Mary Bennett
Mary "Molly" Bennett, 84, died December 4 at Quincy Medical Center.
Born in Connecticut, she lived in Milton for over 50 years. She was a descendant of Mary Chilton who came over on the Mayflower.
She graduated from Woodbury (CT) High School and Spencerian Business College in Ohio in an accelerated two year executive secretarial course.
Ms. Bennett worked as the secretary of a foreign wool brokerage in Boston for nine years and then as the secretary to a senior partner at the law firm of Ropes and Gray for 30 years until her retirement in 1986.
She was a member of the Society of Old Plymouth Colony Descendants, a volunteer at Milton Public library and was active in the First Congregational Church of Milton.
She is survived by a brother, Miles Bennett of Ohio; two nephews, John L. Bennett of Illinois and John H. Bennett of Vermont; two nieces, Margaret Bevington of Illinois and Susan Girardeau of Arizona.
A memorial service was held December 13 at the First Congregational Church of Milton.
Funeral arrangements were made by Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Homes.
Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 44 Fourth Avenue, Needham, MA 02192 or to the First Congregational Church of Milton, 495 Canton Avenue, Milton, MA 02186.
Thomas M. Picco
Thomas P. "Cy" Picco, 72, a 33-year resident of Milton, died December 10.
Born in Boston, he was a graduate of Boston English High School. He had lived in Florida for the last eight years.
Mr. Picco was a former truck driver and business agent for Teamsters Local #25. He was a Navy veteran of the Korean War serving aboard USS Gatling and USS Hawkins. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign War in Florida and a member of the Korean War Veterans.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years Helen V. "Honey" (Guest) Picco; two sons, Timmy Picco of Marshfield and Michael J. Picco of Braintree; four daughters, Noreen M. Remmes of Milton, Nancy E. Conroy of West Barnstable, Theresa A. Picco of Milton, Cheekie Farrell of North Eastham; a sister, Maureen Dellamano of Braintree; 11 grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was the father of the late Stephen J. Picco.
A funeral Mass was celebrated December 13 at St. Agatha Church. Burial was in Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Funeral arrangements were made by Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.
Helen M. Horrigan
Helen M. (Matthews) Horrigan, 94, died December 6 at her home after a long illness.
Born and raised in Brockton, she attended Brockton Schools and graduated from Brown University.
Mrs. Horrigan worked for Fiduciary Trust Company in Boston for 40 years. She was a member and supporter of the Boston Athenaeum, Italian Historical Society, Boston College Golden Eagles and Fides Society and a volunteer at Carney Hospital.
Wife of the late John Dwyer and Clement V. Horrigan, she is survived by a stepson, C. Vincent Horrigan of Marshfield; two stepdaughters, Brenda H. Kowalski of Milton and Barbara A. Harkcom of Georgia.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary of the Hills Church on December 10.
Funeral arrangements were made by Dolan Funeral Homes.
Donations may be made to Old Colony Hospice, 14 Page Terrace, Stoughton, MA 02072.
Joanna J. Laffan
Joanna J. "Jean" (Dockx) Laffan of Quincy died December 1 at Quincy Medical Center.
Born in Boston and raised in South Boston, she lived in Milton before moving to Quincy three years ago.
She worked for many years at the Walter Baker Chocolate Factory and was a La Belle Chocolatier at the 100th anniversary celebration of the factory.
She was past president and a former member of Boston Emblem Club 10.
Wife of the late Charles L. Laffan, she is survived by two daughters, Marie J. McDermott and Margaret E. "Peggy" Delaney, both of Milton; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
She was also the mother of the late James E. Laffan.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Gregory Church, Dorchester, on December 5. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were made by Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to St. Gregory Church, 2215 Dorchester Avenue, Dorchester, MA 02124.
Phyllis M. Giovanucci
Phyllis M. Giovanucci of Mattapan died December 2 at Carney Hospital.
Born in Boston, she lived her entire life in Mattapan.
Miss Giovanucci worked as a bookkeeper for the Thatcher Farm Dairy for many years.
She spent summers in New Hampshire with her niece.
She is survived by two sisters, Alice L. Adams of Quincy and Jean H. Giovanucci of Mattapan; two nieces, Jane E. Burke of Milton and Carole M. Adams of New Hampshire; a nephew, Richard B. Adams of Norwell; and several grandnieces and grandnephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Angela Church, Mattapan on December 6. Burial was in Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton.
Funeral arrangements were made by Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.
Albertine F. Cox
Albertine F. "Fran" (Vigeant) Cox, 94, formerly of North Quincy, died December 7.
