Tribute Wall
Friday
29
May
Funeral Mass
10:00 am
Friday, May 29, 2020
St. Margaret's Church
111 Winn St.
Burlington, Massachusetts, United States
781-272-3111
Friday
29
May
Interment in Columbarium
11:15 am
Friday, May 29, 2020
Pine Haven Cemetery
Bedford Street
Burlington, Massachusetts, United States
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Steven Ferguson posted a condolence
Tuesday, October 6, 2020
Richie, my Rindge Tech brother, I am very sad to hear that you have passed on.
I miss you incredible stories and pictures you shared on face book.
I know you are making them laugh upstairs and will be seeing you again when my time arrives.
Fergy
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Lisa Daigle posted a condolence
Friday, May 29, 2020
Justin, Kelsey, and Brooklyn--I'm so sorry to hear about Rich. He's been my good friend since the mid-90s at PennWell and then we remained friendly. He was so proud of you all and told many great stories about you. Rich was a true original and I'll miss him so much.
Lisa Daigle
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Carol Bradley posted a condolence
Thursday, May 14, 2020
My sincere condolences to Richie's family. I worked with Richie for awhile about 18 years ago, and his love of family was always apparent. I've kept in touch with him and have seen him proudly share photos and stories about his children and his beloved Brooklyn! He also was so excited about the musical personalities he would meet, and was a very talented singer himself. He had many friend who loved him and we all will miss his kind heart in this world. Peace be with you.
A
Annie posted a condolence
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
To Richie's son, daughter and granddaughter, I'm so sorry.
I loved you so much, forever and a day.
love, Annie
Deborah Shapiro uploaded photo(s)
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
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Deborah Shapiro posted a condolence
Tuesday, April 7, 2020
Betty and Justin Kelsey and Little Brooklyn. i am so sorry for your loss. I myself have lost a very special friend whom I was honored to have in my life. He was multitalented and was a loving and generous man. Richie took me under his wing at a time when I was seriously struggling. He introouced me to the renovated Firehouse in Natick a small venue that held concerts such as Chad and Geramy and many other entertainers of this time. I never would have seen the Happy Together tour if it hadn' been for Richie. I will try to carry on these traditions in his name.
I love you Richie. I will miss you and I will carry you in my heart always.
Deborah Shapiro
K
Kate Orsini posted a condolence
Monday, April 6, 2020
Dearest Justin, Kelsey and Brooklyn,
We loved Richie so much. I am so sorry for your loss. I will miss all the conversations we had and the fun loving, creative, crazy guy he was when he was with all his college friends and us odd wild fun and crazy artist types. Gosh you just want one more long conversation as he was so intelligent with a wonderful perspective and he was a great listener.
When someone you love passes away whether expected or not, nothing prepares you for the emotions of grief when it happens. Grief is our body’s natural mechanism to heal.
As we mourn your Dad’s passing and celebrate his life here are some thoughts to help you.
It is said that when you die that the wind indicates all your loved ones who died prior coming to greet you. Yes… this explains the intense winds and storm we had.
For me Richie was young at heart, possessed a splendid personality and a generous spirit. He was that rare person who lived his true authentic self with us doing his best. He was a courageous man who looked out for people helping where he was able and mentoring where he could and sharing the things he was passionate about. He loved you so much and wanted the best for his children and gushed over Brooklyn as the joy of his life that she has been. He lit up every time he spoke of her to us.
People opened up to Richie recognizing a soul and spirit that saw who they are and that he valued them. He adored that you shared your life with him.
I am looking for the right words for these almost incomprehensible and the brutal reality we find ourselves experiencing with this global virus that took Richie from us all earlier than we expected. He could write this better than I can but I will try.
Caring adults want to find a way to comfort and help you his children, through this time and your profound loss. Our collective reality is that life can be brutality hard.
Nevertheless, young people have dealt with this reality with commendable resilience. You become resilient by having caring adults, friends and family that listen to all you have to say in a safe and accepting manner. Emotional responses vary and it is all-OK to have these emotions. The important thing is to create a safe place to allow these emotions out and talk with a trusted person who can help you resolve them. Anything that goes unresolved keeps repeating until you resolve it and I am sure your father would hate that this be a longer burden. We all go through emotional stages when we loose a parent or someone close. You are not alone.
Often people don’t speak about death and dying and they should so we learn to develop skills to cope and understand so you can make it through this process with understanding.
Grief helps you heal so be good to yourself as you go through this.
Denial is a graceful way to help you pace your grief letting in only as much as you can handle.
Anger is a necessary stage of the healing process it can give you strength and can be an anchor, giving a temporary structure to the nothingness of loss.
Bargaining is that we want life to return to what it was. People often forget stages are responses to feelings that can last minutes, hours as we flip in and out of one and then another. We as people experiencing loss do not enter and leave each individual stage in a linear fashion. We may feel one, then another and back again to the first one.
Depression is the appropriate response to a great loss and if grief is a process of healing, then depression is one of the many necessary steps along the way and I am sure your Dad would want me to tell you this. Empty feelings present and grief enters our lives on a deeper level, deeper than we ever imagined. Very Important to know is this depressive stage feels as though it will last forever. You will come out of it and when you do your father would be happy you have taken the time to grieve and end that grief.
