Helen L. Foti passed away peacefully at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital after a long illness. She was 90. Born and raised in Boston’s North End, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Theresa (Zirpolo) Antonino. She lived her adult life in Medford where she and her husband Vincent raised their children. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Helen worked as a clerk with the Registry of Motor Vehicles. She was active in civic affairs in Medford. An active member of the Plan E Civic Association, which guided political discourse in Medford for many years, Helen’s good sense and keen intellect earned her a place on the committee to design and build the new Medford High School in the 1960’s. Her diverse interests involved the love of gardening and membership in the Silver Bells Line Dancing Group. She also loved pets and was particularly fond of Albert, her talking African Gray Parrott.

The beloved wife for 69 years to Vincent “Jimmy” Foti, she was a loving mother to Teresa Busalacchi and her husband John of Stoneham, Sandra Sacco and her husband George of Medford and Peter Foti of Woburn. She was a dear sister to Libby Antonino and the late Mary Deyeso and Kenny Antonino. The cherished grandmother of Brian Sacco and his wife Jill of NH, Eric Sacco and his wife Elyse of Revere and Adam Busalacchi of Stoneham, she was a loving great-grandmother to Eric, Ashley, Bailey, Luke, Lily, and Brady Sacco. Helen is also survived by sister-in-law Ann Antonino and many nieces and nephews.


Her funeral will be from the Dello Russo Funeral Home, 306 Main St., MEDFORD, Monday March 16 at 10:30 AM followed by a funeral mass celebrated in the Immaculate Conception Church, 600 Pleasant Street, Malden at 11:30 AM. Services will conclude with burial at Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend and may visit at the funeral home Sunday 4 - 6 PM.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be sent in Helen’s name to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.