Folsom Funeral Service

Joseph John Tousignant, a resident of Dedham, and formerly of Cambridge, died Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He was 73. Joseph was born March 21, 1950 in Arlington, Massachusetts, one of the nine children of Leon Andrew and Florence Eva (Alluisi) Tousignant. Joseph graduated from Dedham High School with the Class of 1969 and worked as a printer for Data General company. He had abilities in both sheet fed and web presses from one to four colors, and screen printing presses up to six colors. After retirement, he enthusiastically volunteered to help friends and relatives with repair projects on their homes, spending an entire summer in Vermont repairing and preparing, without compensation, a niece’s house for sale.

Joe was an avid sportsman, hunting and fishing with exuberance.  He was proud that he had never shot anything without a totally clear field of view.  As a result of his hunting experiences, he developed an interest in, and later an expertise, at making his own ammunition. He would carefully adjust the load for whatever endeavor the slug was intended.  He made ammunition with black powder for traditional rifles or shotguns, which he used for paper targets, game, and field usage. 

He was the husband of the late Lenore (Mako) and is survived by his siblings; Leon Tousignant of Dedham, Gerard Tousignant of , Paul Tousignant of Gurnee, Illinois, Ursula Van Ryzin of Dedham, and Lorraine Dudley of Carver. He was the brother of the late Wilfrid Tousignant , Rita Binder, and Theresa Tousignant. Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham on Tuesday, January 30th starting at 9:30 am, and proceed with us to St. Mary’s Church, 420 High Street, Dedham for his funeral mass at 10:30 am. Interment will follow in Knollwood Memorial Park in Canton. In lieu of flowers donations to St. Mary of the Assumption Church, 420 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026 would be appreciated.

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Barbara Frances (Araby) D’Attilio, a lifelong resident of Dedham, died Friday, January 19, 2024 at the St. Joseph Manor Nursing Home in Brockton. She was 94. Barbara was born October 19, 1929 in Dedham, and was the last surviving child of Charles and Barbara (Sestito) Araby, immigrants from Italy. She graduated from Dedham High School and worked as an assembler for the Teledyne Philbrick Company. She was known for her exceptional cooking abilities. Barbara is survived by her husband, Carmen Anthony D’Attilio; her two sons, Charles J. D’Attilio of Dedham, and Paul C. D’Attilio, and his partner Barbara Roberts, of Taunton; as well as four grandchildren and one great grandchild. She was the mother of the late Susan Obed, and the sister of the late Joseph Araby, Charles Araby, Evelyn Thomas, and Katherine Arena. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, January 23rd from 4 to 8 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham. Relatives and friends will gather at the funeral home starting at 9:30 am on Wednesday, January 24th and proceed with us to St. Mary’s Church, 420 High St, Dedham for her Funeral Mass at 10:30. Interment will be in Brookdale Cemetery Dedham

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Lois Ann (Hope) Walsh, a resident of Norwood, and formerly of West Roxbury, died Friday, January 5, 2024 at her home in Norwood. She was 74.
Lois was a graduate of Roslindale High School and UMASS Boston and long-time employee of the Boston Public Schools. She was the beloved wife of 52 years of William H Walsh, the mother of Stephen Walsh, and his wife Lindsey of Bristol, Rhode Island and the proud grandmother of Avery and Caleb Walsh.  Lois was preceded in death by her cherished daughter, Jennifer Walsh; her parents Hazel and George Hope; her stepfather, David Duncan; her sister, Hazel LoVuolo; her brothers, John, Ronald, Harold and William; and her sister in law, Kathy Robson. 

She leaves behind her sister, Ethelda Monroe, and her husband Frank, of Dedham, MA; her brother, Nelson Hope of Walpole; her brother-in-law, Mark Walsh, and his wife Ramona, of Dedham, MA; her sister-in-law, Helen Mulroy, and her husband Peter, of Dedham, MA; and her sister-in-law, Marcy Hope of Vancouver, WA.  She also leaves behind her best friend Diane MacLeod of Arizona, as well as many nieces, nephews, and their children.

