Virginia (Addesa) Howard, of Medford, died peacefully Friday at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington following a long illness. She was 91.
Virginia was born in Waltham, the daughter of the late Antonio and the late Louisa (Talone) Addesa. She was raised in Waltham, and lived in Everett after her marriage to her late husband, Bernard Howard. She later settled in Medford where she raised her children and lived for over 60 years. Virginia was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister. She was a homemaker who enjoyed being with her family. She was a member of the St. Raphael Sodality and the St. Raphael Senior Club.
Virginia was the beloved wife of the late Bernard Howard. She was a devoted mother to Nancy DeLaria and her husband Allan, Ellen and Bernard Howard, Jr. all of Medford, Timothy Howard and his wife Deborah of Millis. She was a loving Nana to Allan DeLaria, Jr., Kimberly Nixon, Natalie DeLaria, Nicole Langley, Jennifer and Laura Howard. Dear sister to Frances Johnson, John Addesa, the late Julia Thome, Josephine Olsen, Mary Morton, Natalie Beaver, Rose Addesa, Anna Johnson, Eleanor Bater and Angelina Greene. Also survived by four great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass will be celebrated in St. Raphael Church, 512 High Street, Medford, Monday at 11 AM. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours have been respectfully omitted. Services will conclude with burial at Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent in Virginia’s name to Catholic Relief Services, 228 West Lexington St. Baltimore, MD 21201.