Obituary of Charles F Upton

Charles F. Upton, a retired Printer at the Malden Evening News, passed away peacefully at CareOne at Concord on Tuesday night, October 30, 2018, at the age of 86. Charlie was one of 14 children born to Everett and Margaret Upton.  He grew up in Woburn and was a 1950 graduate of Woburn High School.  Growing up in such a large family helped define Charlie’s priorities, values, and character.  To his family he was “Buddy”.  That name fit his demeanor.  He attended night school at Bentley University until he was drafted into the Army in 1953. He served during the Korean War and held the rank of SP3, was the recipient of the Army of the Occupation Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.  He started his career as a printer at the Woburn Times and then went to work for the Malden Evening News for over 30 years.  In his retirement he was a funeral assistant and greeter at the Doyle Lane Funeral Home in Burlington.

Charlie had very clear priorities, they were God, family and country and that dictated how he lived his life.  He married his wife Annette in 1961, they purchased their home in Burlington and became parishioners of St. Malachy’s Church as soon as it was established. They remained active and faithful parishioners for the next 55 years.  Charlie professed and lived his faith every day and this was demonstrated by his life.  He was a daily mass goer, an usher, and Eucharistic minister as well as being part of the church’s hospital ministry where he visited patients, prayed with them, offered communion, and comforted those in distress.  For over 20 years, he also helped cook and serve meals once a month at a homeless shelter in Lowell.  His actions were always based on love and faith.

Charlie was also a family man.  He and his wife Annette shared 57 years of marriage.  They made a home for their sons, brought them up with strong values, and gave them a foundation on which to build their lives upon. He was grandad to his 5 grandchildren and one of their favorite memories was his prized baked macaroni and cheese.  He was devoted to his wife and cared for her as her health declined.  Charlie remained independent and lived in his own home up until just a month ago.

Charlie was the beloved husband of Annette A. (Lyons). He was the loving father of David Upton & his wife Jean Sicurella of Arlington and Kevin Upton of Ft. Worth, TX. He was the proud grandfather of Antonio, Victoria, Olivia, Everett, and Ella Upton. He was the brother of Barbara Quinn of Lowell, Richard of FL, Robert of FL, Joseph, Roger, & Judith Upton all of Woburn, Elsie Brophy of Woburn, the late Everett, William & John Upton, Dorothy Johnson, Margaret Torrice, and Phyllis James. He was also survived by many nieces and nephews.

A visitation will be held at the Edward V. Sullivan Funeral Home, 43 Winn St., Burlington (exit 34 off Rt. 128/95, Woburn side) on Saturday, Nov. 3 from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Malachy’s Church, 99 Bedford St., Burlington at 10:30 a.m. Services will conclude with a burial in Chestnut Hill Cemetery, Burlington. In lieu of flowers memorials in Charlie’s name may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, MA Chapter, 309 Waverly Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452   www.alz.org  For directions obituary & online guestbook see www.saint-malachy.org or www.sullivanfuneralhome.net

Family Remembrance by Jean

Hi, I’m Jean Sicurella, Dave’s wife and Charlie’s daughter-in-law and I’ll be sharing a few words that Dave wanted to convey. He would get up and speak himself, but felt that was just too difficult.

First, we’d like to recognize that we wish my mother in-law Annette was well enough to be here today.  However, she lives in the memory care unit at Sunrise in Arlington and unfortunately she is continuing her battle with Alzheimer’s.   We’d ask you all to remember her in your thoughts and prayers.

Second, we like to also recognize a few those who consistent sacrifice made it possible for my father in-law live at home these last several years. 

Martie & Don Roberts.  We could not ask for better a better next-door-neighbor and faithful friends to Charlie (and Annette). So many days and nights you went over to check on him, drove him to church and cared for his needs.  We appreciate how you noticed the little things that indicated that something was wrong (like the shades not going up in the morning). You sacrificed so much of your time, not only for Charlie, but for Annette as well.  To this day, we are truly grateful for your regular visits to Annette.  I can always tell when you have been there because of the fresh coat of polish on her nails. You truly live out the Gospel message of “love your neighbor as yourself”

We’d also like to thank Charlie’s younger brother Joe and his wife Mary. We are so thankful for your twice a week visits over these last several years and no doubt Charlie looked forward to his treat of coffee and a Jelly donut. He could not have lived at home without your role on the team. Your consistent acts of compassion & care for him was truly sacrificial and your love for him so clear.  Mary, I was truly touched by how lovingly you spoke to Charlie and held his hand in his final days.

Everyone wants a friendship like Charlie had with his lifelong friend Jerry Scalley. From the age of 7 when they started delivering newspapers together to his final days, Jerry you were a faithful friend. I know he cherished so many of your late night hangouts in his den as you talked about old times. Jerry, you understood Charlie well and knew how important it was to him to visit Annette.  Thank you for consistently bringing him to see Annette when he could no longer drive himself.

Lastly, we like to recognize the St. Malachy’s community, people like Joan Lochiatto and Maryanne Savoy and too many others to remember for demonstrating what a true faith based community looks like in caring for their own.

Dave did not write this part, but I want to thank Dave on behalf of his dad. For the last several years, Dave has spoken to his dad every single day, and most days multiple times a day.  I watched him sacrifice every Saturday morning as he would go and do Charlie’s laundry, do his shopping, bath him and make sure his needs were met. So many nights Dave was called over by his dad, or called out of work because his dad needed him, and whether or not he wanted to, he faithfully went. Above all, Dave exemplifies what true sacrifice to family means and serving the needs of others above your own.  Dave, if your dad were standing here right now, no doubt he would tell you personally how very grateful he was.

Dave wanted me to share a few words about Charlie in hopes of inspiring us to consider his life’s example… and this is why so many of us loved and cherished this man.

Charlie was steadfast in his approach to life with a simple kindness built around God, family, and country.   He was a man of faith and attended daily mass as long as he could. If you were his family or friend, he would give you the shirt off his back. Joe could tell you endless stories of how Charlie would serve his siblings and parents growing up by giving both his money and his time. In the community, for over 20 years Charlie faithfully cooked, delivered and served food at the Middlesex shelter in Lowell. For those not able to attend church, for many years he would visit the sick at Lahey hospital, praying with them and offering the Eucharist where appropriate.  He had a work ethic like no other and for his entire married life he was devoted to Annette and cared for her as she declined.  I know personally to this man I will be forever grateful for how he has instilled his values in my husband Dave and the legacy he has continued through his five grandchildren.

These last 10 months have marked significant loss for our family as we have seen the passing of three amazing men; Charlie, my own father Peter, and my sister-in-law, Lesley’s, dad Lloyd.  As believers we know we can’t control God’s timing and we look forward until the time we can be reunited.  But until that time, we will miss them all deeply, and I hope we will carry on their legacy as we seek to love and care for those around us.

Thank You Charlie Upton for a life well lived and for those that came out today to honor his life