Marie Guirlaine Julien (58) of Boston, MA went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 alongside her loving four children.

She was born September 28, 1961 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Jeanne Pierre and Geto Julien. With the support of her grandmother Germaine Julien she emigrated to the United States at the age of 25. Coming to America was a wonderful opportunity for Guirlaine to finish her schooling, work in the medical field and build a home for her family. She was blessed enough to open her home to family and friends. She was known for having yearly gatherings/parties to bring people in the Haitian community together. Everyone who had the pleasure of meeting her, was in some way impacted by her beautiful smile and sweet personality.

As a mother of four and grandmother and grandmother of three, with one on the way, Guirlaine always had her hands full keeping up with everyone and their lives. She shared a special relationship with each child. A lot of traits in which she mimicked from her own relationship with her mother Jeanne and brother Kelly.

Guirlaine enjoyed dressing up, doing her make up and dancing. She loved God and was a woman of faith. She would always say, “I’m happy I lived my life to the fullest with no regrets”. Though she is gone, she will never be forgotten. She leaves behind so many beautiful memories in the hearts of everyone she has touched. Her legacy will forever live on through her surviving children, Nathalie Mary, Elizabeth Faroul, Hardaway Henri, and Katisha Elie and grandchildren, Terick Time, Naliyah Time, Ella Jean, and Kamari Fuquay.

Visitation at the Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington St., DORCHESTER LOWER MILLS on Saturday, October 10, from 8:00am-10:00am. The Funeral Service will begin at 10:00am. Interment at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

John A. Wedgeworth, Jr., 81, of South Boston passed away October 10, 2020.

Born and raised in Dorchester to the late J. Arthur and Katherine (Kiernan) Wedgeworth.  John graduated from B. C. High School Class of 56’.  He earned his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University in 1960 and completed his graduate studies from Columbia University majoring in Philosophy.  He continued his education attending B. C. Law School.  John taught for several years in the Boston and Milton School systems.  He worked for the Commonwealth of MA for the Department of Mental Health and for the Maurice H. Saval Insurance Co. as a credit manager.  A resident of Dorchester for several years, John moved to Quincy in the 1980s.  Late member of the Wychmere Harbor Club in Harwich Port.

Loving brother of Martha W. Shields and her husband John of West Harwich.  Uncle of John, Katherine, Sarah and Julie.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a later date.

Elizabeth (King) Miller of East Dennis, MA passed away in the comfort of her home on October 1, 2020 after her brave battle with ovarian cancer.

Born August 19, 1936 in Worcester, Massachusetts, Elizabeth (“Bette”) was the daughter of the late Thomas F. and Mary K. (Flynn) King.  She was pre-deceased by her loving husband Gerard R. Miller, Sr. in 1975.

She is survived by her beloved daughter, Susan M. Westgate, and her husband, John D. Westgate; her cherished son, Gerard R. Miller, Jr., and his wife Bonnie Miller; devoted long time companion, Arthur J. Bresnahan and her adored grandchildren, Gerard R. Miller, III, Patrick Miller, Kathryn Westgate, Elizabeth G. Miller, and Caroline Miller.

She is also survived by her siblings, Mary Ellen Griffin and her husband, James; Kathleen K. Madaus; Sarah J. Carney and her husband, Robert; and James P. King and his wife, Valerie.  She was pre-deceased by her brother, Thomas F. King, Jr. and his wife, Phyllis; her sister, Agnes Doyle and her husband, William; her sister, Phyllis Dykas and her husband, L. Hugh; her sister, Ann Marie Robertson and her husband, Arnold; and her brother-in-law Gerald Madaus.  She is survived by many loving nieces, nephews and godchildren.

Bette grew up in Leicester, MA as one of nine children, the daughter of two hard-working Irish immigrants.  Her parents raised their children to trust in the power of love, rely on their faith in God, and always take a positive outlook on life.  She graduated from Leicester High School and Anna Maria College.  Always meticulously dressed in the latest fashion with a bright smile and welcoming personality, she began a career in banking after school.  Bette married Gerard R. Miller of Dorchester, MA in 1965, a talented musician and dedicated educator for the Boston Public Schools.  The couple purchased a home in Milton, MA where they began raising their two children, Susan and Gerard.  Bette’s life was upended in April of 1975 when her beloved husband suddenly passed away of cardiac arrest and she found herself a widow and single mother.  Having been brought up with inner strength and resilience, Bette seized the role of mother and father, eventually moving to Shrewsbury, MA where she and her children could be closer to the family in which she was raised.   

It was in Shrewsbury, MA where she met Arthur Bresnahan who became her beloved life-partner for over thirty years.  The two followed their love for the beach and the ocean to East Dennis, MA, and Pine Island, FL, once their children had built lives of their own. 

