Costello Funeral Home

07/15/2025

Timothy J. Hennelly, died suddenly at his home in Haverhill on Monday July 14th surrounded by his loving family. He was 66. Tim was the son of the late Frank and Helen (Bedulski) Hennelly. Before moving to Haverhill in 2021, he was raised and educated in Wi******er, graduating with the Class of 1976. For over 30 years, Tim worked in the maintenance department at MIT where he made many friends.
Known for his love of the outdoors, Tim enjoyed camping with friends and family. He also enjoyed darts, bowling and playing his winning Keno numbers at the Dairy Barn in Wi******er.
Lovingly survived by his wife of 41 years, Lisa A. (Gangi) Hennelly , his children: Shauna M. Hennelly and Michael T. Hennelly both of Haverhill, his grandson Derek M. Hennelly, his siblings: Bert Hennelly, Patti Baxter (Glen) and Tom Hennelly (Carol). Tim was also the loving son-in-law of the late John and Rosemarie Gangi as well as brother in law to Veronica Drougas, Christine McLean (David), Jeffrey Gangi (Meaghan), Jonathan Gangi (Candice) and the late Andrew Gangi. Also survived by 16 nieces and nephews and 6 great nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er on Friday July 18th from 10-11:30AM followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St. Wi******er at 12 noon. Relatives and friends respectfully invited to attend. Interment private.

07/14/2025

06/29/2025

Dorothy “Dottie” Ellen Krueger, age 82, a resident of Roslindale and Hyde Park, MA, passed away peacefully on June 10, 2025.

Born in Boston, Dottie was the daughter of the late Albert and Elvera (Bindbeutel) Krueger. She was raised and educated in Boston and was a 1960 graduate of Roslindale High School.
She earned her nursing degree from Massachusetts General Hospital School of Nursing and while there joined the Army Student Nurse Program. She finished her last year as a member of the Army Reserve on active duty and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant in the Army Nurse Corps. Dottie was stationed at Walter Reed Medical Center, and upon completing her active duty, she went to work at Massachusetts General Hospital. She retired from MGH in 1997, after a 30+ years nursing career. She later worked on a part-time basis for Weight Watchers for 17 years and spent many years volunteering her time at the Deutsches Altenheim German and Senior Centre in West Roxbury.

Dottie was a longtime, devoted member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Roslindale until it closed, and thereafter of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Quincy. She actively sang and participated in the altar guild.

She was an avid gardener, a passion she learned from her father. For years she maintained the Roslindale homestead garden, making trips back and forth from the summer cottage in Onset to tend to the garden – never leaving out the rhubarb pie. Dottie’s heart truly belonged to her house in Onset – known as the Busy “B” Hive, which came into the family in 1928. She was happiest taking long walks throughout town and sitting on the porch and looking out over the town and the East River, while generations of family came to visit and enjoy the beach there.

Another passion of hers was to bake for the family, and every Christmas season, she would lovingly prepare a container for the extended family, delivering them in Massachusetts and shipping them to New Jersey and Delaware.

Dottie is lovingly survived by her brother, Albert Arthur Krueger and his wife Sandra (nee Nenart) of NJ, and their children, Karin Beth Krueger (Doug Hess) and Sharyn Lee Krueger (Chris Beyer). She is predeceased by her dear sister, Elaine Russo, and is survived by her children Jeff Russo (Nicole) and Jennifer King and her partner Traci, all of Wi******er, MA. Dottie is further survived by 9 great nieces and nephews and one great-great niece.

A private service and interment are being held for family at Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of MA/NH www.alz.org/manh.

05/20/2025

Robert J. “Bob” Nutile, of Wi******er (and Woburn), MA passed away peacefully Sunday, May 18, 2025, surrounded by his devoted wife of 47 years, Susan M. (Casey) Nutile, and daughter, Kathryn Nutile. Bob battled with Parkinson’s Disease for many years after suffering a stroke in 2006.

Bob was a native of Wi******er, MA and was known around town as “Mr. Baseball”, having spent much of his life coaching, organizing, and being involved with Wi******er’s youth baseball program for almost 50 years. After Bob’s father died when Bob was young, he was guided through Little League by other Wi******er Dads. Bob made it a priority in his life to return the favor to other young ball players in Wi******er. He started as a baseball umpire and coach while still in high school and eventually coached for 48 years. He also served as president of Wi******er Baseball for 21 years.

