Charles Ortolani And Melissa Fleming

DANVERS – Charles "Charlie" Ortolani Jr., 71, of Danvers, devoted husband of 39 years to the late Melissa Woodell Fleming and loving father of Nicholas Ortolani, passed away on December 12th, 2023 at Hathorne Hill in Danvers after a brief bout with cancer.
Raised in Revere, he was the son of the late Charles and Josephine (Rice) Ortolani.
Charlie was born on December 14th, 1951, in Chelsea, MA. He graduated from Revere High School, the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, with a BA in Psychology, and Boston College, with an Masters degree in Social Work - MSW.
Charlie was known among his friends and family as a gentle soul and an easy heart whose values were reflected in his words, work, and actions. He valued patience, kindness, generosity, music, and love without condition or exception.
Charlie worked at the Center for Addictive Behaviors in Salem, The Home for Little Wanderers in Roslindale, and taught at Salem State University and Boston University. A lifelong musician, Charlie played in many bands, including 3 with his wife Melissa: 4th Street Station, The High Tops, and He Said/She Said. Charlie also performed with the Boston Rockabilly Music Conspiracy, Busy Little Kitchen, Cold Cold Heart, and many others. He made countless lifelong connections through his music, whether through various musical groups or his time at the Summer Acoustic Music Week and Winter Acoustic Music Week.
Charlie is remembered by his son, Nicholas Ortolani and daughter-in-law, Kathleen McCarthy; his sisters, Patricia Demase and Judy Calder (her husband Ray Calder); his nieces and nephews, Jill Caputo, Jan Silva, Donna DeBerardinis, Kate and Michael Demase, John Roger, Michael Surette, Alison and Andrew Silva; his second-nieces, Mia and Lola Copeland; and many friends. He was followed in death shortly afterward by his wife, Melissa. In addition to his wife and parents, he is preceded in death by his sister, Carol McKenna, brother, John Ortolani, and his beloved brothers-in-law, Jack McKenna and Larry Demase.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to his celebration of life funeral which will be held at O'Donnell – Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) DANVERS on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 at 9:30 A.M. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9 A.M. until the time of service. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, 70 Strong St, Amherst, MA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Home for Little Wanderers at thehome.org.
DANVERS - Melissa (Woodell) Fleming, 72, of Danvers, beloved wife of 39 years of the late Charles Ortolani and loving mother to Nicholas Ortolani, passed away on December 13th, 2023 at Beverly Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Iva Ruth (Hardgrove) Woodell and Parker Mitchell Woodell.
Melissa was born on August 12th, 1951, in Evanston, IL. She graduated from Downers Grove South High School, the University of Illinois, with a B.A. in Special Education and from Antioch University New England with an M.A. in Education. She completed post-graduate work at Rutgers University.
She valued human service, charity, music, and love without condition or exception. She was fiercely dedicated to helping the most in need and believed in giving back to the community at every possible opportunity.
She worked at the Center for Addictive Behaviors in Salem and taught at Cambridge College and Northern Essex Community College. She and her first husband, Patrick Fleming, founded the second halfway house in Massachusetts in Lynn. A passionate musician, she performed in many bands, including 3 with her late husband Charles: 4th Street Station, The High Tops, and He Said/She Said. Music laid the foundation for many of her lifelong friendships through performance and involvement in Summer Acoustic Music Week and Winter Acoustic Music Week. She also performed in theater, most recently at NECCO's production of Eve Ensler's The Vagina Monologues.
Melissa is remembered by her son, Nicholas Ortolani and daughter-in-law, Kathleen McCarthy; her sister, Susan Woodell; her nieces and nephews, Kristin, Paul, Erin, Devon, Shannon, and Darby; cousins, Stuart, Steven, and David; in-laws, Patricia Demase, and Judy and Ray Calder; and many friends. In addition to her husband and parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Nancy Woodell Callahan; her beloved aunts and uncles, Bryon, Jack, and Elois; her cousin, Tony; and her parents, Dixie Jean and Merwin.
ARRANGEMENTS: Relatives and friends are invited to her celebration of life funeral which will be held at O'Donnell – Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) DANVERS on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 at 9:30 A.M. Visitation will be held prior tot he service from 9 A.M. until the time of service. Burial will follow in Wildwood Cemetery, 70 Strong St, Amherst, MA. In lieu of flowers, please donate to one of the many charities she held dear, including The Innocence Project, NARAL, and Amnesty International.
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