Bette will always be remembered for her kind heart, generosity, strong will, and perseverance.  She was an example and role model to us all.  Blessed with excellent health throughout her life, Bette’s fight to beat ovarian cancer was a valiant and courageous effort.  The family would like to thank the many healthcare professionals from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Dana Farber and Cape Cod Hospital who provided her with outstanding care and support during her illness.

Relatives and friends attended a Mass of Christian Burial on October 8^th at St. Agatha’s Parish in Milton, followed by interment at Milton Cemetery. 

Dr. Joseph Marr Cronin, lifelong learner and educator, peacefully passed away on October 3, 2020 at the Pat Roche Hospice House in Hingham, MA after bravely living with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) for the past five years. He celebrated his 85th birthday on August 30th.

Throughout his many years of service in education, he worked tirelessly to provide students with opportunities to succeed, regardless of their race, class, gender, and abilities. Joe understood that the strength and future of the community and nation depended on providing access to education at all levels. Joe was recognized as a distinguished academic leader with experience as a teacher, author, administrator and chief executive, as well as an expert in educational financing.

Born August 30, 1935 in Dorchester, MA to Joseph Michael Cronin and Mary Marr Cronin, Joe’s education began in the Milton Public Schools until he entered BC High where he graduated in 1952. Joe went on to attend Harvard College, graduating magna cum laude in 1956 with a Bachelor of Arts and subsequently a Master of Arts in Teaching. In 1958, he married Marie (Whalen) Cronin. Joe completed a doctorate degree at Stanford University in 1965. He then returned to Harvard as an Associate Professor of Educational Administration, and Associate Dean.  

Massachusetts’ Governor Frank Sargent named Dr. Cronin the Commonwealth’s first Secretary of Educational Affairs in 1971. He continued his leadership in education as Illinois State Superintendent of Public Instruction (1975). He returned to his home state in 1980 and assumed the role of President of the Massachusetts Higher Education Assistance Corporation. In 1991 he was chosen as the fifth President of Bentley College, now Bentley University, and remained in the role for six years.

Cronin served on various boards including the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, Nellie Mae Corporation, the Boston Plan for Excellence in the Public Schools, and the Friends of the John Hay National Wildlife Refuge in Newbury, NH. He was a founding member of Access, the college scholarship program for Boston public schools. He also chaired the President’s Council at Mystic Aquarium. He was a founding board member of the Colonel Daniel Marr Boys & Girls Club, built in memory of his mother’s brother. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed spending time with family and friends, painting, gardening, playing tennis and cheering on his favorite sports team; the Patriots and Red Sox,

He leaves two brothers, John (Maritta) of Milton, MA and Tom (Tania) of Colorado Springs, and a sister Kathy Dowd (Jim) of Webster Groves, Missouri. He was married to Marie Cronin for 47 years. He leaves their seven children: Maureen Peterson (Dwight), Kathy Cronin, and Tim Cronin (Elizabeth), all of Milton, MA, Elizabeth Cronin (Ron Shiels) of Norwood, MA, Joe Cronin (Sarah) of Hingham, MA, Anne Cronin of Arlington, VA and Patricia Fertig (Lou) of Roswell, GA. He leaves nineteen grandchildren and five great grandchildren, as well as several nieces, nephews, and their families. He also leaves his good friend, Elizabeth Cook, of Needham, MA. The family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers who assisted with his care over the past few years.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, a private funeral mass has been planned. A memorial celebration of life will be organized when it is safe to do so.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either: The Cronin Scholarship Fund at Boston College High School, Attn: Office of Institutional Advancement, 150 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125 or online, at www.bchigh.edu/give or Bentley University in memory of President Joe Cronin. Please mail checks to Bentley University, Office of Advancement, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452; or online at Bentley.edu/giving.

Athena Constance Pappas fell asleep in the Lord, surrounded by family members and a dear friend, Friday October 2, 2020.  She would have been 97 next month.

Athena was born in Washington, DC, one of nine children: Helen Grigsby, Andrew “Andy”, John T., Bessie Aloupis, Angelo, Peter, Gus, and George Pappas, all now deceased.  Her parents, Theodore and Constandina Panagiotopoulos, were from the Peloponnese region of Greece and had her Christened as “Athena.”  But she was known as “Ethel” for much of her life, a name given to her by a teacher as part of the effort at the time to assimilate children of immigrants.  However, she changed her name back to her Christened name while in her 50’s.    She moved to the Boston area as a child and remained there, making her career as an executive secretary for Gillette, working in “the Pru.” 

A devout Orthodox Christian, she was active in St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Quincy, now in Braintree.  The Metropolitan (Bishop) of Boston presented her with The Ministry Award in 2007 in recognition of her outstanding service to her parish. 

