Kenneth L. “Butchie” Cicero, 78 years young, passed away on Saturday, May 28th at his home in Lowell after a long and courageous battle with congestive heart failure and COPD. He was the beloved husband of Phyllis A. (Canto) Cicero, with whom he had spent over 60 years of marriage with.
A son of the late Joseph B. Cicero and the late Lillian E. (Swetka) Cicero, he was born on December 16, 1943, in Brighton, where he was raised and educated. He was the last surviving of 18 Cicero children. He eventually relocated to Lowell, where he settled with his wife and children for the rest of his life.
Butchie worked as a warehouse selector and a supervisor, running the shifts, with Star Market, Super Value and Purity Supreme, among others. He lived in Oklahoma for about 7 years, while there he worked in construction. He retired in 2009 after over 40 years of hard work and dedication to his jobs.
He enjoyed listening to country music and time spent in his yard, a homebody in every sense. He also bowled in a league for a number of years with Phyllis. Hard work and family were the essence of his life and his time spent with them, in his yard just at home with his family, is his legacy.
In addition to his beloved wife, Phyllis, he is survived by his 3 daughters, Phyllis A. Madden and her husband, Tony of Lexington, OK, Lorraine A. Wing and her husband, George Wing, Sr. of Manchester, NH, and Joanne “Funny Face” Shimkus and her husband, Michael of Columbia, NH; his grandchildren, Steven Madden, Kelly Madden, Christopher Madden and Tony Madden, all of Oklahoma, Joseph Ferreira of Aurora, CO, Victoria Beauchesne-Cora and her husband, Will of Hooksett, NH, and Jeremy Beauchesne of Tewksbury; his 7 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Besides his 17 late brothers and late sisters, he was also predeceased by a son, the late Richard Cicero, and a grandchild, Michael Madden.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation in his name to the COPD Foundation Link or The American Heart Association Link
All are welcome to attend his visitation from 2-6 p.m. on Sunday, June 5 and from 3-7 p.m. on Monday June 6 at the TEWKSBURY FUNERAL HOME, 1 DEWEY STREET, TEWKSBURY, MA 01876 - 978-851-2061.
On Tuesday you are also welcome to attend his funeral, which will begin at 9 a.m. at the funeral home. His Funeral Mass will be offered at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main Street, Tewksbury, MA at 10 a.m. Interment to follow at Lowell Cemetery.