Ostler, George F. Sr, proud lifelong resident of Chelsea passed peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 8 at his daughter's home in Medford. He was one week away from his 100th birthday on August 15. He is now happily dancing in Heaven with his life-long love, his wife, the late Mary (Lally). He is survived by their five children, George Jr., Eileen Manning and spouse Paul, Daniel and spouse Eileen, Mary Bourque and spouse Robert, and Thomas and spouse Mark McDonough. Additionally, he leaves: fifteen grandchildren, twenty-five great-grandchildren, his sister-in-law Jeanne Ostler and many nieces and nephews.

He was the sixth son of the late Leon and Lillian Ostler of Chelsea. They were parents to a total of 12 children (11 sons and one daughter, all now deceased). He attended the Cary School, with a double promotion skipping 6th grade. Then it was on to the Williams School, and Chelsea High School class of 1938. Always an avid reader, lover of history and supporter of education, in 1971 he received his Associates Degree from North Shore Community College.

He was inducted into the US Army Infantry in 1942, and was honorably discharged in December of 1945 at the rank of Master Sergeant.  His time in uniform brought him through Normandy, Northern France, in the Battle of the Bulge, and into the Rhineland.  A good conduct medal, Victory Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign ribbon were just a few of the decorations he received. He was one of eight brothers who all served in WW2 at the same time, the most of any American family.  His oldest brother, Charles J. was killed in action in Cassino, Italy. The younger of two sets of twins in the family who weren't old enough to serve in WW2 fought The Korean War along with a few of their older WW2 brothers who re-enlisted for Korea.  That brought the number of Ostler family sons who saw service to America to 10.

In May of 1947 he Married and after a few years moved to Murray Street to raise his family. In 1955 he was appointed to the Chelsea Fire Department. Serving Chelsea once again through some very busy years for the CFD.  It was a busy time to be a member of the CFD.  There were conflagrations, multiple rag shop fires, three decker fires and the Blizzard of "78," not to mention a cat caught in a tree. He retired in 1986 at the age of 65.  During those years, he served alongside his younger brother Robert.

Always physically active with an incredibly sharp mind, he continued his dedication to the City of Chelsea. Retirement did not slow him down; often referred to as the Chelsea Historian, he served as a volunteer researcher and member of the Board of Trustees at Chelsea Public Library.  He had his own space carved out for him in the back room of the basement of the library.  There he sat among the dusty archives and microfiche and fielded a variety of questions that would come into city hall or the library.  He located lost family members, identified resting places, found veterans to be included in monuments, provided background for authors writing about Chelsea and answered questions from persons far and away regarding a myriad of things Chelsea.

He wrote and even lectured extensively about the history of Chelsea, and eventually put his talents to good use with a weekly column in the Chelsea Record entitled "Chelsea Now and Then."  From that column grew a program on Chelsea Community Television, again entitled "Chelsea Now and Then."

His great love was for the restoration and continued enhancement of the Governor Bellingham-Cary house.  As the Cary House Curator Emeritus, George worked with a dedicated, caring team of preservationists, historians, and educators to bring back to life and open to the public a valuable piece of Chelsea history.  He was a member of the Chelsea Historical Commission, and in 2005 George received the City of Chelsea Senior Citizen of the Year Award.

As a faithful communicant of Our Lady of Grace Parish, he enjoyed singing in the choir, performing in variety shows, and the community and camaraderie of the parish.  George would frequently drive a truck to gather donated goods for the Our Lady of Grace food bank.  And there are also quite a few scouts who would earn First Aid and Fire Safety badges under his tutelage.

He was an amazing man who will be missed by all.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend George's visiting hours on Monday, August 16, 2021 at the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave, Chelsea, from 10:00 – 11:30 A.M.  A Mass of Christian Burial will follow the visitation at the Blessed Mother of the Morning Star Parish, Our Lady of Grace, 59 Nichols St., Chelsea at 12:00 Noon.  Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.

The family has requested to wear a mask and to follow social distancing guidelines throughout the wake and funeral.

DONATIONS:  In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in his name to Chelsea Collaborative, Inc.,  318 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150.