Born in New Bedford, she worked for 22 years at the Continental Screw Company.
She was a communicant of St. Mary’s Church in Chelmsford.
Wife of the late Ralph B. Cox, she is survived by a son, William B. Cox of Chelmsford; a daughter, Geraldine Randall of Florida; four sisters, Beatrice Lajoie of South Dartmouth, Leah Silva of New Bedford, Helen Moyer and Ida McKnight both of Wareham; four brothers, Medrick Vigeant, Roland Vigeant, Albert Vigeant all of New Bedford and Raymond Vigeant of Florida; 17 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren and five great great grandchildren.
A funeral Mass was celebrated December 11 at St. Mary’s Church, Chelmsford. Burial was in Pine Hill Cemetery, Quincy.
John P. McGrath
John Paul McGrath, 86, of Milton, died December 15 at the Caritas Norwood Hospital in Norwood.
Born in Boston, he lived in Milton for 53 years.
He was a Seabee in the United States Navy during World War II.
Mr. McGrath worked for the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in 1985. In his retirement he became an accomplished artist and did both water colors and oil pictures of landscapes and stills. He exhibited his paintings at art fairs and local views.
Mr. McGrath belonged to both the Milton and Canton Art Associations.
Husband of the late Mary (Killilea) McGrath, he is survived by a son, Paul J. McGrath of Milton; two daughters, Mary F. Kane and Patricia E. McGrath both of Milton; two grandchildren; one great grandchild, and his dear friends, Margaret Black and Lorreta Barthel. A funeral Mass was celebrated December 19 at Saint Elizabeth Church. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were made by Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to the Activities Department of Hellenic Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, 601 Sherman Street, Canton, MA 02021.
William W. Scannell
William W. Scannell, 89, of Milton died December 15 at the Hollywell Nursing Home in Randolph.
Born in Milton, he was a graduate of Milton High School and received an Associates Degree from the Hawley School of Engineering.
Mr. Scannell enlisted in the U.S. Army during WW II, was assigned to the Signal Corp, and taught communications at the Will Rogers Air Base in Oklahoma. After the war, he was employed by the N.E. Telephone Co. for more than 40 years, working first in the Plant Department and his last 17 years in the Engineering Department.
Mr. Scannell was an active Kiwanian for 14 years; he served as Chairman of Special Charities, the Sick and Vigil Committee, and was selected the Kiwanis Club’s Man of the Year in 1994.
He was a member of the Cunningham Men’s Bowling League and Senior Citizens Bowling League and was a daily communicant at Saint Elizabeth Church for 20 years after his retirement.
Husband of the late Eleanor (Campbell) Scannell, he is survived by a daughter, Judith S. Howard of Milton; three grandchildren; a sister, Catherine M. Dinan of Maine, and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated December 19 at Saint Elizabeth Church. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were made by Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home.
Catherine M. Cronin
Catherine M. (Conlon) Cronin of Milton, died December 6 at the Hancock Park Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility, Quincy.
Born in Boston, she lived in Dorchester before moving to Milton more than 50 years ago. Mrs. Cronin worked as a secretary for First National grocery stores in Somerville for many years.
She was a long time communicant of St. Agatha’s Church.
Wife of the late John F. Cronin, she is survived by many nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated December 10 at St. Agatha Church. Burial was in Milton Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements were made by Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to St. Agatha Church, 432 Adams Street, Milton, MA 02186.
Murial R. Tappen
Murial R. Tappen, 93, died December 14 at Milton Health Care Facility.
She had lived in Canton since 1955 until entering Milton Health Care facility in 2000.
Funeral services were held December 18 at the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home. Burial was in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Dorchester.
Donations may be sent to the Tremont Temple Baptist Church, 88 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02108.
Norma L. Milano
Norma L. Milano, 86, of Milton, died December 11 at Carney Hospital.
Born in Boston, she graduated from Hyde Park High School and from Wilfred’s Beauty Academy in Boston. She lived in Roslindale for 64 years before moving to Milton 17 years ago.
She worked as an accountant for the state Department of Education for 18 years, retiring in 1976. Previously she worked as a stylist at Jerry’s Sisters Beauty Studio in Roslindale.
She is survived by a sister, Gladys M. Milano of Milton; two nephews and a niece; five grandnephews and grandnieces; and five great-grandnephews and great-grandnieces.
A funeral Mass was celebrated December 16 at St. Agatha Church. Burial was in Forest Hills Cemetery, Jamaica Plain.
Arrangements were made by the Alfred D. Thomas Funeral Home.
Donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.
