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Lee F. Thomas

Lee F. Thomas, died on Monday, April 6th, 2020 at the Chelsea Soldiers Home in Chelsea following a long illness, he was 81 years old.

Lee was born in Chelsea & was raised & educated in Revere. He was an Alumnus of Revere High School, Class of 1956. He was a varsity athlete & excelled in sports. He was a graduate of Suffolk University earning a bachelor’s degree in Education & later a master’s degree in Counseling & Psychology from Boston State College. Lee was a very proud U.S. Army Veteran honorably serving the country he loved. In 1956, he married his Elaine A. “Honey” (Benedetto) and the couple remained in Revere where they raised their only daughter Lee Anne. During the Vietnam Conflict, he was honorably discharged in 1969. Lee had a long & meaningful career with the Revere Public School System that spanned over 40 years. He was both a teacher & guidance counselor. Lee had the distinct honor to be an impact on many students through his tenure. Many students of Lee’s became his friends and very often the students always held him with a very high regard. Lee & Honey sustained the very painful & tragic loss of losing their daughter Leigh Anne on February 8th, 2011 from Breast Cancer. We are comforted to know that after Lee’s passing on April 6th, Honey joined him on April 17th. They are all together in heaven reunited with their daughter. Lee enjoyed weekly gatherings at Richardson’s Ice Cream with his lifelong friends.

He is the devoted & loving husband of Elaine A. “Honey” (Benedetto) Thomas of 53years. Loving & proud father of the late Leigh Anne (Thomas) Zarella. Adored surrogate grandfather to Mark V. & Michael R. Zarella, both of Woodcliff, NJ and the cherished uncle of Robin M. Brickley & husband Craig of S. Yarmouth & Formerly Everett. He is also lovingly survived by his loyal and kind caregiver, Guerdy Pierre of Medford. He is a late member of Knights of Columbus Lodge # 179, Former Member & past President of the Greater Boston Guidance Association, Massachusetts Teachers Association. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt appreciation to the staff at the Chelsea Soldier’s Home for their exceptional care and kindness, and because of that, they ask, in lieu of flowers remembrances may be the Activities Fund at the Chelsea Soldier’s Home, 91 Crest Ave., Chelsea, MA 02150.


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  1. Marguerite Bova
    Apr 6 2021

    God be with you Mr. Thomas

  2. Daryl Every
    Apr 29 2020

    My family and I met Lee at the Chelsea Soldiers’ Home where my husband, Marshall McGregor, is a patient. In fact, Marshall’s bed was adjacent to Lee’s in 1 Center. My children and I came to know Lee as that handsome, sweet tempered man who was always available for a friendly greeting. We could tell that Ian was a very special person in his previous life before the Soldiers’ Home. During the last several months, we could see that Lee’s physical health was failing and we worried about him. The coronavirus required that all visitations stop in March, and so we wondered about Lee. While we were saddened to learn of his death, we were so glad to see his smiling face in the Boston Globe — and in a tux (which seemed so appropriate). Thank you for describing his life — his real life. It meant a lot to us. We wish to extend our deepest condolences to Lee’s family and friends. — Daryl Every, Marshall McGregor, and Ian, Ross, and Annabelle McGregor

  3. Richard Joyce
    Apr 25 2020

    I had the pleasure of growing up two houses from Lee, his wife and Leigh Ann. I am a better person for having known him and listened to his guidance not only about school but also the wisdom that he provided about life in general. He will be missed by many people. May you Rest In Peace! Rich

  4. Jim O’Donnell
    Apr 22 2020

    Lee was one of the nicest and personable individuals I have ever met both on a personal basis and our association through the Revere schools. He will be missed but always remembered.

  5. Jim O’Donnell
    Apr 22 2020

    Elaine and Lee were one of the finest couples I had ever associated with on a personal basis and the Revere school system. They are greatly missed.

  6. Ronnie Zarrella
    Apr 21 2020

    I will miss your sense of humor and outlook on life. You were a very special part of my life for some time. I will always remember our times with Leigh Ann, you, Elaine, and myself. We had so many fun events together like going out to dinner, and of course ice cream at your favorite place, Richardson’s. You were terrific to the twins (Michael and Mark). Although, you, Elaine, and Leigh Ann were all taken from us way too early, I was grateful for being part of your life. May you rest in peace Lee. – Love
    always, Ronnie.

  7. Michael Zarrella
    Apr 21 2020

    Lee, thanks for all the lessons and guidance. The love you had for family and for others was admirable and something I always looked up to. I miss the times we had together but am happy that you, Elaine and Leigh Ann are together today. I wrote this for Leigh Ann a couple years after she passed. I recorded it in memory of you and Elaine and the good times we had. (Free Bird Take Flight – https://youtu.be/Fl23H0SvYNg). You would like to know that I practiced the song a good deal and was prepared to play it. So I think I strayed away from it being piss poor! Love you Lee. Thanks again for the memories and the lessons.

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To all our families, friends, and residents of Revere, East Boston, and surrounding communities of the North Shore,

We would like to announce that after 37 years of caring for thousands of families at our 773 Broadway location, on January 31st, 2023 we will be officially RELOCATING, to our new location at 262 Beach St., Revere.
On September 30th, 2022, we proudly purchased the Vazza “Beechwood” Funeral Home – DiPietro and Vazza, Inc. A name that has served families for 102 years. We feel blessed that with all of the interest, the Vazza Family chose us to carry on their century old business and family name. We will become Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals. We will continue to honor the Vazza name and continue our commitment the same way that we always have. We also look forward to having both Louis Vazza and Jessica Vazza Ferragamo alongside of us, as we come together as one.
Our reputation has always been our biggest asset. For many years people always wanted us to have a larger facility, now our facility is the largest funeral home in the area. We will be making many beautiful upgrades to allow our families to have the most elegant facility to honor their loved one.
Although this announcement is bittersweet, as we say goodbye to our home, we are forever grateful for all of you for placing your constant faith and trust in us to care for your loved one. We will continue to do what we are best known for.
Thank you for your friendship and continued support.
God bless you all.
Faithfully,

Your friends at Vertuccio Smith and Vazza.

To all our families, friends, and residents of Revere, East Boston, and surrounding communities of the North Shore,

We would like to announce that after 37 years of caring for thousands of families at our 773 Broadway location, on January 31st, 2023 we will be officially RELOCATING, to our new location at 262 Beach St., Revere.

On September 30th, 2022, we proudly purchased the Vazza “Beechwood” Funeral Home – DiPietro and Vazza, Inc. A name that has served families for 102 years. We feel blessed that with all of the interest, the Vazza Family chose us to carry on their century old business and family name. We will become Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals. We will continue to honor the Vazza name and continue our commitment the same way that we always have. We also look forward to having both Louis Vazza and Jessica Vazza Ferragamo alongside of us, as we come together as one.

Our reputation has always been our biggest asset. For many years people always wanted us to have a larger facility, now our facility is the largest funeral home in the area. We will be making many beautiful upgrades to allow our families to have the most elegant facility to honor their loved one.

Although this announcement is bittersweet, as we say goodbye to our home, we are forever grateful for all of you for placing your constant faith and trust in us to care for your loved one. We will continue to do what we are best known for.

Thank you for your friendship and continued support.

God bless you all.

Faithfully,

Your friends at Vertuccio Smith and Vazza.