Born in 1949 to John Joseph Nutile and Edith (Cerulli) Nutile, Bob was a multi-sport athlete at Wi******er High School. In football he was the leading scorer in his junior and senior years, and all-scholastic in 1966. He was captain of his hockey team and “All League” in his junior and senior years, and he was a three-year starter for Wi******er’s baseball team and all-scholastic in his junior and senior years. He went on to Vermont Academy and then to Clarkson University on hockey scholarships. Bob played minor league hockey for the Greenfield Mohawks in the Eastern Hockey League. He was inducted into the Wi******er High School Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Babe Ruth Eastern Mass Hall of Fame in 2012. That same year he was also honored by Babe Ruth Baseball with the Lefty Gomez Volunteer of the Year award. He entered the Babe Ruth New England Hall of Fame in 2013.

In his professional life Bob had multiple roles in sales and program management but he was truly passionate about his family and about being a coach and mentor to young athletes in Wi******er. Bob’s savvy business skills also paid dividends to the kids in Wi******er. Through his negotiations, fundraising efforts and thorough planning he was able to create a “Field of Dreams”-like ballpark in Wi******er by improving the playing surface, adding a home run fence, additional lighting, and building a press box and snack bar. The facility so impressed regional Cal Ripken league officials that they convinced Bob to host the 2009 and 2012 Cal Ripken World Series in Wi******er. In 2007 Wi******er Town Meeting voted to rename the field “Robert J. Nutile Field”.

Each of Bob’s teams held a special place in his heart. He never admitted to having a favorite team, but depending on who asked, he would fondly recall both his 1982 and 1994 teams.

Bob is survived by his loving wife Susan Nutile of Woburn; his daughter Kathryn and her partner Douglas MacAuley of North Andover; his sister Regina Mead and husband Leonard of Apollo Beach, Florida. He also leaves many in-laws, nieces, nephews and thousands of former ball players who called him Coach. Bob’s family would like to acknowledge the compassionate care provided by the staff at Sunrise of Lynnfield, MA during the final months of Bob’s life.

Relatives, friends, and sports fans are invited to attend visiting hours at the Costello Funeral home at 177 Washington St., Wi******er, MA on Thursday, May 22, from 4 pm to 7 pm, and again on Friday, May 23 @ 11AM followed by a Funeral Mass at 12 Noon in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Wi******er. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wi******er.

Donations in Bob’s memory may be made to American Parkinson’s Disease Association Massachusetts Chapter at https://www.apdaparkinson.org/community/massachusetts/ways-to-give-ma/

05/17/2025

Pauline Puma Boudreau, age 83, a lifelong resident of Wi******er, passed away on May 16, 2025. She was the beloved wife for 57 years of Allan W. Boudreau.

Born in Wi******er, Pauline was the daughter of the late Salvatore and Catherine (Gillotte) Puma. She was raised and educated in Wi******er and was a graduate of Wi******er High School. After high school, she worked as a legal secretary for many years for the renowned Boston law firm Foley, Hoag and Eliot.

After marriage, she and Allan raised their family in a loving home in Wi******er and fondly enjoyed having an open home their children’s friends loved to visit. When the children were grown, Pauline lovingly provided childcare in her home for many families.

An amazing seamstress, her craftiness knew no bounds. She was skilled with cross-stitch and quilting. Her cross-stitch creations were often precisely identical on both sides of the canvas. She was also an avid doll-collector and accumulated exquisite dolls from all over the world.

In addition to her husband, Pauline is lovingly survived by her children: Michele McAnulty and her husband Michael of VT, Gregg Boudreau of Wi******er, Monique Boudreau of Center Barnstead, NH and Glenn Boudreau of Wi******er. She was the cherished grandmother of Steven Temple, Colin and Shaelyn McAnulty, the dear sister of Michael Puma and his wife Donna of Wi******er, and the late Vincent Puma. She was also the dear aunt of Michael and Mark Puma and Darlene McLaughlin.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for Visiting Hours at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er, on Tuesday, May 20, from 4-7PM, and again on Wednesday, May 21 @ 9AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Wi******er at 10AM. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wi******er.

