Edwin "Ed" John Fedeli

STERLING – Local business owner, Edwin "Ed" John Fedeli, 97, of Sterling, passed away peacefully on November 22, 2018. His beloved wife of 55 years, Mary Rose (Setter) Fedeli passed away in 2000. Born on November 3, 1921 in Worcester, Ed was the eldest son of Frederick and Sylvia (Salvi) Fedeli.

Ed graduated from North High School and went on to further his education by earning a degree from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He proudly served his country in the United States Army. Ed was a 1st Lieutenant among one of the last Calvary regiments in WWII. While serving in the military he met the love of his life, Mary Rose Setter, at Ft. Riley in Manhattan, KS while attending officer training. Ed and Mary married and settled in Sterling where together they raised their family and were faithful members of St. Richard of Chichester Church for over sixty years. They co-owned and operated the Ward Hill Ski Area in Shrewsbury from 1957-1991. It became a local favorite known for its after school learn to ski programs. They also built and operated Tri-Town Drive-In Theater in Lunenburg for over fifty years. Ed also volunteered his time to the Worcester chapter of SCORE where he mentored many young business entrepreneurs.

During Ed’s retirement years, he and Mary were snowbirds, spending time in both Sterling and Sarasota, FL. He enjoyed gardening and was an avid golfer. He was a member of Oak Hill Country Club in Fitchburg and Laurel Oak Country Club in Sarasota. He joked that he was “playing his age” when he was 90 and played his last round of golf at the age of 95. Ed loved to read and often had several books, mostly biographies, in progress which he loved to discuss. He would often remind us to “talk about ideas, not people”. Ed had a quick wit and dry sense of humor and always enjoyed a good laugh, a good story and the love of his family.

He will be deeply missed by his four children, David Fedeli and his wife, Cindy of Sterling, Edwin Fedeli, Jr. and his wife, Peggy of Sterling and Sarasota, FL, Anne Fedeli-Mercier and her husband, Roger of Leominster and Margie Fedeli Layman and her husband, Jay of Steamboat Springs, CO; his five grandsons, Adam and Ross Fedeli, Michael Macduff and Peter and Jack Layman; his two great-grandchildren Aiyla and Evelyn; five step grandchildren; 10 step great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, he was predeceased by his brother, Frederick Fedeli II and two sisters, Jean Brackett and Marie Plante.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the kind and compassionate care Ed received from Sunrise Assisted Living in Leominster and UMass Memorial Home Health & Hospice.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Ed will be celebrated at 10 am on Saturday, December 8 at St. Richard of Chichester Church, 4 Bridge Street, Sterling. Burial will follow at St. John’s Cemetery, 260 Cambridge Street, Worcester. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made on behalf of Ed Fedeli to Conant Public Library, 4 Meetinghouse Hill Road, Sterling, MA 01564.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Miles-Sterling Funeral and Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Road, Sterling.