Elisa Cortes-DeJesus
Hispanic Community Advocate
On Oct. 13, Elisa Cortes-DeJesus of Saugus passed away.
Elisa was born May 10, 1949 in Arroyo, Puerto Rico. During her childhood on the island, she met Jose Otero Valentin in Santurce, Puerto Rico, whom she married. The couple had two children together: Jose Otero Jr. and Elsa Otero. Following her divorce, Cortes-DeJesus relocated from Puerto Rico and established herself in Chelsea during the early 1970s. Through her own determination, she earned a Masters Degree in education from Antioch University while working. Her career included positions as a social worker and Hispanic community advocate. For an extended period, she worked for the city of Chelsea and subsequently for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance. She also contributed her time to the Puerto Rican festival committee.
Cortes-DeJesus maintained her residence in Chelsea throughout most of her life before relocating to Saugus in 2009 with her husband of 19 years, Jose Ocasio. She is survived by her devoted children Jose Otero and his companion Colleen Lewis, and Elsa Otero and her companion Esteban Caraballo. Her siblings include Maggie Paris and Eduardo Paris, both residing in Puerto Rico, as well as the late Enrique Paris and Victor DeJesus. She leaves behind five grandchildren: Angel Andrades, Alexandria Andrades, Cristian Alas, Rosario Alas and Dante Otero, plus her great grandson Xavier Ferreira, along with numerous nieces and nephews.
A Funeral will be held today, Thursday, Oct. 18 at 9 a.m. at the Smith Funeral Home, 125 Washington Avenue, Chelsea, with a Funeral Mass following at 10 o’clock at St. Rose Church, 600 Broadway, Chelsea. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery, Saugus. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Kaplan Family Hospice House, 78 Liberty Street, Danvers, MA 01923 in lieu of flowers.
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Irene Tkaczuk
Former Clerk Supervisor at the Chelsea Memorial Hospital (now MGH), long active in the Chelsea Polish Community
Irene F. (Flower) Tkaczuk, 89, died Monday morning, Oct. 15 at the Rosewood Nursing Center in Peabody following a prolonged chronic illness.
Irene was born and raised in Chelsea as the daughter of the late Louis and Frances (Weslowski) Flower. She completed her education at local schools and graduated from Chelsea High School in the Class of 1947.
She was married to John A. Tkaczuk of Peabody for 71 years. The couple raised their family in Chelsea before moving to Peabody, where they lived for the past 17 years.
For 23 years, Irene worked as a clerk supervisor at the former Chelsea Memorial Hospital, which later became the MGH, managing billing and accounts receivable until her retirement in 1986. She held the positions of President, Past President, State Officer, and Sgt. at Arms of the P.A.V. Post 13 of Chelsea. As a 70-year member of the Polish Falcons, she achieved gold star membership. Irene was a late member of St. Stanislaus Church in Chelsea, where she and her husband participated in numerous church organizations throughout the years. In retirement, she enjoyed polka dancing with her husband and time spent at their winter home in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Irene is survived by her children Frances Tkaczuk of Mashpee, Paula Kordis and her husband Ted of Peabody, and the late Frederick “Fred” Tkaczuk. She was the sister of Wanda Carroccino of Lynn and sister-in-law of the late Joseph Carroccino. She leaves three grandchildren: Matthew, John Andrew, and Christopher Kordis, all of Swampscott.
Family visitation and a funeral will be held Friday, Oct. 19 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Frank A. Welsh & Sons Funeral Home, 718 Broadway, Chelsea, followed immediately by a Funeral Mass at St. Stanislaus Church, 163 Chestnut St., Chelsea at 10 a.m. Interment will conclude services at Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. The Funeral Home is fully handicap accessible with ample parking available opposite the facility.
In Irene’s memory, friends may direct contributions to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., B-102 Danvers, MA 01923 and/or Catholic TV, P.O. Box 9196 Watertown, MA 02471. For directions or to send expressions of sympathy, visit www.WelshFuneralHome.com