05/02/2025

Springtime brings messages of renewal and rebirth. This means that grief in spring can feel hopeful, but it can also feel alienating.

04/18/2025

James A. Johnson III, Longtime Wi******er Resident, Passes Away at 71

It is with deep regret that we share the passing of James A. Johnson III, a lifelong resident of Wi******er, Massachusetts, who passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2024, at the age of 71. He was the beloved husband of 49 years to Barbara A. (Scholl) Johnson and a devoted father, grandfather and community leader.

Born to the late James A. Johnson Jr. and Dorothy (O’Keefe) Johnson, James—affectionately known as “Jimmy” to many, grew up in Wi******er and graduated with the Wi******er High School Class of 1972. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Richard and David Johnson. Jimmy’s presence was impossible to ignore and even harder to resist. His childhood was filled with adventures alongside his brothers, full of laughter and the lifelong friendships they built together in their hometown.

For over 50 years, Jimmy proudly owned and operated Johnson Fuel Oil—a business built on hard work, integrity, and a deep commitment to the community. Throughout his career in the fuel oil, trucking, and car sales industries, he formed countless friendships and lasting connections. His tireless work ethic and unwavering dedication were well known to everyone he worked with.
And those who knew him also knew that Jimmy loved a good deal. Whether it was snagging a car at auction or bargaining over a $2 wrench at a flea market, he never passed up the chance to haggle. If there was a bargain to be had, you could count on Jimmy to be right there, working his charm and trying to knock a few dollars off the price.

Jimmy’s devotion to the Wi******er community was steadfast. He served with distinction on the Board of Selectmen for 18 years and gave his time and leadership to numerous town committees, including the Finance Committee, Town Day Committee, and Capital Planning Committee. In 2016, he was honored as Wi******er's Citizen of the Year. His passion for public service and his efforts to make Wi******er a better place have left a meaningful and lasting legacy.

Above all else, Jimmy was defined by his deep love for his family. He was the kind of husband, father, and grandfather who would do anything for those closest to him. His happiest moments were spent surrounded by family, especially during summers at Herring Pond in Plymouth, filled with boating, tubing, and treasured memories with his grandchildren. In the winters, he found joy at his home in Lincoln, NH, skiing and snowmobiling with the ones he loved most.

Jimmy leaves behind his loving family: his wife Barbara, son James A. Johnson IV and his wife Jennifer of Walpole, MA, along with their three children—Victoria, Savannah, and James V; son Robert Johnson and his wife Melissa of Medford, MA, and their son Ronan; and daughter Jennifer Penquite and her husband Bryan of Enfield, CT, and their son William.

Though we are heartbroken by his passing, we will carry his love, his laughter, and his legacy with us always. Jimmy wouldn’t want us to dwell in sadness. He’d want us to come together, tell stories, and celebrate the incredible man he was and the life he lived so fully.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for Visiting Hours at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er, on Tuesday, April 22 from 4-7PM, and again on Wednesday, April 23 at 10AM, followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Wi******er, at 11AM. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wi******er.

04/10/2025

Yolande C. (Chouinard) Finneran, age 93, of Marlborough, MA, formerly a longtime resident of Wi******er, passed away on April 8, 2025, lovingly surrounded by her family. She was the beloved wife of the late Walter A. Finneran.

Born in Sainte-Perpetue, Quebec, Canada, she was the daughter of Hector and Adine (Giasson) Chouinard. She was raised and educated in Quebec. She met her future husband Walter through friends while he was traveling in Quebec, and, while neither spoke the other’s language, as the saying goes, “the rest is history”. They married and ultimately settled in Wi******er in 1962.

Yolande worked as the sole teacher in a rural one-room schoolhouse and later as a nurse until starting a family. In Wi******er, she ran an active household with five children, and she and Walter were immersed in the Wi******er community, spending time and volunteering at the Jenks Center and St. Eulalia’s Church, among many other organizations. In her spare time, Yolande enjoyed reading the classics, such as Charles Dickens, learned Italian and loved to travel. She and Walter shared a deep Catholic faith and were active for many years in the prison ministries program serving at several Massachusetts corrections facilities. She had a quick wit and was full of warmth but always took charge of her family!

