Anthony M. Lelis, 97, formerly of Haverhill, died Monday, Dec. 22, at Winchester Hospital after a sudden illness.
Lelis had been a resident of the Winchester Nursing Center for the last three years where he was an avid socializer and bingo player. He was born in Haverhill, Dec. 25, 1917 to Jasper and Amelia Lelis. He was educated in Haverhill and ran the Yankee Cleaners with his brothers. In 1941 he married his sweetheart Mildred Bacigalupo. He retired in 1982 from the Haverhill School System. He was a member of the former St George’s Church and the Lithuanian Citizens Gedymino Club, both of Haverhill. Sergeant Anthony Lelis served his country during WWII in the US Army’s 14th Armored Division in France and Germany and was awarded a Bronze Star and other medals. In retirement he and his wife traveled the country attending military reunions and loved going to the beach in the summers.
He was predeceased by his wife Mildred, a daughter Toni, his brothers Albert and Walter and his sister Stella D’Eramo. His survivors include his daughter Patricia Lippitt of Reading, a sister- in law Ruth Stewart of Merrimack, N.H., and many loving nieces and nephews. Contributions in his memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project 150 Cambridge Park Drive, Suite 202 Cambridge, Massachusetts 02140 or at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his calling hours on Friday, Dec. 26, from 10 to 11:45 a.m. at the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Home, 106 Summer St., Haverhill. His Funeral Service will follow at noon, Friday. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Lithuanian Cemetery, Bradford.