Thelma H. (Dennehy) Casella

Waltham – Mrs. Thelma H. (Dennehy) Casella, of Waltham, died Monday, January 30, 2017, in her home. She was 81.

Thelma was born in Waltham on July 8, 1935, a daughter of the late Paul and Thelma (Jackson) Dennehy, and had been a lifelong resident. She was a 1953 graduate of Waltham High School.

On August 14, 1955, she married Robert J. Casella and they enjoyed over sixty-one years together. Thelma had worked for many years as an aide at the Ross-Worthen Nursing Home on Worcester Lane in Waltham.

She and her family enjoyed vacationing on the Cape and in New Hampshire and Maine. She was a skier during the winter months and was a talented gardener at home.

In addition to her husband, Bob, she leaves her children, Sheila C. Alsen and her husband, David, of Ayer and Patricia A. Casella of Natick; her grandchildren, Jennifer H. Alsen and her fiancé, Robert Bollmann, of Beverly and Captain Steven R. Alsen, U.S.A.F. and his wife, Alexandra, of Columbus, Mississippi; her brothers and sisters, Robert Dennehy and his wife, Elaine, of Attleboro and Joan Laurence and her husband, James, of Tuftonboro, New Hampshire; her sisters and brothers-in-law, John Kelly of Maynard, Gertrude Dennehy of Waltham, James Casella and his wife, Sandy, of Waltham, Mary Casella of Lexington and Jeanette Rheaume of Waltham and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

She was also the sister of the late Walter Dennehy and twins, Paul Dennehy and Ronald Dennehy, and Thelma's twin, Eileen Kelly and she was the sister-in-law of the late Carmella Casella, Salvatore Casella, Mary and Enrico Colantropo and Alphonse Rheaume.

Family and friends will honor and remember Thelma's life by gathering to visit from 10:30 until 12 on Saturday, February 4th, in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main Street (Rte. 20), Waltham where her funeral service will be held at 12 noon. Burial will be private.

Memorial donations may be made to CareGroup Parmenter Home Care and Hospice, 266 Cochituate Road, Wayland, MA 01778.