She was the loving mother of Marc Finneran and his wife Jasna of Lexington, John Finneran and his wife Bonnie of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Mary Margaret Finneran of Groton, CT, Denise Finneran of Cortland, NY and Catherine Finneran and her husband Michael Healy of Wayland. She was also the devoted grandmother of Katherine Bosnjakovic, Nikola, Thomas, Lisa, Diane, Christine and Michelle Finneran and the great-grandmother of Kiara and Lina Bosnjakovic, Cora and Eliza Finneran. She was the dear sister of Rachel Chouinard, Louise Chouinard, Simone Ferland and the late Conrad and Solange Chouinard, and is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visiting Hours will be held at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er, on Friday, April 11, from 5-8PM. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 12, at 1:00 PM in St. Eulalia’s Church, 50 Ridge St., Wi******er. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend and are asked to meet directly at the church. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, Wi******er. In lieu of flowers, donations in Yolande’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or at www.stjude.org

03/28/2025

Catherine “Cathy” Marie (Oliver) Looney, a lifelong resident of Wi******er, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. She was 82 years old.
Born in Woburn, Cathy was the daughter of the late Karl E. and Elizabeth (Freeman) Oliver. She grew up in Wi******er, attended St. Mary’s School, and graduated from Matignon High School in Cambridge. Cathy went on to earn her Registered Nursing Degree from the Mt. Auburn School of Nursing and began her career at Choate Hospital in Woburn. She later worked at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge and spent the final 35 years of her career in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Wi******er Hospital, where she found her true calling caring for premature babies.
Cathy loved traveling. She especially loved the beach and collecting seashells. She was especially fond of Crane Beach in Ipswich, Seconsett Island on Cape Cod, Florida, and Aruba. She was also fond of the mountains and woods including the woods of Thornton, NH. She was always on the go, having travelled to every continent except Australia. Later in life, Cathy loved caring for and watching her cherished grandchildren. She was a bargain shopper, always looking for the best deals, often scouring the store from top to bottom.
Catherine is survived by her loving husband, John M. Looney, her children: Christine M. Hennigan and her fiancé Dennis Macedo of Woburn and Timothy M. Looney and his wife Amy McAndrews of Boston. She was the beloved grandmother of Caitlin Elizabeth Looney, Riley John Hennigan, Delaney Catherine Hennigan and Michael David Looney and the sister of Elizabeth Spencer, Karl F. Oliver, Mary Ann Conner, Daniel Oliver, Ann Marie Oliver-Nickerson and the late John R. and David M. Oliver. She leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
Cathy will be remembered for her deep compassion, her unwavering dedication to her family and patients, and her vibrant, adventurous spirit. Her warmth, kindness, and sense of humor touched everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.
Visitation will be held in the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er on Tuesday April 1st at 9 AM followed by a Funeral Mass in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Wi******er, at 11 AM. Interment is private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Cathy’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. www.michaeljfox.org.

03/25/2025

Sheila M. Ryan, age 85, a lifelong resident of Wi******er, passed away on March 23, 2025. She was the beloved wife of the late Reece “Jerry” Edwards.
Born in Quincy, MA, she was the daughter of the late John M. and Marie L. (Flaherty) Ryan. She attended St. Mary’s School in Wi******er and Matignon High School in Cambridge, graduating with the class of 1957. She then attended Northeastern University, graduating in 1963 and enjoyed a 51-year career working as a microbiologist at Boston Medical Center.
Sheila is lovingly survived by her daughter Joycelyn Silva. She was the grandmother of Latisha Silva-Vazquez and her husband Joseph Vazquez, and Marquis Silva, the great-grandmother of Imani Vazquez, Isaiah Silva, Azariah Silva, Joseph Vazquez, Jr. and Jarren Vazquez, and the great-great grandmother of Maliyah Silva, all of Pawtucket, RI. She was the dear sister of the late Ann Ryan Shelton and John Ryan, Jr. and is further survived by many additional relatives and friends.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to briefly gather at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er, on Wednesday, April 2 at 11:00 AM, followed by a Graveside Service at Wildwood Cemetery, 34 Palmer St., Wi******er, at 12 noon. If desired, donations in Sheila’s memory may be made to the Wi******er Seniors Association, 109 Skillings Road, Wi******er, MA 01890 or at https://www.jenkscenter.org/donate

03/08/2025

Leonora L. (Bernardi) Salani, age 91, a long-time resident of Wi******er and Stuart, FL, passed away on March 6, 2025. She was the beloved wife for 63 years of the late Joseph A. Salani until his death in 2017.

