expanded to two stores in MA and NH. When his wife, Patti was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer, Michael made the decision to close his business, and re-educated himself as a real estate agent, so that he could have a more fl exible schedule and be able to care for her. When she recovered — in part due to his devoted caretaking — he expanded his credentials to include joining the National Association of Realtors. He then took and passed the diffi cult MA real estate broker’s licensure examination on his fi rst attempt. He remained a real estate broker until illness forced him to retire. Just as he had done for her during her illness, Michael’s beloved wife Patti lovingly set all else aside to care for him in his time of great need. Despite being repeatedly told that caring for someone with as many medical complications as Michael would be nearly impossible to do, Patti and Michael Jr. made the decision to be responsible for all of his full-time care at home, while still bringing him themselves for all his medical appointments, including weekly chemotherapy. This enabled Michael to be comfortable and happy living at his home, and it ensured that he was constantly surrounded by the love he so greatly deserved. Michael will be extraordinarily missed and eternally loved. Funeral from the Buonfi glio Funeral Home, Revere on Thursday April 20 followed by a funeral Mass at St. Anthony’s Church ownership is just one project the board intends to move forward. Deed restrictions to keep rent aff ordable and funds for essential home repairs are among the other projects high on their list. Like many in the city, the AHTF board had Friday and Mayor Brian Arrigo’s resignation on their minds. Gravellese noted that the board was holding their last meeting under the Arrigo administration and thanked the mayor for working to establish the ordinance that created the trust fund and in Revere. Visitations were be held on Wednesday. Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Donations in Michael’s memory can be made to the National Multiple Myeloma Foundation at www.myeloma.org or the Alzheimer’s Foundation at www.alz.org. Ann Marie (Saunier)French A lifelong resident of Revere, passed away after a longtime illness on April 12th, 2023 at 76 years. She leaves behind many loved ones, her loving husband of 54 years John James French of Revere. Loving mother of Kenneth James and daughter in-law Mary Rita French of Lynn, Andrea French of Revere, and Christine and son in law Joseph Azera of Revere. Cherished grandmother of Daniel E. French, Suzanne M. French, Kathleen A. French, Rosemary French, Karissa A. Azera, Courtney R. Azera, Joseph M. Azera Jr, and David J. Jordan. She is also survived by 4 loving great grandkids. Ann Marie was a longtime bank teller for Winter Hill Bank in Chelsea prior to retiring. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation at the JF Ward Funeral Home, 772 Broadway, Everett, on Saturday, April 22nd , from 10 am to 2 pm with a service in the funeral home at 12:30 pm. In lieu of fl owers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St, Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 or @ www.stjude.org. for ensuring funding to allow trustees to begin the work. “In Revere, we pride ourselves in having a strong community based on helping one another,” said Arrigo last summer when the ordinance was passed. “I am proud of this historic new ordinance, established in close partnership with our community partners and colleagues in government… giving us a new tool to ensure that every resident has the opportunity to work, live and raise their family in our great city.”

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