NEWTON, Mass. — The pastor and community of Our Lady Help of Christians Church are remembering the three Newton residents found stabbed and stabbed to death in their Broadway Street home over the weekend.
In a letter to its church community, the church identified the three people killed as Jill and Bruno D’Amore and Jill’s mother, Lucia Arpino.
The D’Amores were 70 years old and Arpino in his 90s.
“It is with heavy hearts that we share that the terrible tragedy that happened in Newton yesterday hit very close to home,” the victims’ relatives said in the letter.
“Jill had taken on the ministry of beautifying the church grounds and spent endless hours tending to our church,” the letter states. Bruno “was known for his great voice and exuberant personality and as the ‘chef,’ he flipped burgers at the parish picnic with pride.”
Lucía never missed a 10 a.m. Mass and “for over 60 years she and her husband Alberto sat in the ‘North End’ section of our church,” according to the church.
“These were truly salt of the earth, wonderful people that we all know well,” the Rev. Dan Riley told Boston 25 News. “The neighborhood is a real neighborhood, not just a street.”
Riley said the couple were celebrating their 50th anniversary and were supposed to renew their wedding vows and receive a special blessing during Sunday’s 10 a.m. Mass.
When they never showed up at church, it was a parishioner who went to their home to check on them and made the gruesome discovery.
“Husband was really excited to plan this,” Riley said. “The woman was a lovely, shy person. She would have loved it. So it was a surprise to find out after the mass.
Riley said the family was very involved in the church and attended mass regularly.
“Wonderful people, wonderful, loved in the best sense, just wonderful Italian Americans,” Riley said, describing the three. “Just great people. From the family values to the tomato garden, through the house always open to everyone, just very friendly and very welcoming.”
“Words of love to our people here who have faith, this is a horrible, horrible tragedy, and we will get through it,” Riley said. “Good always overcomes evil in the end, right now is a time of extreme pain and sorrow. It is okay to mourn completely, and at the same time have confidence and hope in the resurrection of the Lord, which does not minimize the pain in any way, but it lets us know that in the end life will triumph over death.”
“We ask for your prayers for them, especially for their three children and their five grandchildren.”
A special peace mass is scheduled for 6:30 pm Tuesday at Our Lady Help of Christians Church, 573 Washington St. in Newton.
“After the conclusion of the communal prayer, the church will remain open for a period of time for those who wish to continue their prayer,” the church said.
Riley thanked local agencies and community members for their support of the church community during this difficult time.
“With the sudden death of three beloved elderly parishioners over the weekend, we are immensely shocked and saddened. Our deepest sympathy and many prayers go out to the family and friends of these three beloved parishioners,” Riley said. “My deepest gratitude for the incredible love and support that staff, parishioners, neighbors, police, councilors and all government staff have given and continue to give who have been so solicitous, compassionate and helpful”.
“The agony of this tragedy is all too real. The love of God working through you is also real. Likewise, the resurrection of Jesus is real,” Riley said. “This means that while we suffer deeply, deeply, we do so with the support of others and with the confidence that, in the end, good defeats evil and life conquers death.”
At last check, the police had not arrested anyone. Newton police have increased patrols in the neighborhood as investigators search for the killer or killers.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News at Facebook i Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2023 Cox Media Group
