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Barbara C. (Fitzgerald) Willis

Family and friends are invited to attending Visiting Hours on Monday, March 20th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals, 773 Broadway (Route 107), REVERE for Barbara C. Willis, who passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, March 16th surrounded by her loving family and grandchildren. Her funeral will be conducted from the funeral home on Tuesday, March 21st at 10:00 a.m., followed by a funeral mass in Immaculate Conception Church (Corner of Beach St. & Winthrop Ave.) REVERE at 11:00 a.m. Services will conclude with interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett.

Barbara Colleen Willis, 85, of Revere, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, March 16, 2017, while surrounded by her loving family and grandchildren, following a brief illness. Born in Revere, MA on August 2, 1931, she was the daughter of James Patrick and Alice Mary (A’Hearn) Fitzgerald of Prince Edward Island.  She was the youngest of 11 children and the only one born in the United States. She graduated from Immaculate Conception High School, Class of 1949 and then worked at New England Telephone and Telegraph in Revere.  She married Kenneth E. Willis in 1954 and raised a family of five children.  She later worked for 20 years at John Hancock as a disability claims adjuster in Boston, until her retirement in 1993. Barbara was a proud Catholic and a faithful parishioner and devotee of the Immaculate Conception Parish of Revere, her entire life. Barbara was a humble, caring, loving person who enjoyed the simple things in life, most notably spending time with her family and grandchildren, including many memorable Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings.  She enjoyed theater, including being a faithful member at North Shore Music Theater for 30 years.  She treasured walks in the neighborhood with her niece, Nancy and long talks with her nephew, Tony.  She adored all kittens and dogs.  There wasn’t a person who didn’t enjoy her cooking and baking, including her Sunday roast beef dinners, famous brownies or chocolate chip cookies.

The Willis and Fitzgerald families acknowledge with overwhelming gratitude, the extraordinary care Barbara received over the years from the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at Mass. General Hospital of Boston, as well as her recent care at Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital of Salem, New Hampshire and Wingate in Andover, MA.

Barbara is the devoted mother of Kenneth E. Willis, Jr. & his wife Helen of Plymouth, NH., Kevin J. Willis & his wife Wendy Zollo of Snoqualmie, WA., Dr. Karen A. O’Brien, M.D. & her husband Anthony F. of North Reading, James P. Willis & his wife Donna of Methuen & the late Janet M. Willis. She is the cherished grandmother of Paul, Richard, Kristin, Robert “Bobby”, Christofer, Brenden, Anthony, Matthew, Meghan, Colleen, Catherine, Molly & Ryan. She is also lovingly survived by her four great-grandchildren; Kyle, Haley, Blake & Aidan, her constant companion & niece, Nancy G. McMahon of Revere & her very special nephew Francis H. “Tony” Ferraro of Boston’s Back Bay. Dear sister of the late Edna M. Ferraro, Geraldine G. McMahon, Mary A. Fitzgerald, Henry T., Rowan S., Desmond J., William J., Hugh J. Fitzgerald, Eleanor O’Halloran & Mildred Fitzgerald. Many other faithful & caring nieces, nephews, grand-nieces & grand-nephews also survive her. Her feline “grand kitties”, Chelsea & Nikki, also will sorely miss Barbara’s protection, attention & love.

Services

Visiting Hours

Monday, March 20th from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Funeral Mass

Tuesday, March 21st at 11:00 a.m. in Immaculate Conception Church, Revere

Interment

Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Boston Catholic T.V., 34 Chestnut St. Watertown, MA 02472.

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4 Messages Send your condolences
  1. Paul Calderwood
    Mar 20 2017

    To the Willis and O’Brien Families,

    Robin and I send our love and prayers at this time of loss for all of your.

    Paul

  2. Lisa and Steven Bonaiuto
    Mar 18 2017

    To the Willis Family,

    We are so sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful and caring person. We will miss her greatly!

    Lisa and Steve

  3. Austin AHearn, Jean + Ben , Wade Ellsworth
    Mar 18 2017

    Its terrible to hear about your loss and we express our sincere sympathy to you and your family. Wish we could be there to attend the funeral, but unfortunately we could not. Our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow. We are truly sorry to hear about the loss of your mother, please accept our condolences and may our prayers help comfort you.

  4. Roger & Barb Ellsworth
    Mar 18 2017

    Karen,

    We were sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. We notified family members of your message,

    May memories of your mother sustain and strengthen you as you navigate the difficult days ahead. Please accept our condolence.

    We will make a donation to the Boston Catholic T,V. in memory of your mother.

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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.