Charles Francis Webberly, of Reading, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at his home on December 2, 2024. He was 97 years old. Charles was born and grew up in the Bronx, New York. From 1945 to 1948, he served in the United States Army in Germany and Japan. Following an Honorable Discharge, he embarked on an almost 40-year career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, retiring in 1989.
Charles married the love of his life, Rose, in 1952, and together they lived first in the Bronx, later moving to “the country” in Mohegan Lake, New York, where they spent many happy years. In 1994, Charles and Rose retired to Florida, where they enjoyed traveling, always by car everywhere, to visit with family and friends and never passed up a good tag sale along the way.
In 2021, Charles moved to The Residence at Pearl Street in Reading, Massachusetts, where the caring staff became his extended family and where he developed many treasured friendships over the years, spending time playing games and his favorite – sharing meals and conversations with friends.
Charles was predeceased by his beloved wife Rose, a loss from which he never truly recovered: his dear sister Margaret, cherished brother Vincent, and special Aunt Rose Bastanzio. Charles is survived by his sister-in-laws Dolores Naclerio and Joan Webberly and many nieces and nephews, as well as his son Charles and wife Kara, and grandchildren Emma and Charlie, who together were his pride and joy. Charles will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend who devoted himself to his family and touched the lives of all that he came across.
The family wishes to extend a special note of thanks to the amazing staff at the Residence at Pearl Street and in both Urgent Care and Primary Care at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford, MA. The professionalism, compassion – and when needed humor – will never be forgotten.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at St. Agnes Church, 186 Woburn St. Reading, on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at 10:30 am. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Interment will be at a later date at Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Charles’ memory to the Fisher House Foundation:
