Alfonso L. Ferrera

Mr. Alfonso L. Ferrera, Newton’s oldest retired firefighter, died in his home with his loved ones at the age of 103 on Monday, January 20, 2025.

Al was born prematurely during a snow storm at his home in West Newton, lived his whole life in West Newton within a mile of his birthplace, and died after a snow storm in his home of 70 years in West Newton.

Al went to Newton High School where he played clarinet in the school band. At 15 years old, he had a crush on the love of his life, Rose Scordamaglia. Al and Rose were secretly engaged in 1941 before Al joined the United States Army Air Corps and began pilot training to fight in WW II. He married Rose while on military furlough on his 23rd birthday, December 30, 1944.

He owned a barber shop at 1381 Washington Street in West Newton Square with his father, Angelo, from 1951 until 1981. He became a Newton Firefighter in 1953 and served as a firefighter until his retirement in 1981.

Al showed his true character by the way he cared for Rose during her long convalescence when she required many years of 24 hour care until her death in 2004. He was proud of his home and took meticulous care of it - especially the lawn - until his last few years.

He was a great babysitter and would play with his grandbabies for hours on end. He loved all of his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren and spent hours on Facebook sharing pictures with them.

He loved comedy and would laugh out loud at good comedy acts. His mind was sharp as a tack until the very end, and he was one heck of a chess player.

In addition to his beloved wife Rose and his parents, joining him in heaven are his children, Richard Ferrera, Linda Flynn and Karen Brandon and his grandson, Timothy.

He leaves his children, Gayle Hay of West Newton and Joanne Healy (Marty) of Naples, Florida; his grandchildren, Michele, Sarris, Michael, Brian, Neal, Emma, Stephen, Natalie, Martin, Adam, Alex, Craig and David; his sisters, Jeanette Fallon of West Newton, Marie Travaly of Port Charlotte Florida, and Mildred Coleman of Missouri; twenty-four great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and their families.

Family and friends will honor and remember Al’s life by gathering for an Evening Wake on Monday, January 27th from 4 to 8 p.m. in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham and again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Bernard’s Church, 1523 Washington Street, West Newton where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Newton Cemetery.