Angelo Celli

Angelo Anthony (Chubby) Celli, 79

LEOMINSTER - Angelo Anthony (Chubby) Celli, 79, of 39 Rustic Drive, passed away peacefully on May 27, 2015 in the Rose Monahan Hospice House with his family by his side. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 46 years, Jacqueline Sawyer Celli.

He was born on July 15, 1935, in Leominster, MA, the son of the late John J. Celli and Johanna (Corritore) Celli. Angelo was a 1953 graduate of Leominster High School and a 1957 graduate of Boston College. While attending Boston College, Angelo was a member of the Delta Sigma Pi Fraternity, the National Honor Society, and the Gold Key Society. He served in the National Guard from 1957 to 1962.

Angelo worked for Tucker Housewares from 1958 to 1994, serving as the President and General Manager of the company from 1973 to 1994. He was inducted into the Housewares Industry Hall of Fame in 1992 and named in Who's Who in U.S. Executives in 1990. He was a past member of the Board of Trustees for the Fitchburg Art Society, Fitchburg State College, the Nashoba River Watershed Association, the National Plastics Museum, and Julie Country Day School.

Angelo was a member and lector at St. Anna's Parish, as well as a lector at the Holy Family of Nazareth Parish. He was a 3rd degree Knight of Columbus and a Knight of the Holy Sepulchre. He cherished time spent with his family, travelling the world with his wife and friends, playing Trivial Pursuit, and attending family sporting events.

Angelo was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He is survived by his two daughters, Lynne Celli and her partner, Peter Natola, of Marblehead and Leslie Chapdelaine and her husband, Jourdain, of Wenham; two sons, John Celli and his wife, Christine, of Leominster and Mark Celli and his partner, Karen Verville, of Manchester, N.H.; one sister, Maryann Minutillo of Bethesda, MD.; ten grandchildren, Melissa McEvoy, William McEvoy III, Jennifer Celli, John Celli, Jr., Angela Celli, James Sarasin, Johanna Celli, Alli Chapdelaine, Jacqueline Chapdelaine, and Luke Chapdelaine; and three great-grandchildren, Sawyer Bourgeois, William McEvoy IV, and Wesley McEvoy.

The funeral will be held Monday, June 1, from Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Anna's Church, 194 Lancaster St. Burial is in St. Leo's Cemetery. Calling hours are Sunday from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.