Lois was a dedicated family woman who always put others before herself.  She was a doting caretaker for her daughter Jennifer during her battle with multiple sclerosis.    She loved life and spending time with family and friends.  She thoroughly enjoyed being a grandmother, and showering Avery and Caleb with attention and affection.  She will be dearly missed by all who had the fortune to know her.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday, January 11th from 4 to 8 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Friday, January 12th at 10 am at the Allin Congregational Church, 683 High Street, Dedham followed by interment in Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham. In lieu of flowers donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Dream Center, 300 Tool Gate Road, Suite 104, Warwick, Rhode Island, 02886 would be appreciated.

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Barbara Elizabeth (MacKinnon) Vito, a resident of Dedham, died Thursday, January 4, 2024 at her home in Dedham. She was 88. Barbara was born October 31, 1935 in Needham, Massachusetts, the daughter of Patrick Russell and Flora Mae, (Saunders) MacKinnon, immigrants from Canada. She worked as a seamstress and was the co-owner of the J. Vito Construction Company. Barbara enjoyed sewing and quilting, at which she was exceptionally talented. She was the wife of the late John Peter Vito and the mother of James R. Urquhart, and his wife Jing, of Kissimmee, Florida, Stephanie A., and her late husband Robert “Hoss” Costa, of Dedham, Donna M. DePari, and her husband Charles, of Kissimmee, Florida, William J. Vito , and his companion Carolyn Muccioli, of Hanover, Dawn M. Rooney of Milford, and Joseph G. Vito of Hanover. She is also survive by her brother, James R. MacKinnon of Westwood; her 12 grandchildren, Danielle, Charles, Beverly, Brooke, Michael, Bobby, Andrea, Dominic, Scottie, Matthew, Alyson, and Amanda; and 10 great grandchildren, Alyssa, Savannah, Summer, Nick, Nate, Josephine, Leo, Victoria, Julie, and Charlotte. She was the grandmother of the late Johnnie. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, January 11th from 9 to 11 am at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham followed by a service in the funeral home at 11 o clock. Interment in Brookdale Cemetery, Dedham. In lieu of flowers donations to the Home for Little Wanderers, 161 South Huntington Ave, Jamaica Plain, MA 0213o would be appreciated.

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Rocco C. “Rocky” Marchese, Jr, a long time resident of Dedham, passed away at his home on January 3, 2024 with his family by his side.  He was 88 years old. Born in Cambridge on August 30, 1935, he was the son of the late Rocco and Margaret (Cornelissen) Marchese, and was one of nine children. Rocky was a proud Air Force veteran, and served honorable for four years from 1955-1959.  He was also an avid woodworker, and he proudly made many of the furniture and decorations within his home.  

Rocky is survived by his beloved wife Elaine (Kern) Marchese, and his three children; Scott Marchese and his wife Sue, of PA, Wayne Marchese and his wife Sandra, of Waltham, and Elaine A Canniff and her husband Billy, of FL.  Loving grandfather of Scott Marchese Jr., Justin Marchese, Lindsey Marchese, Natalee Canniff, and Nicholas Canniff.  He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Rocky will be held on Monday, January 8, 2024, from 4-8PM at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton St, Dedham.  Relatives and friends are invited to gather at the funeral home on Tuesday January 9, 2024 at 10AM, and process to Brookdale Cemetery, Dedham, for his graveside service with military honors. Donation in Rocky’s name to the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen St., Suite 205, Framingham, MA 01701, or online at https://www.cancer.org/donate/memorial-giving.html, would be appreciated.

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John Podger, a world traveler and consummate storyteller, died of natural causes in his home in Fox Hill Village, Westwood, Mass., on Dec. 23, 2023. He was 102 years old.

Mr. Podger was born on Nov. 22, 1921, in Hazaribagh, India, where his father, Reginald Owen Podger, owned a mica mine. He was raised, with his sister Molly, primarily in the greater London area by his mother, Elizabeth (Hogan) Podger, a nurse with Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.

At 17 years of age (1939), John began his military training as a gunner for the Royal Army Artillery in Lincoln, England. At age 18, he joined the Corps of Royal Engineers where he served in India, Burma and Malaysia. His primary responsibility during WW2 was to lead a Corp of Engineers tasked to build roads and airstrips along the extremely remote Arakan Coast of Burma.  The airstrips served as supply mid-stations.  The supplying of troops by air in Burma was instrumental in the defeat of Japan in the Burma and the Pacific region.

After the war, Mr. Podger trained as a civil engineer in London. He met his wife, Irene (Sagan) Podger during a post-war trip to Switzerland.

