John J. Lelos

Retired owner and operator of Lelos Heating

John J. Lelos, 91, of Lowell Massachusetts, died Wednesday February 17, 2021 at Lowell General Hospital surrounded by his loving family. He was the beloved husband of the late Irene (Vassilakos) Lelos who died May 15, 2017.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 7, 1929. The son of the late James and the late Malamati (Kiratsopoulos) Lelos. He attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School class of 1947. John proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army.

A licensed plumber and pipefitter, John was owner and operator of the former Lelos Heating in Lowell for many years. Among his many interests, John enjoyed horse racing and trips to Rockingham Park and Saratoga.

He is survived by his two daughters, Melanie K. Charko and her husband Dan of Dracut and Kathi T. Gadourey and her husband John of Litchfield, NH. His two grandsons, Daniel and Jonathan Charko of Dracut. His sister Amalia Stys of North Carolina. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and his dear friend John Apostolos and his wife Maureen of Chelmsford.

John was the brother of the late Patti Nikolis, the late Athena Mileon and the late Rita Villaras. The Lelos family wishes to extend their heartfelt thanks to the staff of the Dialysis Center at Fresenius of Lowell for all their care, concern and compassion for their father John.

Due to the gathering restrictions, all funeral services were held privately for the family. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing to make contributions in his memory can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME- Lowell, MA (978) 458-8768.

Gertrude L. Webster

Loving mother, grandmother and sister

Gertrude L. (Saucier) Webster, age 97, of North Chelmsford, Massachusetts, but formerly of Lowell passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 14th at her home with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert P. Webster who died in 2006. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, January 8, 1924, a daughter of the late Joseph Saucier and the late Agnes (Campbell) Saucier, she attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School Class of 1942.

Among her many interests, Gertrude loved skiing, spending her summers at Kennebunkport, ME, Saturday afternoons shopping with her daughters and extensively traveling with her husband throughout the USA and to the Caribbean Islands and Europe.

Gertrude was a generous person to a fault who shared unselfishly with her family and friends. She was always complimented for her classical style of dressing. However, her first love was unquestionably her family to whom she was tremendously devoted.

Gertrude is survived by her daughter Martha A. Nawn of Chelmsford; two sons Frederick L. Webster and his wife Theresa of Tyngsboro and Stephen Webster and his wife Michelle of Windham, NH; five grandchildren Taylor Webster, Kyle Webster, Curtis Webster, Freddy Webster and Lauren Webster; a sister Jean Purely and her husband George of Lowell and several nieces and nephews.

She was also the mother of the late Robert P. Webster, Jr. who died in 1970 and the late Karen Webster who died in 1989 and grandmother of the late Casey Webster who died in 2015.

We are truly grateful for the assistance of mom’s caregiver Beatrice Zorokong.

Due to the current pandemic, services were held privately for her family and burial took place at Mary’s Cemetery in North Tewksbury. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to the American Diabetes Association, 260 Cochituate Road, Suite 200, Framingham, MA 01701. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL-MA (978) 458-8768.

Lena Shanahan

of Lowell, “Forever 39”

Pauline P. “Lena” (Fortuna) Shanahan, of Lowell, died Sunday, February 14th at Lowell General Hospital with her loving family by her side. She was the beloved wife of the late Daniel J. Shanahan who died in 1976.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Blazej J. and the late Katarzyna B. (Bugiel) Fortuna, she received her education in the Lowell school system.

Lena was employed at Honeywell Corporation in both locations Brighton, MA and Lawrence, MA before retiring.

Among her many interests, she loved playing bingo at St. Patrick School where she could meet up with all her Acre friends and enjoyed traveling to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut. To her hairdressers and nails girls, she was affectionately known as “the Queen.”

Lena has proven her love, devotion and strength to her family while facing tragedies in her life, especially to her late son John who was disabled at an early age and with whom she visited on a daily basis for over 32 years until his death.

Lena is survived by three daughters Patricia Shanahan of Lowell, Laura Rowe and her husband Earl of Hampton, NH and Maureen Aubrey and her husband Frank of Lowell; four grandchildren Katherine Samson and her husband Chris of Wolfeboro, NH, Sean Shanahan and his companion Melanie Staples of Tewksbury, MA, Daniel J. Shanahan IV and his wife Lisa of Lowell and George Shanahan and his wife Heather of Burlington, MA; many great-grandchildren; a sister Josephine Batista of Pelham, NH; two daughters-in-law Jean Shanahan of Wolfeboro, NH and Ann Shanahan of Dracut, MA; a sister-n-law Mary Fortuna of Lowell; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also mother of the late Daniel J. Shanahan III, Thomas M. Shanahan and John Patrick Shanahan, sister of the late Blanche Reynolds, Stella Wojcik, Adam Fortuna and Walter Fortuna and dear friend of the late John “Jack” Martin.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 2 to 4 pm Sunday. Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday morning at ST. PATRICK CHURCH in Lowell at 11:00 am. (All state-required social distancing procedures will be observed, including the wearing of masks upon entrance into the Funeral Home and the Church). Burial in Holy Trinity Cemetery in Lowell. E-condolences can be left at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

Fotene Vlahakis

Beloved sister-in-law, cousin, and friend

Fotene Vlahakis, 92, of Dracut, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 13th at her home.

Born in Dracut, Massachusetts, November 1, 1928, the daughter of the late Costas and the late Evanthia (Cakounes) Vlahakis, she attended Dracut schools and was a graduate of Dracut High School.

Fotene spent her entire working life in the payroll department of the General Electric Wire and Cable Plant in Lowell, retiring after forty years of dedicated service.

Known for her keen wit and storytelling ability, ‘Auntie Fo’ was a passionate reader and collector of unique objects, such as her assortment of Hummels. She enjoyed traveling throughout New England and U.S. destinations, including visiting New York City many times with her good friend, the late Helen Capelianis to see the popular Broadway shows of the time. Fotene was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a lifelong parishioner of the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity in Lowell. She taught us to be patient, to work hard and to accept life’s challenges as part of the journey. She was a bright light in all of our lives.

Fotene is survived by her sister-in-law Nora (Sarantos) Vlahakis of Dracut; two nieces Evanthea Vlahakis and her partner Joanne Johnston of Dracut and MaryAnn (Vlahakis) Darvirris, who also was her godchild, and her husband Louis of Dracut who cared for her selflessly and lovingly in their home for the past three years; three grandnieces Nicole (Darvirris) Piper and her husband Jay of Belmont, MA, Pamela (Darvirris) Heidt and her husband Andrew of Cambridge, England and Nora Darvirris and her husband Brandon Czaja of Chicago, IL; two great-grand-nieces: Fontene and Oriabthi Piper. Fotene will be missed by many cousins and close friends.

She was also sister of her older brother, the late Nicholas C. Vlahakis, who died in 1985.

We are truly thankful for the assistance of Fotene’s caregivers Vicki and Maggie; also Nancy and her associates at Merrimack Valley Hospice.

Due to the current pandemic, services were held privately for her family and burial took place at Westlawn Cemetery in Lowell. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in Fotene’s memory to the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 62 Lewis St, Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL-MA (978) 458-8768.