Born in Somerville, Leonora was the daughter of the late Leonello and Malvina (Lamborghini) Bernardi. She was raised and educated in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School and went on to receive her associate's degree in secretarial school. After marriage, she and Joe moved to Wi******er where they raised their five children and ran a busy household. She then spent the majority of her career as a bank teller at several local Wi******er banks after the children were grown.

A ballerina and on her toes since age 3, Leonora danced for many years with the American Ballet, the precursor to the Boston Ballet. During the war, the ballet often traveled to perform for the servicemen. She continued to dance right up until marriage. In her younger years, Leonora took cruises throughout the Mediterranean and once experienced a three-month voyage around the world with her parents.

Known for her excellent cooking skills, Leonora’s family branded her “the best cook on the planet” and remembered how, even at the finest dining establishments, her husband would declare that her cooking was better. When friends came by, Leonora would gladly accommodate them with her natural entertainment skills. In her spare time, Leonora enjoyed golfing in Massachusetts and while at their home in Stuart, Florida. As avid card players, Leonora and Joe played Bridge with the MIT and Wi******er Bridge Clubs, and also at the Jenks Center in Wi******er, where they made many lifelong friends.

Leonora is lovingly survived by her children: Elisa A. Spence and her husband William of Lexington, Joseph A., Jr. of Waltham, Paul L. and his late wife Susan of Billerica, Diana M. Salani of Wi******er, and the late Teresa L. Michelson. She was also the loving grandmother of Jessica Disher and her husband Daniel, Adelle Mason and her husband Scott, Tiffany Michelson, Anna Silva and her husband Flaviano. She was also the great-grandmother of Juliana and Bailey Mason, Liana and Benjamin Disher, Jericho and Havilah Silva, and Nylani Reyes.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for a Visiting Hour at Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er, on Saturday, March 15, 2025, from 8:30-9:30AM. A Funeral Mass will be held in St. Mary’s Church, 155 Washington St., Wi******er, at 10AM. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to Massachusetts General Hospital (Attn. Oncology Dept. in memo) c/o MGH Development Office 175 Nashua St. - Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114 or at https://giving.massgeneral.org/donate

03/05/2025

Gail A. (West) Fernandes, age 65, of Stoneham, formerly of Wi******er, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on March 3, 2025. She was the life partner of Larry Casey of Stoneham and the devoted mother of Christopher Fernandes and his girlfriend Nathalie Roberts of Tewksbury, Kianna S. Fernandes of Arlington and the late Ashanti Fernandes.

Born in Wi******er, Gail was the daughter of the late Ellsworth Courtney West, Sr. and Helen (Ward) West. She was raised and educated in Wi******er and was a graduate of Wi******er High School.

Gail worked as a special education bus driver for many years for North Reading Transportation. She was one of twelve children in the well-known West family in Wi******er. As a member of such a large and active family, Gail was known for her natural sociability and friendliness. In her spare time, she enjoyed spending time socializing with family and friends and kept in touch with longtime Wi******er friends on Facebook. Her family remembered how funny she was and how her amazing sense of humor kept everyone entertained. She also often thoughtfully shared her special kindnesses and generosity with everyone whose path she crossed, whether she knew them or not.

In addition to Larry and her children Kianna and Chris, Gail, who was affectionately known by many in the family as “Meirma”, is lovingly survived by her granddaughters Keira Blake and Jasmine Wells. She also leaves behind her siblings: Wayne, Joyce, Bruce, Daryl, Terri, Lois and Aaron West and is further survived by many nieces and nephews. Four siblings, Marsha, Lance, Craig and Ellsworth Courtney West, Jr. predeceased her.

A Memorial Visitation will be held at the Costello Funeral Home, 177 Washington St., Wi******er, on Saturday, March 15, from 2-4PM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gail’s memory may be made to the En Ka Society of Wi******er (please specify for the General Fund/En Ka Food Pantry) at P.O. Box 993, Wi******er, MA 01890 or at www.enkasociety.org