John was working for the Severn River Board in Malvern, England,; the couple married and lived there for several years. Due to the hardships of post-war Britain, they moved to the U.S. and eventually settled in Boston where he worked for decades as a civil engineer with the consulting firm of Metcalf & Eddy. He traveled widely, living in Calcutta with his family for three years while working on a project for the World Health Organization, and overseeing projects in Egypt, Sudan, across Europe and throughout the United States.

John enjoyed varied interests including photography, history, current events and chocolate. He loved sailing and purchased a small boat to sail on Lake Waban on the Wellesley College campus.  John believed in civic duty and served for many terms as a member of several elected  (Advisory Board, Public Works) and appointed town boards in Wellesley.

After the death of his wife in 2005, Mr. Podger moved into Fox Hill Village in 2007 and was involved in many of the activities and organizations of the residency.

John is survived by his four daughters, Susan Mills of Carlisle, Mass., Jennifer Holmberg of Norwood, Mass., Nancy Podger of Longmont, Colo., and Pamela Podger of Stonington, Conn. He is also survived by two sons-in-law, William Mills III and John Cramer; daughter-in-law Mia Mills, grandsons William Mills IV, Jack Cramer, Luke Cramer, granddaughters Katie Mills and Irena Podger, and great grandson, William Mills V.

A private tea celebration of his life will be held at Fox Hill Village for his many friends and family to share their recollections.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy can be made in John Podger’s memory as a donation to Fox Hill Village,10 Longwood Drive, Westwood MA attention Felix Rosenwasser,; in memory of John Podger.

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Larry Robert Taeger, a longtime resident of Norwood, died Thursday, December 28, 2023 at his home in Norwood. He was 92. Bob was born November 17, 1931 in Trout Creek, Michigan, a son of Aili H. (Piirto) and Larry Arnold Taeger. After high school he attended classes at Boston University before being inducted into the Air Force during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge from the service in 1955 he married Ruth Doris (Iarrobino) and initially pursued a career with the Yale Company in Wellesley and later with Northland Industries in Wilmington, as a hydraulic repairman, and finally with Eastern Industries in Norwood. Bob was a member of the Norwood DAV, and frequently attended Veteran’s events. He was an active member of Orient Lodge, AF & AM of Norwood, the First Baptist Church of Norwood, and he volunteered at the Norwood Food Pantry. He was the husband of the late Ruth Doris Taeger who predeceased him in 2021. Bob is survived by his son, David R. Taeger, and his wife Cathi, of Norton, and his daughter, Bonnie Taeger-Kimball, and her husband Mike, of Quincy. He was also the father of the late Mark A. Taeger. Bob was the brother of Jane Aileen (Taeger) Wiljanen, and her husband Wayne. He was predeceased by his brothers and sisters-in-law Clifford, Jacob, Matthew, and Myrna Taeger, Lloyd Marvin and Virginia Taeger, Gerald Wilbert Taeger, David Allen Elroy, and Sharon Taeger. He also leaves his six grandchildren, Nadine, Jimmy, Kristi, Carly, Ramona, and Sarah and his three great grandchildren, Amelie, Lisanne, and Daeton. Also survived by other grandchildren and great grandchildren by heart. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday, January 9th from 4 to 8 pm at the Folsom & May Funeral Home, 85 Nichols Street, Norwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Wednesday, January 10th at 10 am at the First Baptist Church of Norwood, 71 Bond Street, Norwood followed by interment in The Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery in West Roxbury. Donations to the Norwood Food Pantry, 150 Chapel Street, Norwood, MA 02062 would be appreciated.

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Laura Ellen Schmatzler, of Norwood, formerly of Westwood, age 65, passed away on December 29, 2023 surrounded by loving family, beloved ones, and dear friends. Born in 1958 with Down Syndrome, her family was told to bring her home and love her, but she was not expected to live very long. In an era in which little was expected or considered possible for someone with Down Syndrome. Laura exceeded expectations. Now, 65 years later, her is the story of a dedicated family, and loved ones, and an individual with curiosity, love and determination, and someone who was blessed with self confidence. Laura exceeded all expectations, including typical childhood developmental milestones. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and was up to trying new adventures.

