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Lillian M. Polcari

Family & friends are invited to attend a funeral mass on Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Revere at 11 a.m., for Lillian M. Polcari, who died on Saturday, December 1st at her Point of Pines Revere home, following a brief illness, at 96 years.  Born & raised in Boston’s North End, she was an alumna of Emmanuel College, Class of 1939, & Leslie College, Class of 1945.  Her parents were born in Italy, came to this country with their parents in the late 1890’s, & settled in Boston’s predominantly Jewish & Italian immigrant communities.  In 1925, her parents, Annibale & Angelina (Vara) Polcari, opened their restaurant in the heart of Boston’s North End.  They moved to their premier location, in 1979, at 74 East India St., Boston, until they closed their doors in 1983.  In 1968, when Annibale died, Lillian’s two brothers, Louis & Charles A. Polcari, took over total management of the restaurant.  For many years, she acted as Bookkeeper & Custodian of Records.  Before & during her restaurant career, Lillian was Chief Laboratory Technician for several Boston doctors in private practice.  In the 1960’s & 1970’s, she was a substitute teacher for the City of Revere, usually serving at the Whelan School.  “Stella’s Restuarant” was a Mecca for all of the Categories of Who’s Who in America for over 60 years.  Personality celebrities of all social, educational, clerical, political, & infamous background were hosted there to the finest in Italian dining with impeccable presentations & courtesies.  And a remarkable accommodation was always accorded to old family friends & neighbors, as well as those of the “rich & famous.”  The Kennedy Family, especially Jack & Jacqueline, & their entire entourage often frequented the Boston eatery.  Movie, television, & radio personalities were long-time patrons, from Frank Sinatra, Tony Martin, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Martha Raye, Bette Davis, Red Skellton, Danny Thomas, Gina Lolabrigidia, Eve Arden, The Goldberg Family & many, many more.  Politicians, their wives & escorts, composers & conductors, the very rich & the very “not so rich,” came to meet at “Stella’s.”  “Stella’s” was also legend to its decor of Italian & Greek Art & Sculpture that graced its space.  Lillian’s life, or much of it, was centered at the core of the restaurant, where she maintained a presence until its closing.  Her brother, Charles A. Polcari, died in August of 2001 & her brother, Louis Polcari, died in December of 2000.  She is the Devoted Aunt of: Louis C. Polcari & his wife Joanne of Weymouth, Angela M. Ventola & her husband Robert, & Marie C. Polcari, all of Salem, MA.  She is also lovingly survived by her sister-in-law, Gloria M. Polcari of Point of Pines, Revere. Interment will be in the Family Estate Lot of Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston, MA.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Italian Home for Children, 1125 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

Services

Funeral Mass

Wednesday, December 5th, 2012 at 11 a.m. in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Revere.

Interment

Forest Hills Cemetery, Boston.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Italian Home for Children, 1125 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130.

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2 Messages Send your condolences
  1. Deb Doherty
    Dec 13 2012

    I know that Lily will be sorely missed. She was a huge presence in a tiny package. I remember all the nice times I had at her house with Amy & Beth. I’m sorry for the family’s loss. Deb (Polcari) Doherty.

  2. Daria D'Ippolito Bartolucci
    Dec 10 2012

    Dear Gloria
    Louis, jr., Angela and Marie,

    So sorry to learn of the passing of dear Cousin Lily. Knowing her love for dogs Nick and I visited her when our little toy poodle, Leo, came in to our lives. We also made a call to my friend and colleague whose mother graduated from Emmanuel with Lily. It was, indeed, a lovely visit.
    The family has surely welcomed her arrival.
    You are all in our prayers. Love, Daria*
    *Cousin Maria Polcari D’Ippolito’s daughter

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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.