Joelle Marie Telis of Saugus, who made her later home in Naples, Fla., died on August 13, 2026. She was 82.
She was the daughter of Frank and Josephine Sampieri of Lynnfield. She worked as a specialist at John Hancock Life Insurance in Boston and later put her energy into food, helping turn Melrose Donut in Melrose into a breakfast stop with more than 100 kinds of muffins, bagels and breakfast items. Her house was where her children’s friends ate, and her Christmas Eve open house sometimes drew 150 people. Her family describes a fiery, patriotic woman who would talk politics with anyone who could keep up and let everyone know exactly where she stood.
She leaves her daughter, Kim Laverde of York, Maine; her son, Chris Telis and his wife Chelsea of Estero, Fla.; her grandchildren, Justin, Paige, Drake and Sloane; her great-grandchildren, Lukas and Levi; her sister, Linda Fleming of Quincy; her dog, Mikki; and many relatives and friends.
A private burial service is Monday, August 31 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Cemetery, 134 Broadway, Lynn. Arrangements are by the Solimine Funeral Homes. The family suggests donations to Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island or the ASPCA.
Compiled from information published by Solimine Funeral Homes. Photograph courtesy of the family via Solimine Funeral Homes. This is our own summary, not the family’s obituary; read the full obituary and leave a condolence at the funeral home’s page on Legacy.com. Corrections: we will fix any error promptly.