Acceptance is the last stage and we never like the reality but we accept it and learn to live again with it. Richie would want you to carry on and thrive.
Living in a great deal of pain our Richie soldiered on and put on a brave public face daily as he valued his life, friends and family. He tired to make his moments count and I valued his spirit and soul for that.
Here is a poem I share with you that for me encompasses the experience of grief. I hope it will help. Your father was a wonderful friend to Billy and me and we will miss him. Take care of each other, look out for your Mother with love and be kind to yourself.
Peace and love,
Kate and Bill
Grief
Like the ocean
comes in waves
only to recede and come yet again
but with it comes healing.
Memories wash ashore
and are bathed by the golden sun.
Grab hold of those memories
and let them fill the emptiness.
Unknown Author
D
Dave Ryan posted a condolence
Monday, April 6, 2020
I am so very sorry to hear of Richie's passing.
We actually took Driver's Education classes together in High School. He was a talented and sweet guy.
I wish that we had been able to get together, as we spoke of back in early March.
My condolences to his family and friends.
Rest in Peace Mr. Sarno
Best, Dave Ryan CHLS 1973
J
Judy and John Keller posted a condolence
Monday, April 6, 2020
Richie, you are still loved and will always be missed. Your jokes, songs, and Facebook posts were always a day brightener. Brittany and Jason, and Brooklyn, you have our deepest condolences and sympathy. Richie worked with John at Pennwell. Happy to have remained friends over the years. All that you meant to us, you will always mean. Because of faith, all that you were, you still are. God bless you and yours, always.
P
Pat Adams posted a condolence
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Betty, Kelsey and Justin,
Very sorry for your loss. May many happy memories comfort you and bring you peace. Love, Patty & Steve
S
Sharon DiFronzo uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 5, 2020
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There are few like Richie and I will always feel blessed to have known him. He supported me sincerely and genuinely as a singer and always took the time to reach out and check in. He even gave me a copy of his wonderful book, which I will always treasure. Rest in peace, kind soul, and we will sing a few songs when we meet again.
Love,
Sharon DiFronzo
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Christina Connolly uploaded photo(s)
Sunday, April 5, 2020
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+ 9
I’m so so sad to hear of Richies passing. We have been friends for almost 30 years and did years of karaoke together and shared a love of music and art. He sent me flowers and gave me a t shirt with a copy of his portrait of Marilyn Monroe knowing that I love her!! He was so generous and worked so hard to keep close to me and I’m sure his other friends! He was so proud of Brooklyn and Justin and Kelsey! He sent me pictures all the time of him with friends, famous artists, his art and lots of music clips! I love him so much and will miss him dearly!
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nedollnov@aol.com posted a condolence
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Richie was kind enough to reach out to our children to be on his cable show and named the segment "Sib Talk." Kelsey and Justin and our kids, who played music, were the guests. The four got along very well and stayed in touch a bit over the years as we did with Richie. He loved music, entertainment in general, and cheered on the accomplishments of others through his show and in life in general. He often sent photos of Brooklyn as a way of keeping in touch. She, Kelsey and Justin brought him the utmost joy. We will miss being in touch with him and will keep him and his family in our prayers. We have fond memories of the Sarnos.
Steve, Janet, Marisa and Michael K.
A
Adrienne Adler posted a condolence
Sunday, April 5, 2020
I am so very sorry to hear of Rich's passing. He never failed to make the days at PennWell a little brighter with his wonderful, positive attitude and his sense of humor. I'll always remember the Karaoke nights at the Westford Regency with a smile. My most heartfelt condolences to his family. Rest in peace, my friend.
H
Harold and Jean Field lit a candle
Sunday, April 5, 2020
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Rest in peace friend and neighbor!!
J
John Zucco posted a condolence
Sunday, April 5, 2020
RIP Richie. It was an honor to know you and thanks for your never ending support over the years. You were a good man and I know your children know how much you loved them. The never ending pics you would send me was a testament of your love for them and how proud you were of them. God Bless.
S
Sharon MacLeod posted a condolence
Sunday, April 5, 2020
Sending my deepest sympathy to you all .... I will never forget the fun days we had as a PennWell family way back when ... Rich always brightened everybody’s day .. he made working together much more fun .. I’m sure he’s already singing in heaven & putting on his best show .. free from ailments and pain. ShaMac
J
Julie Corey posted a condolence
Sunday, April 5, 2020
RIP Richie. You were a dear friend. I will miss our conversations. Sorry that we couldn’t make it to Vermont. Love, hugs and prayers to your family.
M
Michael &Lisa Runyan lit a candle
Saturday, April 4, 2020
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Lydia lit a candle
Saturday, April 4, 2020
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Dear friends, We are sad to hear of Richie’s passing. I chatted with him many times on FB. Thinking of past happenings. Our favorite was when we ran into each other at Disney World years ago. Small world, isn’t it? Richie will be remembered with a smile. Rest well friend!!!
s
The family of Richard D Sarno uploaded a photo
Saturday, April 4, 2020
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Edward V. Sullivan
Funeral Home
43 Winn Street
Burlington, MA 01803
Ph: (781) 272-0050
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