Michael R. Firneno
... Ryan and Wynn School project clerk; 80
TEWKSBURY - Michael R. Firneno, age 80, a veteran, St. William’s church member, and
construction specialist, died Monday morning, August 13, at his Foster Place residence, following
a long period of declining health. He was the husband of the late Lucille “Luci” (Cassidy)
Firneno, who died on January 9, 2002.
He was born in Brooklyn, NY on March 16, 1927, a son of the late Jacob and Christina
(DeSomma) Firneno, and raised in Brooklyn.
He enlisted into the U.S. Navy during WWII, and served in the Pacific-Asiatic Theaters.
Upon discharge, he settled in Watertown, MA, and eventually settled in Tewksbury in 1967.
He was employed as a construction foreman and superintendent throughout New England, and
upon retirement, was invited to become Tewksbury’s Clerk of the Works for both the John Ryan
School construction, and John Wynn Middle School re-construction projects.
He was an active member of St. William’s Parish and a member of the St. William’s Men’s Club.
He was also a member of the Fr. Coppen’s Council 4336, Knights of Columbus in Tewksbury, the
Tewksbury-Wilmington Sons of Italy, and the Lowell Lodge of Elks.
He is survived by six children; Patricia Powers of Tewksbury, with whom he resided, Charles and
his wife Carol Firneno of New Orleans, LA, Carol B. White and her husband Douglas of Derry,
NH, Suzanne M. Russell and her husband Joseph of Tewksbury, Michelle Iwanicki and her
husband John of Dracut, Stacie R. Rivard and her husband Brian of Tewksbury; a daughter-in-
law, Kathy Dalton of Lowell; a former daughter-in-law, Denise Firneno of WY; two former sons-
in-law, Karl Powers Jr. of Lowell and James O’Connor of Brockton; six brothers and sisters,
Nettie Muratore and her husband Steve of NJ, Anna Cardinale of FL, Jean Ciatterelli of NJ,
Barbara D’Ottavio and her husband Sonny of NY, Carol Masiello of NJ, Christine Gewant and
her husband Gary of NJ; twenty two grandchildren, Christopher Powers of FL, Nicole Apel of
LA, Nathaniel Powers of Tewksbury, Meghan Powers of Lowell, Lindsey Firneno of Amesbury,
Christen Parent of Lowell, Jennifer Clouden of LA, Elizabeth Firneno of LA, Katherine Firneno of
LA, Michael Firneno of LA, Chad Miller, and Keslie Miller of LA, Joshua, Sean, and Jacob
White of Derry, NH, Jordan, Alexandra, and Cassidy Russell all of Tewksbury, Amanda Iwanicki
of Dracut, Brendan O’Connor of Tewksbury, Sara and Andrew Rivard of Tewksbury,; five great
grandchildren, Tallulah, Dillon, Kayla, Adam, and Devlin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was also father of the late Jack C. Firneno, brother of the late Louis Firneno, and expecting
the birth of a new great grandchild in October.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated Friday, Aug. 17, in St. William’s Church, Tewksbury. Burial with Navy Honors followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery, No. Tewksbury. Memorials to the Merrimack Valley Elder Services, 360
Merrimack St., Bldg. 5, Lawrence, MA 01843, will be appreciated.