Obituary of Ralph P. Fern

Ralph P. Fern Jr. of Peabody, died on June 28 following a short illness. He was the beloved husband of Gussie A. “Dolly” Fern and shared 64 years of marriage with her. Born in Elmira, New York, he was the son of the late Christine (Capozzi) and Ralph Fern. Ralph and his family moved to Chelsea, where he spent most of his childhood and met the love of his life Dolly while in school. They were married young and started their family soon thereafter. At the age of 17 he joined the US Navy and served four years with an honorable discharge. He worked multiple jobs while his children were growing up including as a special police officer for North East Petroleum Oil, before starting his career at American Airlines. Ralph loved working for the airline and made many lasting friendships there in his 50-plus years of service. Throughout his life Ralph enjoyed traveling with his bride throughout Europe and Hawaii, as well as the US visiting family and friends. He was a true American patriot and World War II veteran and had a passion for cars, puttering around in his yard and “chewing the fat” with his friends at the Barber Shop. Ralph was a wonderful and charismatic husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather dedicating his life to his family. He was the epitome of selflessness and spent the last seven years of his wife’s life with her at home as her primary caregiver. Ralph cherished his grandchildren and great grand-children. He shared Italian recipes with them (including his meatballs and gravy), played cornhole and had water fights with his great-grandchildren, Gramps/Papa Ralph was a strong-willed, charismatic patriarch. In his later years Ralph traveled to Pennsylvania, New Jersey and North Carolina and spent time with his family and grandchildren. Ralph enjoyed US politics, making care packages for his great-grandchildren, and visiting with friends that were like family to him. He is survived by one son, Ralph P. Fern, III of Texas; three daughters, Kristine Marciano of Peabody and her late husband Joseph, Rosemary Gray and her husband John of North Carolina and Pamela Fern of Danvers; four grandchildren, Michael Marciano, Bethany Gray, Danielle Clarke and her husband Brian, and Brittany Rose Buttrick; two great-grandchildren Brendan and Grace Clarke. He was a dear brother of Joseph Fern and his wife Christine of Chelsea, Carol Holsten and her late husband Bob of Lynn, the late Pat Lepore and her husband Sonny of Chelsea, the late Elizabeth Toro and her late husband Guy of Georgia, and the late John Fern and his wife Ottavia and several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday from 9:00 until 10:30 AM at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home, 82 Lynn St, Peabody, followed by his Funeral Mass at 11:00 AM at St. Ann’s Church, Peabody to which relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Annunciation Cemetery, Hobart St, Danvers.