Bill passed away on a sunny Friday afternoon, March 10, 2023, at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He was surrounded by the warm love and comfort of his family.  He was 75 years of age.

Born and raised in Chelsea, he is the son of the late Joseph M. and Margaret (Burke) Valinch.  Bill attended St. Rose School in Chelsea and graduated from Don Bosco High School in Boston.  He attended one year of college at Wentworth for aerospace engineering.  Bill enlisted into the U.S. Army on August 22, 1966, serving during the Vietnam War.  He was honorably discharged as Sergeant on August 21, 1968. A Master Mason by trade, Bill dedicated his working career as a mason at the Massachusetts State House for 30 years, building and mending the infrastructure for the Commonwealth's legislature, before retiring in 2009. He was a proud union member throughout this time.

Bill was a lifelong resident of Chelsea, and had a passion for reading and learning.  He wrote a handbook on masonry to teach students the trade of which he loved. He loved sports, particularly football and hockey. He also loved to garden, cook, discuss politics, play pool, and spend hours at Revere Beach enjoying time with his children.  He enjoyed watching the History Channel and was proud of his lifelong membership to the National Geographic Society. Bill inspired humor, curiosity, and integrity in each of his children. He was a man of his word. His family will fondly remember him by his contagious sense of humor and his ability to assign each of them silly nicknames.   Bill's family will forever miss and cherish his compassion, love, and devotion.

Bill is the beloved husband of Maria R. (Rivera) Valinch of Chelsea, with whom he shared 44 years of marriage.  Devoted father of Kathleen A. Soltish and her husband Christopher of Boxford, Kristen E. Venezia and her husband Jason of Charlestown, Joseph "Joe" M. Valinch and his wife Alicia of North Andover, John P. Valinch and his partner Aiden Nguyen of Cambridge, William M. Valinch and his fiancé Paige Healey of North Andover.  Cherished Papa of 7 grandchildren, Joseph and Charlotte Soltish, Lincoln and Harrison Venezia, Audrey, Eva and Olivia Valinch.  Bill is also lovingly survived by many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS:  Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Bill's visiting hours in the Carafa Family Funeral Home, 389 Washington Ave., CHELSEA, on Friday, March 17 ^th from 9:00 – 10:45 A.M.  Funeral Services will follow the visitation in the Funeral Home at 11:00 A.M.  Services will conclude with interment at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory may be made to The Chelsea Soldiers' Home Activity Fund, 91 Crest Ave., Chelsea, MA 02150 and/or ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or on-line at www.stjude.org .

We encourage family and friends to offer condolences by means of the online guest book below or to send a personalized sympathy card.