Obituary for Paul M. Colella
Attorney Paul M. Colella lost his courageous battle with acute myeloid leukemia on April 15, 2023 surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years Patricia (Sheehy) Colella and his children, Laura and her husband J. Mark Dickison of Winchester; Sarah and her husband Joseph Daly of Winchester; Luke and his wife Margaret (Molloy) of Winchester; and Justin and his wife Susan (Ferguson) of Reading. He leaves his most beloved grandchildren: Alexander and Elena Dickison, Lila and Patrick Daly, Charlotte and Dylan Colella, and Josephine and Lucille Colella. Son of the late Pasquale and the late Mary Ann (Oliver) Colella of Winchester, brother of the late Brian Colella of Winchester, Mary Faith Murphy and her husband the late John Murphy of Falmouth, and Stephen F. Colella and his wife Mary (Freeman) of Wakefield.
Paul was a lifelong resident of Winchester where he practiced law for 50 years. He started his education at St. Mary’s School, then attended the Noonan School and Junior High School. He attended high school at Keith Academy in Lowell, after which he traveled to Quantico, VA for OSC training in the United States Marine Corps. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Lowell State College, a master’s degree from Northeastern University, and his Juris Doctorate degree from Suffolk University Law School. Paul was a fifty-year member of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire bars and operated a general practice law firm where he handled real estate transactions, estate planning, civil and criminal matters. He also taught criminal justice at Massasoit Community College and Bunker Hill Community College.
A member of numerous organizations over the years, including the Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association, Middlesex County Bar Association, Woburn Bar Association, Justinian Law Society, Winchester Rotary, and Knights of Columbus. Paul was most proud of his lengthy service as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He presided as its 304th Captain Commanding in 2012-2013, taking the Company on its 375th Fall Field Day Tour of Duty to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. As an active AHAC member he participated in many other Tours of Duty to destinations worldwide, including Spain, China, Romania, Thailand, Finland—to name a few.
Paul was happiest spending summers with his family at their vacation home on Seconsett Island in Mashpee where he enjoyed boating, quahogging, and picnicking on Washburn Island. During winter months, the family traveled to their chalet in Colebrook, New Hampshire where he taught his kids to ski at the Balsams Resort and snowmobile off Diamond Pond Road.
Paul was a true Renaissance man with multiple talents ranging from home improvement projects to culinary arts. He loved a project, whether it was building a garage, digging a well, constructing a model lighthouse or removing trees with his chainsaw, ropes, and pickup truck. No job was too difficult for him to tackle, and he built and renovated several of his own homes in Winchester, Mashpee, and New Hampshire, as well as the properties of all his children-whether requested or not. He was a master event planner paying great attention to every minute detail. His family has wonderful memories of annual Christmas Eve parties, Fourth of July celebrations, family reunions, and pre and post wedding parties, and the annual Christmas cookie decorating party with the grandchildren. At his Cape house, he was the short-order cook, catering to all eight grandchildren’s every breakfast request. He cooked for every family holiday and somehow related every conversation back to food.
Paul will be remembered for his relentless drive, work ethic, organizational skills, generosity and his wonderful sense of humor which he displayed through a variety of pranks. He was an able raconteur who enjoyed socializing and turned strangers into friends wherever he went.
Paul’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Mass General Adult Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant team and its caring physicians, nurses and staff.
Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate his life at Lane’s Funeral Home at 760 Main Street, Winchester on Friday, April 21 from 4pm-8pm. Funeral service will be at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Parish Church, 155 Washington Street, Winchester, MA.
Donations in Paul’s name may be sent to Caring for A Cure, Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, Attn: Caring for A Cure, 125 Nahua Street, Boston, MA 02114, caringforacure.org.
Paul was a lifelong resident of Winchester where he practiced law for 50 years. He started his education at St. Mary’s School, then attended the Noonan School and Junior High School. He attended high school at Keith Academy in Lowell, after which he traveled to Quantico, VA for OSC training in the United States Marine Corps. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Lowell State College, a master’s degree from Northeastern University, and his Juris Doctorate degree from Suffolk University Law School. Paul was a fifty-year member of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire bars and operated a general practice law firm where he handled real estate transactions, estate planning, civil and criminal matters. He also taught criminal justice at Massasoit Community College and Bunker Hill Community College.
A member of numerous organizations over the years, including the Massachusetts Trial Lawyers Association, Middlesex County Bar Association, Woburn Bar Association, Justinian Law Society, Winchester Rotary, and Knights of Columbus. Paul was most proud of his lengthy service as a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts. He presided as its 304th Captain Commanding in 2012-2013, taking the Company on its 375th Fall Field Day Tour of Duty to Moscow and St. Petersburg, Russia. As an active AHAC member he participated in many other Tours of Duty to destinations worldwide, including Spain, China, Romania, Thailand, Finland—to name a few.
Paul was happiest spending summers with his family at their vacation home on Seconsett Island in Mashpee where he enjoyed boating, quahogging, and picnicking on Washburn Island. During winter months, the family traveled to their chalet in Colebrook, New Hampshire where he taught his kids to ski at the Balsams Resort and snowmobile off Diamond Pond Road.
Paul was a true Renaissance man with multiple talents ranging from home improvement projects to culinary arts. He loved a project, whether it was building a garage, digging a well, constructing a model lighthouse or removing trees with his chainsaw, ropes, and pickup truck. No job was too difficult for him to tackle, and he built and renovated several of his own homes in Winchester, Mashpee, and New Hampshire, as well as the properties of all his children-whether requested or not. He was a master event planner paying great attention to every minute detail. His family has wonderful memories of annual Christmas Eve parties, Fourth of July celebrations, family reunions, and pre and post wedding parties, and the annual Christmas cookie decorating party with the grandchildren. At his Cape house, he was the short-order cook, catering to all eight grandchildren’s every breakfast request. He cooked for every family holiday and somehow related every conversation back to food.
Paul will be remembered for his relentless drive, work ethic, organizational skills, generosity and his wonderful sense of humor which he displayed through a variety of pranks. He was an able raconteur who enjoyed socializing and turned strangers into friends wherever he went.
Paul’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the Mass General Adult Hematology/Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant team and its caring physicians, nurses and staff.
Relatives and friends are invited to celebrate his life at Lane’s Funeral Home at 760 Main Street, Winchester on Friday, April 21 from 4pm-8pm. Funeral service will be at 10:00am at St. Mary’s Parish Church, 155 Washington Street, Winchester, MA.
Donations in Paul’s name may be sent to Caring for A Cure, Massachusetts General Hospital Development Office, Attn: Caring for A Cure, 125 Nahua Street, Boston, MA 02114, caringforacure.org.