Obituaries 08-19-2021

Concetta “Connie” Butera

A Selfless, Loving Person Who Embodied the Best the World Has to Offer

Concetta “Connie” (Sardo) Butera, a lifelong resident of Boston’s North End, died July 29 at Massachusetts General Hospital. She was 97 years old.

A beloved wife, aunt, daughter, and friend, Connie was born to Filippo Sardo and Catherine Munda on April 11, 1924. The oldest of three sisters, Connie soon became a beloved cousin and “auntie” to dozens of relatives. After the untimely deaths of her father and sister, Christine, Connie worked alongside her mother to support their family. She was a dedicated worker at Schrafft’s candy factory for many years, but she always found time to have fun. She loved taking trips to the beach with her family and was known for her elegant outfits and stylish shoes when going out dancing with friends in Boston.

In the late 1950’s, Connie briefly lived in Los Angeles to be near her sister, Joanne Catalanotto. While there, she met and began dating Russell Butera, also from Boston. They married on August 3, 1963 and shared 38 years of marriage together. Connie often said she didn’t learn how to cook until she was married, but she learned quickly and went on to serve many delicious meals over the following decades.

After retiring from Commercial Union Insurance in 1983, Connie began spending winters in Las Vegas with her sister, Joanne, brother-in-law, Steve, and niece, Chris. She was another grandmother to Chris’s children, Katie, Tessie and Sean, keeping their household running just like she had done at home. She also travelled the world with her sister-in-law, Mary Butera, making stops in Hawaii, Israel and Italy. She savored every moment with family in Boston, too, never missing a birthday or wedding celebration.

When Russell died in 2002, she moved from her longtime home on Clark Street to the Ausonia Apartments, where she found yet another community of friends.

When her sister, Joanne moved to the Marian Manor in South Boston in 2012, Connie took The Ride to visit her at least three times a week, rain or shine. She also continued to travel throughout the Greater Boston area for meals and events with her many beloved relatives. Even in May 2021, she flew to Los Angeles to meet her great grandniece, Avery. 

Connie may have retired from work, but she never retired from life. She remained fiercely independent, walking with her shopping cart up to Hanover Street every week to visit shops and make her appointments. She was far more than an aunt to all those she cared for. She never turned away from a mouth that needed to be fed, clothes that needed to be stitched, or a person that needed to be loved.

Connie’s life was dedicated to caring for her family and friends. She will always be remembered affectionately as Auntie Connie—a selfless, loving person who embodied the best the world has to offer.

Connie is survived by her niece Chris’s husband, John Power of Las Vegas, NV; grandniece, Katie Gealta and her husband, Justin Gealta of Los Angeles, CA; grandniece, Tessie Power and her partner, Serguei Dominguez of Brooklyn, NY; grandnephew, Sean Power of Boston, and great grandniece Avery Gealta of Los Angeles, CA, as well as countless other family and friends.

A Memorial Funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Stephen’s Church on August 7 followed by interment in Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett. Remembrances may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital Trust, 401 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215-3354. To send online condolences, please visit www.vertuccioandsmith.com.

Funeral Arrangements entrusted to the care and direction of the

Vertuccio & Smith, Home for Funerals of Revere.