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Concetta “Connie” (Sardo) Butera

Concetta “Connie” Butera (Sardo), a lifelong resident of Boston’s North End, died July 29, 2021 at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was 97. A beloved wife, aunt, daughter, and friend, Connie was born to Filippo Sardo and Catherine Munda on April 11, 1924. The oldest of three sisters, Connie soon became a beloved cousin and “auntie” to dozens of relatives. After the untimely deaths of her father and sister Christine, Connie worked alongside her mother to support their family. She was a dedicated worker at Schrafft’s candy factory for many years, but she always found time to have fun. She loved taking trips to the beach with her family and was known for her elegant outfits and stylish shoes when going out dancing with friends in Boston.

In the late 1950s, Connie briefly lived in Los Angeles to be near her sister, Joanne Catalanotto. While there, she met and began dating Russell Butera, also from Boston. They married on August 3, 1963 and shared 38 years of marriage together. Connie often said she didn’t learn how to cook until she was married, but she learned quickly and went on to serve many delicious meals over the following decades.

After retiring from Commercial Union Insurance in 1983, Connie began spending winters in Las Vegas with her sister, Joanne, brother-in-law, Steve, and niece, Chris. She was another grandmother to Chris’s children, Katie, Tessie, and Sean, keeping their household running just like she had done at home. She also travelled the world with her sister-in-law, Mary Butera, making stops in Hawaii, Israel, and Italy. She savored every moment with family in Boston, too, never missing a birthday or wedding celebration. When Russell died in 2002, she moved from her longtime home on Clark Street to the Ausonia Apartments, where she found yet another community of friends.

When her sister Joanne moved to the Marian Manor in South Boston in 2012, Connie took the Ride to visit her at least three times a week, rain or shine. She also continued to travel throughout the greater Boston area for meals and events with her many beloved relatives. Even in May 2021, she flew to Los Angeles to meet her great grandniece, Avery. Connie may have retired from work, but she never retired from life. She remained fiercely independent, walking with her shopping cart up to Hanover Street every week to visit shops and make her appointments. She was far more than an aunt to all those she cared for. She never turned away from a mouth that needed to be fed, clothes that needed to be stitched, or a person that needed to be loved. 

Connie’s life was dedicated to caring for her family and friends. She will always be remembered affectionately as Auntie Connie—a selfless, loving person that embodied the best the world has to offer. Connie is survived by her niece Chris’s husband, John Power of Las Vegas, NV; grandniece Katie Gealta and her husband Justin Gealta of Los Angeles, CA; grandniece Tessie Power and her partner Serguei Dominguez of Brooklyn, NY; grandnephew Sean Power of Boston, MA; and great grandniece Avery Gealta of Los Angeles, CA, as well as countless other family and friends.

Family & friends are invited to attend a Memorial Funeral Mass in St. Stephen’s Church, 401 Hanover St., Boston’s North End on Saturday, August 7th at 10:00 a.m. Mourners are instructed to report directly to church. Visiting Hours are respectfully omitted. Interment is private.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215-3354.



Services

Memorial Funeral Mass

Saturday, August 7th at 10:00 a.m. in St. Stephen’s Church, 401 Hanover St., Boston’s North End
(Please meet directly at Church)


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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.