Laura attended a special nursey school in Norwood and then entered the Westwood school system when classes were separated for individuals with special needs. Blessed with two incredibly devoted teachers (Mrs. Dorley and Miss Jackson), she learned to read, write, and do basic arithmetic. During this period of time she also learned to swim with her friends at the Needham YMCA. In high school there were many cross educational opportunities for school activities between the special classes and traditional students – to the great benefit of both. She also became a Brownie and a Girl Scout. When Laura was bout 10 years old she travelled with her family to visit her sister Natalie who as in the Peace Corps in Venezuela. Laura was also a huge animal lover and was blessed with a wonderful German Shepherd named Dino. Laura began developing an interest in art, and was enrolled in the Good Hearts art studio in Walpole, where she painted and also participated in exhibits.

In 1980 Laura graduated in cap and gown from Westwood High School. She soon became an employee of Hire Enterprises, a workshop in Walpole, and later became a dedicated employee of Siemens company (formerly Bayer) of Walpole, specializing in piecework and assembly. Laura also worked a second job as an artist with Gateway Special Arts in Brookline and considered herself a “Master Artist.” Like her father before her, she was a long term member of the Boylston Schul Verein German Club of Walpole, and was a regular on the dance floor at Otoberfest and Sommerfest, and a very proud German-American. laura was also an annual June camper at Camp Fatima Special Needs Week in Gilmanton, New Hampshire. In later years she became a regular traveler with Trips R Us, a wonderful special travel agency in Framingham, and made many exciting trips throughout the United States. Always up for social engagements, Laura loved spending holidays with family members, routinely sent a Christmas card to the President (“they work very hard”), insisted the family donate to Jerry Lewis and Muscular Dystrophy every Labor Day, was a regular bowler at the Norwood Sports Center, loved Lifeworks dances, days of “beauty”, bumper cars, and enjoyed miniature golf. One very special trip she loved was toa family member wedding at Disney World , and Universal Studios where she got to experience the Harry Potter exhibit. She also had a fabulous 60th birthday party with family at the Chateau Restaurant (she called it the Shadow Restaurant) in Norwood and was the toast of the town.

In 2004 Laura moved out of the family home in Westwood to the Lifeworks Chatham House in Norwood, as part of a class action lawsuit representing special needs individuals. She was ready to live in an apartment and got to pick her own room, paint color and furniture. The family is most grateful to Lifeworks and the Chatham Street Group Home for all the love and support they have provided over the years. The family is also grateful to the Victoria Haven Rehabilitation Center in Norwood and to Old Colony Hospice for their help and dedication during the last year of her life.

Laura was the adored daughter of the late Karl Heinz and Natalie Thomas Woodward Schmatzler, and the step-daughter of Joseph Walsh. She was the dear sister of Natalie Woodward of Norwood and the step-sister of Mary Walsh, Bill Walsh, Jay Walsh, John Walsh, and Michael Walsh. She is also survived by her Aunt Ann Woodward, her loving cousins from the Thomas, Woodward, Schmatzler, and Walsh families. Laura also leaves her dear friend and co-guardian, Paula Praeger, and the residents and staff of the Lifeworks Chatham House.

Visiting hours will be held Friday ,January 5th from 4 to 8 pm at the Folsom & may Funeral Home, 85 Nichols Street, Norwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her funeral Saturday (January 6th) at 10 am at the First Parish Church, 252 Nahatan Street, Westwood followed by interment in Blue Hill Cemetery, Braintree. Donations in Laura’s memory to the Lifeworks Recreation Program, 789 Clapboardtree St., Westwood, MA 02090 or to Gateway Arts, 62 Harvard St., Brookline, MA 02445 would be appreciated.

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Jeffrey Moy, age 69, of Milton, MA, passed away peacefully at his home on January 1, 2024 after a lengthy battle with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Born on April 22, 1954 in Fall River, Massachusetts, Jeffrey was the son of Frank Q. Moy, Sr. and Flora Moy. He is survived by his mother Flora Moy of Dedham, MA, his brothers Frank Moy, Jr. of Walpole, MA and Stephen J. Moy, D.M.D., and his wife Caron Uejo-Moy of Auburn, CA, and his Aunt Betty Moy of Somerville, MA. 

