Rose Theos of Haverhill Bank will be recognized as one of the YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts Tribute to Women honorees. (Courtesy photograph)
YWCA Northeastern Massachusetts is set to honor 21 women from Haverhill and surrounding towns as part of its 28th annual Tribute to Women awards lunch Thursday, Oct. 26 at DiBurro’s. Among the 2017 honorees are Haverhill’s Deborah Colon and Rose Theos, who are recognized for their service to the community through their work at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center and Haverhill Bank, respectively.
Held by YWCAs nationwide, the Tribute to Women initiative serves as a signature fundraising event to raise funds for vulnerable women. The Haverhill-based Y offers free shelter services and transitional housing for victims of domestic violence and year-round affordable childcare in Lawrence and Haverhill. On Nov. 14, a new Haverhill Residence building will open to provide permanent subsidized housing for low-income women.
At the DiBurro’s lunch, which begins at noon (doors open at 11:15 a.m.), attendees will be treated to remarks from YWCA Board President Katherine Castro Eardley, Executive Director Susan Staples and Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini.
This year’s honorees were nominated and recognized for their outstanding contributions to Greater Haverhill.

Deborah Colon of Greater Lawrence Family Health Center (Courtesy photograph)
The 2017 YWCA Tribute to Women Honorees are:
Michelle Catena, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, Haverhill
Deborah Colon, Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Haverhill
Marion Donahue, Pentucket Bank, Haverhill
Beverly Donovan, Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, Salem, N.H.
Maria Sciuto Fontaine, Haverhill Artist, Educator and Designer, Newton, N.H.
Valbona Lavdari, Realtor, William Raveis, Haverhill
Rose Leonard-Flynn, Haverhill Public Schools & American Cancer Society, Haverhill
Maureen Lynch, Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School, Salisbury
Erica Mawby-Roche, Career Resources Corporation, Haverhill
Hailey Moschella, O+ Festival, Haverhill
Lindsay Paris, Haverhill Community Media, Haverhill
Patricia Prior, Holy Family Hospital, Georgetown
Jean Ray, Haverhill Public Schools, Haverhill
Marguerite Sciuto, Summer Street Dental, North Andover
Melissa Seavey, Greater Haverhill Chamber of Commerce, Haverhill
Wendy Shaffer, Northern Essex Community College, Newburyport
Shelley Dame Smith, Keller Williams Realty, Haverhill
Rose Theos, Haverhill Bank, Haverhill
Sonya Vartabedian, Eagle Tribune/North of Boston Media Group, Amesbury
Lisa Walsh, Women’s Health Care/Anna Jaques Hospital, Newburyport
Anne Marie Zanfagna, Angels of Addictions, Plaistow
Tickets to the luncheon can be reserved for $50 by contacting YWCA Haverhill Site Director Renee McGuire before Oct. 23 via email at [email protected] or by calling 978-374-6121.