…WWII Navy; G.E. Lynn; 88
TEWKSBURY - Joseph A. Santoro, age 88, died peacefully on Thursday, April 9, at the D’Youville Senior Care Center in Lowell. He was the beloved husband of Marion Rose (Frongillo) Santoro, who died in 1996.
He was born in Somerville on June 12, 1926 and was the son of the late Frank Santoro and Mary (Ciccariella) (Santoro) DiPalma, and was raised in Medford. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, aboard the USS Stag AW 12, a seawater desalination ship.
He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy and was employed as a tool and die maker for General Electric’s Riverworks division in Lynn, where he retired after 38 years of service.
Joe was a devout Catholic and a communicant of St. William’s Parish in Tewksbury. He was an active member of the D’Youville Men’s Guild, and a faithful attendee of the Saturday Masses.
He was a member of the Wilmington Lodge, Order Son’s of Italy in America, the Tewksbury American Legion Post 256, and was active at the Tewksbury Senior Center where he instituted a Bocci league. Joe enjoyed playing cards, bingo and bowling with his friends and family. He and his late wife, Marion, enjoyed dancing and traveling to Cape Cod, New York and the beaches of New England. Joe was a very devoted family man and especially enjoyed holiday gatherings and family celebrations.
He was the proud father of four sons; the late Francis “Frank” Santoro, John J. Santoro and his wife Susan E. (Towle) of Billerica, William A. “Bill” Santoro of Tewksbury, and Joseph A. Santoro II and his wife Diane (McAndrews) of Chelmsford; beloved grandfather of Beth Santoro of Billerica, Christopher Santoro of Lowell, Joseph M. Santoro and Thomas C. Santoro both of Chelmsford; beloved great grandfather of Adele Tatten; loving brother of Esther D’Angeli of Medford; two step-brothers, Gerald DiPalma and his wife Joan of Franklin, MA, and Ronald DiPalma of Las Vegas, NV; and leaves many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, April 12, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. in the Tewksbury Funeral Home, corner of 1 Dewey and 975 Main Sts. (Rte. 38) TEWKSBURY CENTER, phone (800 in MA or 978) 851 2950. His funeral will begin Monday at 9:00 a.m. from the funeral home, followed by a Funeral Mass Monday, April 13, at 10:00 a.m. in St. William’s Church, 1351 Main St. (Rte. 38) Tewksbury. Burial with Navy Honors will follow at Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the D’Youville Senior Care Center, Activities Fund, 981 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854 will be appreciated. The family wishes to acknowledges the care and extends its deepest appreciation to the many caregivers and professional staff at D’Youville Senior Care Center in Lowell. Visit tewksburyfuneralhome.com