Athena was known for her friendliness towards everyone.  Even in her later years, she greeted everyone she saw with a big smile and wave, always asking how they were.  She shared her apartment with her beloved aunt, Jane Macheras, and the two entertained a daily stream of family and friends who dropped in (usually unannounced!) for a cup of coffee and to catch up on the latest news.  Their kitchen was the neighborhood social center.

Athena is survived by numerous cousins, nephews and nieces, great-nephews and nieces, and great-great nephews and nieces. 

Visitation will be Friday, October 9 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 119 Common St., Braintree.  From 11:45 am to noon, family and friends will be invited to share words of remembrance.  Funeral services will commence at noon and she will be laid to rest at Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree.   

Her family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to her beloved St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church, 119 Common Street, Braintree, MA 02186 

May her memory be Eternal!

Gilda (Spatola) Groves, 91, of Dorchester, passed away peacefully in her home on the morning of October 1st. She spent her last days enjoying the company of her family, playing cards and sharing stories.

Gilda was born and raised in Dorchester as a member of a close knit Sicilian family. In 1948, she married the love of her life. They were inseparable until his death in 1993. That is when she began volunteering to work at the front desk at Carney Hospital, where she stayed for 16 years. 

Gilda was very active in the St. Gregory community as a member of the Ladies Sodality, and later, the sixty and over club, of which she eventually became president. She worked the weekly bingo, ran and organized flea markets, and planned many bus trips to local casinos. In her free time, you could find her playing bingo in the evenings, bowling with her friends, or playing friendly games of scrabble with her family. 

Gilda was predeceased by her loving husband, Leonard. She was the beloved mother of Virginia Chetkauskas and husband, Robert, of Dorchester; John Groves of St. Petersburg, Florida; grandmother of Eric Chetkauskas and Julie Chetkauskas of Dorchester; sister of Anna Walsh of Weymouth, and the late John Spatola of Brockton. 

Visiting Hours in the Dolan Funeral Home 1140 Washington Street, Dorchester Lower Mills, Tuesday, 9 – 10:30 AM.

Funeral Mass and Interment are Private.

Desmond Ferdinand of Boston, Massachusetts, was born on June 17th, 1994 to the parents of Patricia Ferdinand and Desmond Grant (deceased). After attending City on the Hill for his high school years, he then made the decision to go onto a welding trade school.

On September 20th, 2020, Desmond was suddenly called home and will be remembered and loved by his mother Patricia Ferdinand, brother Darion Ferdinand, daughter Kali Ferdinand, grandmother Thora Raymond, his five aunts Ava, Helen, Dianne, Grace, Andrea and his uncle Daniel Ferdinand. Desmond will also be loved and missed dearly by his girlfriend Sarah of ten years and mother of his child, a host of friends and cousins whom he was extremely close to, but especially his cousin and best friend Hakeem.

He was a loving son, father, brother and friend that cared immensely for others. Oftentimes when Desmond got together with his cousin’s, he was always the comedian in the group and would have everyone laughing at the things that he would say and jokes that he would tell.  Anyone that knew Desmond knows how much he loved his mother and daughter, he was most certainly a “girl dad.” The day that Kali was born, he was overjoyed and he continued to always express the joys of being a dad to her no matter what! Desmond was a respected friend and was always there for anyone that needed or called on him for anything.

As family and friends will continue to mourn and weep for Desmond, let us always remember and find peace as well as comfort in knowing that he is resting peacefully in the hands of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 says: “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Family and friends, you have all gained another guardian angel for his spirit is eternal. May you all continue to cherish the good times, laughs, love and fun with Desmond; for that is what he would have wanted.

Visiting Hours in the Dolan Funeral Home, 1140 Washington Street Dorchester Lower Mills, Friday, October 2, 10 AM to 1 PM. Graveside Service Fairview Cemetery at 1:30 PM

Stephen N. Bonarrigo, 76, of Mashpee and formerly of Carver, passed away September 27, 2020 with his family by his side at Falmouth Hospital.

Stephen was born in the fall of 1943 to Anthony and Olivia Bonarrigo in Boston, MA.  He grew up with one brother Jerome “Jerry” in Milton.  Stephen enjoyed spending time with his mother, sharing her passion for gardening and cooking.  He earned his Bachelor’s in Engineering from Northeastern University. He took his love of engineering to The Gillette Company where he worked for over 30 years.  After retiring he moved to Arizona to live out his dreams of becoming a cowboy.

Stephen enjoyed spending time with his family, friends and being outdoors.  Taking his loved ones out on his boat were some of the most cherished times.  Where every trip was truly an adventure.  Riding horses, playing golf and being in his garden were just some of his favorite was to spend his weekends.  Music played a big role in Stephen’s life.  Whether it was playing in his band or recording songs with his brother Jerry., he could always be seen tapping along to the beat of the drums.

