NATICK: Eresto T. “Tony” Zacchilli, age 94, retired head custodian with the Natick Public Schools and a World War II veteran, died on Friday, February 20, 2015, at MetroWest Medical Center in Natick. He was the beloved husband of Frances (Annecchino) Zacchilli for 69 ½ years.
Born in Pesaro, Italy, he was a son of the late Nicola and Rose Zacchilli. From the age of four, Eresto was raised in Milford and was a graduate of Milford High School. He served with the Army during World War II.
Eresto and Frances married and settled in Natick upon his return from the war in 1945. Employed for many years with the H. Harwood Baseball Factory, Eresto joined the Natick Public School Department in 1960 as a custodian. After 25 years of dedicated service to the town’s students and teachers, he retired from his longtime post as head custodian at the Bennett-Hemenway Elementary School. An activity the Zacchilli’s shared passionately throughout their married life was dancing. They danced nearly every Saturday night, often with a large group of friends. Among their favorite dance halls were those in Waltham, Dedham, and Hopedale. After they retired from their respective careers, Eresto and Frances walked several miles each day, rain or shine, and through this steady regimen of exercise remained agile for their Saturday night dates. Devoted to family and fond of children, Eresto was pleased and proud to be a grandfather and great-grandfather. He himself was the last survivor of eight siblings.
He is survived by Frances; their daughter, Linda Ann Thompson and her husband Dennis of Wareham; and son, Richard P. Zacchilli of Londonderry, NH; three grandchildren, Lisa M. Romano and her husband Joe of Malden, and Christina L. Zacchilli and Nicholas R. Zacchilli, both of Londonderry; two great-grandsons, Joseph and Anthony; and many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by his daughter-in-law, Cynthia Chouinard Zacchilli in 2000, he was also the brother of the late Dante, Bruno, Ben, Inez, Mary, Ada, and Rose.
His funeral will be from the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street at Natick Common, on Wednesday, Feb. 25th at 9:00AM with a Mass of Christian Burial in Saint Patrick’s Church, 44 East Central Street, Natick, at 10:00AM. Burial with military honors will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery.
Visiting hours will be on Tuesday, 4 – 7PM.