Cologero "Charlie" Avola

Cologero "Charlie" Avola, beloved husband of Rita (Antonioli) Avola for 68 years passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Boston, he is the beloved son of the late Cologero and Rose (Strazzanti) Avola from Italy.
Charlie grew up in East Boston and was a graduate of Boston English High School. He was a proud veteran, having served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Charlie married the love of his life, Rita. They lived in Winthrop and then settled in Reading to raise their six children. With his brother Joseph, they owned and operated the Jean Palmer Company Dry Cleaners. Hard work and dedication was what Charlie lived by. When he retired from his company, Charlie could not sit idle. Only two days later, he went to work for his son-in-law at Custom Machines in the shipping department. He worked until he was 93.
Charlie was a long and active parishioner at St. Athanasius Church in Reading. He volunteered his time during mass, assisting with the collections and enjoyed helping in the kitchen with his wife at the church bazaar. Charlie was also a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus.
His greatest joy came from being with his family. Charlie never missed an opportunity to be at his grandchildren's sporting events or to just be with them as a proud grandfather. He will be missed terribly by his loving family and many friends.
In addition to being the loving husband of Rita, he is the devoted father of Charles "Chuck" Avola and his wife Cheryl of Northbridge, RitaEllen Kaulbach and her husband Andy of Andover, NH, Carl Avola and his wife Susan of Westborough, Stephen Avola and his wife Helena of Beverly, Richard Avola of Clinton and Michele Pasciuto and her husband Carl of Woburn. Cherished grandfather of fifteen grandchildren, great grandfather of one great granddaughter and one great grandson on the way. Loving brother of Joseph Avola and his wife Arlene of Methuen and uncle to many loving nieces and nephews.
Family and friends are cordially invited to visiting hours at the Cota Funeral Home, 335 Park St. North Reading, on Sunday, December 18th, 2022 from 2:00 to 5:00.
Funeral Service to be held from the funeral home on Monday, December 19th at 9:30am, followed by a Funeral Mass to celebrate Charlie's life at St. Athanasius Church, 300 Haverhill St., Reading at 10:30am. Military Honors to Follow. Interment to be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Charles' memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or online at www.stjude.org.
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