Joseph J. “Joe” Ferri of Saugus, who was born and raised in Revere and always considered it home, died on Monday, October 26, with his family around him. He was 82.
He was born in Revere on May 3, 1944, to Vincent and Rose (Zollo) Ferri. He graduated from Revere High School and served in the Army National Guard. After he married, he and his wife moved to Saugus, where they raised their two children.
For more than 20 years he and his wife, Joann, ran the White Hen Pantry on Byron Street in East Boston together. In retirement they stayed active, spent time with family and friends, and wintered in Florida. He hunted, fished and loved golf, and he worked as a starter at Beverly Golf and Tennis Club, where his outgoing manner made him friends for life.
He and Joann (Laufer) Ferri were married for 56 years. He also leaves his daughter, Allyson M. (Ferri) Alvarez Desotomayor, and her husband, Rodolfo Alvarez Desotomayor Jr.; his son, Joseph M. Ferri; his granddaughter, Giuliana E. Alvarez Desotomayor, whom he called “Papa’s Angel”; his nephew Vincent G. Ferri and his wife, Lisa (Sasso) Ferri; his great-nephew, Vincent J. Ferri; and many other nieces, nephews and friends. His brother, Vincent R. Ferri, and his sister-in-law Sandra (Cutillo) Ferri died before him, as did his brother-in-law Scott Davis and sister-in-law Cynthia Davis.
Visiting hours are Tuesday, November 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach Street, Revere. The funeral leaves the funeral home on Wednesday, November 4, at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral Mass at 10 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 250 Revere Street, Revere. Burial is at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett. Instead of flowers, the family asks for donations to Boston Children’s Hospital, 401 Park Drive, Suite 602, Boston, MA 02215.
Compiled from information published by Vertuccio Smith & Vazza Beechwood Home for Funerals, 262 Beach Street, Revere. Photograph courtesy of the family via Vertuccio Smith & Vazza. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.