Obituary of Charleen J. (Wilkinson) Tretola

Charleen J. (Wilkinson) Tretola, 76 PEABODY – Charleen J. (Wilkinson) Tretola, 76, beloved wife of Michael Tretola, died peacefully on Friday November 2, 2018 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, following an extended illness. Born in Salem, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Charlotte (Matheson) Wilkinson. She grew up in Salem and Middleton, and graduated from Masconomet Regional High School. She then attended Nursing School at Salem Hospital. Mrs. Tretola was a Licensed Practical Nurse (L.P.N.), employed with the North Shore Children’s Hospital in Salem for many years. Charleen had a passion caring for children. She and her husband were Foster Parents to over 500 children over the last 50 years. Because of their loving dedication, Peter Mehegan, of Channel 5 WCVB Chronicle produced a special segment in the 1990s about their good work as foster parents. Charleen was also a two-time cancer survivor. She is survived by her husband Michael Tretola of Peabody, with whom she shared 55 years of marriage; four children, Jeffrey and his wife Maria Tretola of Lowell, Beth and her husband Scott Perry of Framingham, David Tretola of Peabody, and Cindy Tretola and her fiance Ed of Lynn; six grandchildren, Brandon Tretola, Holly Tretola, Jake Perry, Nick Perry, Destiny Kerivan, and Mikey Kerivan; a sister Dorothy Zottoli and her husband Steve of Woods Hole, and a sister-in-law Marjorie Wilkinson, and a life-long friend Barbara Irvin and her husband Mel of Lockhaven, PA and their four children. Visiting hours for friends and family will be on Tuesday Nov. 6th from 4 – 8 P.M. in the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St., Peabody and a Funeral Ceremony honoring her life on Wednesday November 7, 2018 at 11:30 AM. Memorial donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Jimmy Fund, 10 Brookline Place West, 6th Floor, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.