Charlotte Sheehan Gautreau
Devoted to Family, cherished her Catholic Faith
On March 28, Charlotte Sheehan Gautreau of Gonzales, Louisiana passed away at Heritage Manor in Baton Rouge following a prolonged struggle with Alzheimer’s Dementia and Parkinson’s Disease. The Boston native was 84 years old.
Born April 5, 1928, she attended Fr. Fitton Catholic High School in East Boston. While working for the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, DC, she met her husband, Clint, during his leave from the US Navy. Their wedding took place on July 27, 1947 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Star of the Sea Parish in East Boston.
Her career included positions with both federal and state governments as she raised her family across Boston and Gonzales, Louisiana.
Throughout her life, Charlotte maintained unwavering devotion to her Catholic faith and family. She was passionate about instilling valuable life lessons in her children at every turn. Her Boston Irish heritage and distinctive accent remained with her always, and she treasured playing card games, particularly canasta.
Surviving her are her husband of 65 years, Clinton Gautreau; sons Douglas Gautreau, Nathan Gautreau and his wife Linda, Joseph Gautreau and his wife Lori, and Paul Gautreau; daughters Nancy Gautreau and Mary Jane Gautreau Karabin and her husband Drew of Bethelehem, Pennsylvania; five grandchildren including Derek Gautreau and his wife Tammy, Nathan Gautreau, Nicholas Karabin, Peyton Gautreau, Zachary Gautreau; five great grandchildren: Morgan Gautreau, Myles Gautreau, Madeline Gautreau, Faith Gautreau and Emma Gautreau; three step grandchildren Shannon Sing and wife Jennifer, Amy Lejeune and her husband Larry, Casey Sing and his wife Paula, along with eight stepgrandchildren; and five siblings: Mary Theresa Granara of Chelsea, Helen Lepage of Winthrop, Eileen and Joe Coppola of Visalia, California, Joan Constantino of Chelsea and John Leo Sheehan, Jr. of Saugus, plus numerous nieces, nephews and relatives. She was preceded in death by her son David Charles Gautreau, her father John Leo Sheehan, Sr. and her mother Mary Whalen Sheehan of Everett.
At St. Theresa of Avila Catholic Church in Gonzales, Louisiana, visitation was held. Father Alec Sheldon celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial, with interment following at Hope Haven Cemetery in Praireville. Serving as pallbearers were Nathan Paul Gautreau, Joe Gautreau, Paul Gautreau, Derek Gautreau, Nathan David Gautreau and Peyton Gautreau. Honorary pallbearers included Douglas Gautreau, Nicholas Karabin, Zachary Gautreau and Myles Gautreau.
The family extends deep thanks to Heritage Manor Baton Rouge Nursing Home staff for their exceptional care and to Life Source Hospice for their attentive service. In lieu of flowers, contributions are requested for St. Jude’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee. The online guestbook is available at www.oursofh.com. Curso Funeral Home of Gonzales, Louisiana handled arrangements.
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Eleanor Novak
Retired Nurse’s Aide
On Easter Sunday, Eleanor H. (Toda) Novak, a lifelong Chelsea resident and retired Nurse’s Aide, died at the Chelsea Jewish Nursing Home at age 96.
She was born and raised in Chelsea to the late John C. and Helen (Rachuba) Toda. In 1936, she married Alexander J. Novak, a union that produced two daughters and one son. Her daughter Eleanor died at age three. Following nearly 60 years of marriage, her husband Alex passed away in 1996.
For many years, Eleanor worked as a Nurse’s Aide at the Whidden Memorial Hospital before her retirement. She was a former member of the PAV Ladies Aux Post 13 Chelsea and the Polish Roman Catholic Union of America.
She leaves her devoted son John Novak and his wife Joanne of Chelsea; daughter Alexandria “Sandy” Starcher and Chuck Starcher of Mason, OH; dear sister of Clara Szczerbinski of Chelsea; cherished grandmother of Charles Starcher, John Novak, Cassandra Glazier, Michael Novak, Christopher Novak and Jennifer Paliliunas, and is also survived by seven great grandchildren.
Her Funeral will be held from the Anthony Memorial Funeral Home, 157 Washington Ave., Chelsea, today, Thursday, April 4 at 8:30 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, 163 Chestnut St., Chelsea at 9:30 a.m. Services will conclude with Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden. Relatives and friends are most kindly invited to attend. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, please visit www.AnthonyMemorial.com
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Robert ‘Bob’ Walker
Of Chelsea
Robert P. “Bob” Walker, 52, of Chelsea died on March 29.
He is survived by his daughter Candise Walker; companion Janice Weinstein of Chelsea; former wife Phyllis Toce; siblings Craig and his wife Brenda of Saugus, Leslie Stewart and her husband James of Sandown, NH, Toni Talbot of Providence RI, and Bryan Walker of Wakefield; as well as three grandchildren: Nia Walker, Jayden Betts and Malin Betts. He was preceded in death by his parents James A. Walker and Carol Talbot and by siblings Doyle Walker.
Private funeral services were entrusted to Rocco-Carr-Henderson Funeral Service 1-877-71-ROCCO www.roccofuneralhomes.com
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Mildred Bencale
Chelsea School Cafeteria Retiree
Following a lengthy confinement, Mildred (Bentley) Bencale of Revere, formerly of Georgia and briefly of Florida, passed away on Good Friday, March 29 at the Bear Hill Nursing Center of Wakefield. She was 85 years old.
Originally from Palmetto, Georgia, she relocated to Revere more than 60 years ago. She spent over 10 years as a cafeteria worker in the Chelsea School System before retiring in 1989. A brief move to Florida in 1990 was followed by her return to Massachusetts, where she lived with her daughter Mildred J. Pontremoli and son-in-law Edward J. in Rowley. In 2004, declining health led her to reside at Bear Hill Nursing Center.
She was the widow of John Bencale, who died in June 1980. Her devoted children include John Bencale and his wife Barbara of Fountain Hills, Arizona, Robert A. Bencale and his wife Maureen of Stoneham, and Mildred J. Pontremoli and her husband Edward J. of Newburyport. Her grandchildren number Angela Macero and her husband Joseph of Wakefield, Danielle Pontremoli of Newburyport, Jay Bencale and his wife Tiffany of Nunan, Georgia, Nicola Cover and her husband Craig Cover of Kentucky, Michael Bencale and Christopher of Swampscott, Robert Bencale of California, and Jake Bencale of Stoneham. She also leaves two great grandchildren, Brandon and Gracie, as well as a sister-in-law Linda Bentley of Florida and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nephews and grand nieces.
Millie was the last surviving member of her generation. Her siblings, all deceased, were John R., Fred, Charles, James and Joseph Bentley and Dolly Smith, Mabel and Thelma Bentley.
Today, Thursday, April 4, visitation begins at 9 a.m. at the Vertuccio & Smith Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107) Revere, followed by her funeral service and a Funeral Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Revere at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the MSPCA-ANGELL, 350 South Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130-9923 or to Dana Farber Cancer Inst. – the Jimmy Fund, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02285-9168. For more information visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com