Chelsea Funeral Director Michael J. Smith, Jr. Dies at 67 After Closing Two Family Businesses

Michael J. Smith, Jr., the funeral director who led operations in Chelsea and Malden for more than three decades, died on November 7 at his home in Saugus. He was 67. His death followed a long illness that forced him to close his two establishments, a move the family described as necessary but deeply personal.

Smith operated the Smith Funeral Home on Washington Avenue in Chelsea and the Carroll Funeral Home on Salem Street in Malden. He acquired the Chelsea business in 1992, originally known as the Walata Funeral Home, and renamed it after a remodeling project. Eight years later, in 2008, he purchased the Malden location. That acquisition allowed him to step back from hands-on embalming work, a trade he had practiced since starting his own service in the early 1980s.

Born and raised in Chelsea, Smith attended St. Stanislaus School and Christopher Columbus High School in Boston. He graduated from the New England Institute of Applied Arts and Science in 1981. He began his career at the Vincent J. Mazzarella Funeral Home in East Boston, where he met his wife, Susan M. Mazzarella. He worked for other homes before establishing his own Trade Embalming Service, where he built a reputation for meticulous work among Boston funeral directors.

Smith and Susan married 38 years ago and settled in Chelsea before moving to Saugus in 2001. They raised two sons, Ryan and Matthew. Smith’s health began to decline approximately five years before his death. He continued working as long as he could, prioritizing the quality of his services and the reputation of his firm. He eventually closed both businesses, a decision he made with reluctance.

Visiting hours are scheduled for Friday, November 13, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Vertuccio Smith & Vazza, Beechwood Home for Funerals at 262 Beach Street in Revere. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 14, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 250 Revere Street, Revere. Interment will follow immediately at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.

Smith is survived by his wife Susan, his sons Ryan P. Smith and Matthew J. Smith, and three grandchildren, Raleigh, Callum, and Mason. He also leaves behind his sister Kim Clifford and her husband James. He was a member of the Chelsea Chamber of Commerce, the Cary Square Club, and the Knights of Columbus. In his personal time, Smith enjoyed traveling to Aruba and other Caribbean islands, playing in casinos, and watching Boston sports teams.

The family has asked that attendees meet directly at the church for the mass. Online condolences can be sent through the website of Vertuccio Smith & Vazza. The funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Revere funeral home, which also served as the site of his final visitation.