Mary "Frances" (Logan) Bertulli, age 85, of Melrose, MA, passed away peacefully on Monday February 16, 2009, at Mary Immaculate Nursing and Restorative Care Center in Lawrence, Massachusetts surrounded by her loving family. She was born on January 20, 1924 in Athol, Massachusetts. She was raised and attended Franklin Elementary School and Cathedral of the Holy Cross High School in Somerville, MA. As a child she enjoyed visiting her mother's family in Bangor, Maine and especially playing with her cousins on their farm. She resided in Somerville until the age of 24, then in Revere, MA for nine years and resided in Melrose, MA for 50 years. In the 1940's she began her working career. Some of her first jobs included chaperoning Catholic nuns in Somerville and Cambridge, MA. She worked at R.H. Sterns department store in Boston for a few years stocking merchandise and as a sales clerk. In 1966 she worked as a nurse's aid at Middlesex Fells Nursing Home in Melrose, MA. In 1967 she began a 22 year career at Melrose-Wakefield hospital, first as a nurse's aid then as a Unit Secretary on Surgical Four. She eventually worked as a technician in the Central Sterile Processing Unit. When she retired from the hospital in 1989, she began volunteering at the Melrose Senior Citizens Center located in the basement of the First Baptist Church on Main St. in Melrose. In 1991, she was hired by the City of Melrose as the Coordinator for the Melrose Senior Citizen Center. Through her leadership, and with her determination, the Center flourished; programs were added and participation increased. She championed for a new home for the center, and was a strong and active member of the committee to design and build the Milano Senior Citizen Center, which was completed in 1995. She loved her 'seniors' and her mission was to provide them what ever they needed: a place to play cards, dance, exercise, learn, and socialize, or often just give them a warm smile and a listening ear. She retired as Coordinator for the Milano Senior Citizen Center in 2004 at the age of 80. Frances was a devoted mother and wife. She always encouraged her children to be individuals and to stand up for their beliefs, to be considerate and respectful of others, and to be faithful to God and loyal to family. She encouraged her children to try new things, and to be creative. Even if they made mistakes, or got their hands or clothes a little dirty (painting, making mud pies, etc.) When her children were growing up she was active in the Boy and Girl Scouts of America and volunteered at the Incarnation Church at the craft fairs and on the altar guild. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 60 years, Elvidio "Al" C. Bertulli originally of Fano, Italy and Everett, MA. They were married on January 1, 1948. She was also predeceased by her parents, John Ambrose Logan and Catherine A. Blake Logan, her sister Dorothy Logan Wall, her brother Robert Logan and former sister-in-law Nancy Logan. She was predeceased by a son, Brian Bertulli in 1973 and by one nephew, Jimmy Logan. She is survived by her children Catherine Bertulli of Melrose MA, Anne and son-in- law Charles Whitehouse of Isleboro, ME, Robert and wife Laurie Bertulli of Bowdoinham, ME, Mary and son- in -law David Brooks of Dracut, MA and Karleen and son-in law Mark Andrews of Farmington, ME , former son-in-law Roger LaVoie of Melrose, her brother James "Rye" Logan and his wife, Marie, of Groveland, MA, her sister- in- law Yolanda "Ann" Bertulli, formerly of East Boston, MA and her sister- in-law Patricia Logan. She is also survived by her 9 grandchildren, Christopher and Gregory Lavoie, Misty Bertulli, Sarah and Adam Bertulli, Zachary and Katie Brooks, Shawn and Tim Andrews and her five great-grandchildren and one great, great grandson. She is survived by many loving nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. Frances will always be remembered for her ability to make others smile and to reach out to others in need, for her compassion for the elderly, the sick and the less fortunate, for her determination and strong voice on causes she believed in, for her love of stories and story telling, for her creativity, for her unyielding faith, and for her love and devotion to her husband, her children and her family. Visitation hours will be held at Gately Funeral Home, 79 West Foster St., Melrose on Monday, February 23 from 4 to 8 pm. Funeral from the Gately Funeral Home at 8 am on Tuesday February 24. Funeral Mass 9 am at St. Mary's Church, Herbert St., Melrose. Burial will be at Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in her memory to the Milano Senior Center 201 W. Foster S t., Melrose, MA 02176 or the Merrimack Valley Hospice, 360 Merrimack St., Building #9, Lawrence, MA 01843.