He was the beloved Uncle to Meaghan E. Moy of Dedham, MA, Benjamin F. Moy and his wife Christine M. Moy of Canton, MA, Frank R. Moy and his wife Dr. Theresa Lorkowski of San Antonio, TX, and Prezleigh Colburn and her husband Joshua Colburn of Livermore, CA as well as the Great Uncle to Henry Moy, Noah Moy, Anna Moy, Lucas Moy, Madeline Moy, Jack Colburn and Henry Colburn. He was preceded in death by his wife Jamie Lee Wong, D.M.D. of Milton, MA, his father Frank Moy, Sr. of Fall River, MA, his Uncle Benjamin Q. Moy, D.M.D. of Somerville, MA, and his sister-in-law Jane E. Moy of Walpole, MA.

As a young man, Jeffrey had a passion for mechanics and speed. He loved modifying cars, scuba diving, and dirt bike racing; always striving to make everything go faster. He used his scuba diving skills to commercially harvest shellfish. He was a skilled carpenter and mechanic, and in 1977, he received a BA Cum Laude from UMass Boston. In 1979, he earned a B.F.A. from Massachusetts College of Art. Jeffrey’s creativity and talent as an artist were evident in his unique sculptures, art pieces, furniture, and kinetic artworks. His works were displayed in galleries throughout the Boston area.

Jeffrey dedicated 31 years of his career to teaching art at Latin Academy in Boston, MA from February 1984 to June 2015. Jeff was recognized as an exceptional teacher with many of his students going on to receive awards for their contribution to the arts. Additionally, he served as a volunteer tutor at the UMass Institute of Learning and Teaching, introducing inner-city middle school students to the arts. In 1987-1988, Jeffrey’s artwork for the Dragon Boat Festival on the Charles River in Boston was highly regarded. As a recipient of the Art Lottery Grant his sculpture is permanently on display in the Milton Town Hall. Jeffrey also utilized mechanical skills to help people create better living spaces through his home renovation company Creative Repairs.  

Outside of his professional life, Jeffrey amassed a great collection of tools and equipment that were a source of pride to him. He was oftentimes found in his yard working or tinkering with things to make them better and more useful. As he grew older, Jeffrey traded his dirt bike days for his new found love of jet skiing, making it a personal goal to always have the fastest boat on Sawdy Pond, where he enjoyed time at his lake house with family and friends. 

Please join us in celebrating the life of Jeffrey Moy, a beloved son, brother, father, uncle, and friend. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Memorial services for Jeffrey Moy will be held at Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood, Thursday, January 4th, from 4 -7 PM. The funeral service will be held on Friday, January 5th, at 10 AM, followed by interment at Forest Hills Cemetery, 95 Forest Hills Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Movement Disorders Center in Neurology at Boston Medical Center, in memory of Jeffrey Moy. Contributions can be made at bmc.org/giving. You can also mail donations to Boston Medical Center – Office of Development, 960 Massachusetts Avenue, 2nd Floor Boston, MA 02118. For checks, please include Jeffrey Moys name in the memo line. 

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Phyllis Guiliano of Jamaica Plain, MA, passed away on December 26, 2023, after a long bout with thyroid cancer.  She was 72 years old.  After growing up in New Jersey, Phyllis earned a BA degree from Wheelock College.  Phyllis utilized her many organizational and administrative skills in a variety of positions including those at the Patricia Seybold Group, Collegia, the Arlington Street Church and ABT Associates.  In addition, she spent early career years working as a pastry chef and a daycare teacher.

Phyllis’s love of travel took her to many destinations over the decades.  Spending time at the beach was one of her favorite warm weather activities.  Phyllis was an excellent cook who enjoyed sharing food with her friends.  She was a longtime member of the Mystic Chorale and an active member of the Jamaica Plain Cohousing community.  Her generosity, focus, energy and competence will be missed by her many friends and family.

Phyllis is survived by her cousins, Judy Namery and Larry Golub, their spouses Allan and Gloria, and their children, David and Rachel Namery and Samantha Golub, as well as her cousins Angela, Anthony and Joey Guzzi and her uncle Jimmy Marchesi.  She also leaves many devoted friends and cohousing neighbors.

A memorial celebration will be held on Sunday, January 21, 2024, at 10:30AM.  If you wish to attend, please contact Minda at pguiliano@earthlink.net.  Contributions in Phyllis’s memory may be made to the Massachusetts Trustees of Reservations (https://thetrustees.org/) or the Greater Boston Food Bank (https://www.gbfb.org).

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