Loving father of Bret and his wife Maria of CT, Tasha and her husband William of Hanson, Ashley and her husband Michael of Marshfield.  Cherished papa of Jack, Jason, Alayna and William, Jr.  He is also survived by his niece Debbie, nephew Michael and his loving girlfriend of 25 years, Jacqueline. Stephen was predeased by his son Garrett “Gary” and his brother Jerome “Jerry”.

Stephen lived out his final years being cared for by the incredible staff at Bridges by Epoch Pembroke/Mashpee.  The passion and amazing care they provided was more like family than anything.  He was such a fun-loving person and it showed in the care they gave him.  Special thanks to Bridges by Epoch for your compassion and love to our dad.

Visiting hours at the Dolan Funeral Home, 460 Granite Avenue, EAST MILTON SQUARE, Milton Thursday October 1^st from 4-8 PM.  Family and friends invited.  Due to current pandemic protocols for large gatherings, the services and burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Stephen’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.com.

Jeffrey Gordon, 66, of Milton, passed away September 23, 2020.

Born in Brookline to the late Allyn and Phyllis (Kinvig) Gordon.  Jeff worked as a letter carrier for the U. S. Postal Service in Quincy.  He was a quiet, kind man who loved spending time with his niece and nephews.  Jeff was a passionate Boston Sports fans most especially the New England Patriots.   He loved spending time on his boat and adored his dog Goldie.  

Loving husband of Kathleen (O’Connor) Gordon and their dog Goldie.    Beloved brother of Vicky Carr and her husband Patrick Carr of Scituate and Suzanne Colwell and her husband Dennis of Foxboro.  Devoted uncle to Dennis & his wife Kristine of Foxboro, Kevin Colwell of Foxboro, Jill and her husband BJ Levin of Los Angeles, and Jeffrey, Lilly, and Max Carr of Scituate.

Due to current pandemic protocols for large gatherings, the interment will be private.

John Andrew Regan, age 59, of West Roxbury, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on September 16, 2020. 

John grew up in a tight-knit extended Irish Catholic family in Milton, MA attending St. Mary of the Hills elementary school and Milton High School prior to graduating from Boston College in 1983. He developed many friendships over the years from all facets of his life and remained very close with a circle of his guy friends from early childhood throughout his life. 

His friends and family will miss him dearly for his many good qualities including the depth and dependability of his abiding love for them. John was intelligent, interesting, well-travelled and well-read with a keen interest in and strong opinions about current events and history. He was a confirmed bachelor passionate about food, music, art and life in general. He will always be fondly remembered for his sharp wit and zany contagious sense of humor. Friends and family had their best uncontrollable, can’t-breathe laughs with John. On the flip side he was an old soul with a strong moral compass, a deep thinker and a great conversationalist with the ability to relate easily with people of all ages. 

As he was entering his teens, John discovered an affinity for music and it became a central part of his life. A self-taught guitarist he co-founded “The Benders” surf band recording and playing in Boston and Cambridge for years. At more intimate gatherings, it was always a treat when John brought out his guitar to make up funny songs or to play some Beatles tunes.

A commercial real estate appraiser, John was a consummate professional and obtained his MAI, his profession’s highest designation, early in his career. Respected by his peers and clients, he started at RM Bradley where he worked for 10 years rising to Vice President. He went on to work at several Boston area companies, including Lipof Real Estate Services, Marshall Dana & Associates, and Valuation Associates before launching a successful real estate evaluation and consulting firm, Petersen LaChance Regan Pino, LLC of Boston and Danvers, with his colleagues and close friends in 2011. 

John so loved his extended family – the Regans and Sullivans of Milton. He especially delighted in his nieces and nephews. He is survived by his father J. Murray Regan Jr. of Milton and his siblings and their families: J. Murray Regan III of Weymouth and Kathy Regan of Milton and their daughters Emily and Olivia; Lee Larkin of Needham, her husband Bob and their daughters Elizabeth and Katy; Ellen Smith of Acton, her husband Aidan and their children Liam and Bronwyn; Beth Whitney of Hingham, her husband Kevin and their sons Brendan and Justin; and Katie Kane of Sudbury, her husband Dave, and their children Caroline, Avery, and Andrew. He also leaves behind his beloved “mine Auntie” Pat Sullivan of Milton and his cousins who were like siblings to him: Kathy, Bobby, John and Jeanne and their families. John was predeceased by his cherished mother Mary C. Regan.

A private service will be held at St. Joseph’s Cemetery in West Roxbury. John will be interred in a place where he spent many happy hours strolling amongst the trees enjoying nature.