Helen Rotondi

F. Helen Rotondi, widow of Arthur J Rotondi and longtime resident of Stoneham passed away December 18 after a long illness. She was born February 19, 1917 in Boston, first child of Joseph and Gertrude (Higginbotham) Zunino.



In 1929, after a bout of rheumatic fever, she moved from Medford to Stoneham after their family doctor advised her parents to move to a higher elevation for her health. She attended the Dean School and Stoneham Jr. High.



In 1932 her family moved to Orient Heights, but not before catching the eye of a neighbor's son who was working in his family's garden. She graduated in 1936 from Girls' High School in Boston.



She married her childhood sweetheart in Saint Lazarus Church in East Boston on April 25, 1937. and moved back to Stoneham to raise her family.



While raising her family she was active in civic affairs. She was a charter member of the Stoneham Ladies Lodge Sons of Italy serving several terms as President, Treasurer and Grand Deputy to the Malden Lodge. She was a Den Mother and spent many years serving with the Stoneham Boosters Club. She was a parishioner of Saint Patrick Parish.



She is survived by her sons Arthur J. Jr. and his wife Karen of Wakefield, R. Paul and his wife Elizabeth, Larry and his wife Sharon, and Stephen E Rotondi, all of Stoneham She also survived by nine (9) grandchildren, seven (7) great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.



She was the mother of the late Anthony Rotondi of Stoneham and sister of the late Joseph L Zunino Jr, Rita G Zunino and James L Zunino.



Funeral from the Barile Family Funeral Home 482 Main St. (RT28) STONEHAM Monday at 10am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating Helen's Life in St. Patrick's Church 71 Central St. Stoneham at 11am.



Family and friends are kindly invited to attend Visiting Hours on Saturday from 7-9pm and Sunday from 2-4 and 7-9pm. Please honor Helen with donations to the Arthur J. and Helen Rotondi Memorial Scholarship c/o Stoneham High School, 149 Franklin St. Stoneham, MA 02180.