Michael Stewart Saulino

Michael Stewart Saulino, 70, of Fall River, a Senior Service Counselor and Funeral Director with the Waring-Sullivan Funeral Homes, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2022, in St. Anne’s Hospital after a long courageous battle with the side effects of a brain tumor.

Michael was born in Fall River, a son of the late Alphonse F. Saulino, Jr. and the late Helen D. (Stewart) Saulino and resided in the east end of the city his entire life. He was a communicant of the former Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish where he was involved in just about every aspect of the life of the parish.

A 1969 graduate of B.M.C. Durfee High School, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Southeastern Massachusetts University, now the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth in 1973. He graduated in 1974 from the New England Institute of Anatomy, Embalming and Funeral Directing.

Upon graduation Michael began a long, distinguished career as a funeral director and embalmer with Rose and Bill Sullivan in the operation of the Sullivan Funeral Homes of Fall River and Somerset. Following the merger of the Sullivan and Waring funeral homes, Michael was employed as a Senior Service Counselor and Funeral Director working in the Fall River and surrounding south coast areas with the Waring-Sullivan Funeral Homes. At one time Michael was a clinical instructor in embalming and funeral directing at the New England Institute at Mount Ida College. His career in funeral service spanned forty-eight years.

Michael’s church, civic and community service was varied and included serving as an usher, collector and Eucharistic minister, president of the St. Vincent DePaul Society, member of the parish council and a member and chair of various activities at Holy Rosary. He served on the committee for the installation of Most Reverend Edgar da Cunha as Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River. In 2013 Michael was awarded the Marian Medal by Most Reverend George W. Coleman, former Bishop of the Diocese of Fall River. He was also a Member of the Father Joseph Boehr Council # 4753, Knights of Columbus.

Michael was a Past President of the Fall River Funeral Directors Association, and a member of the Fall River, Massachusetts and National Funeral Directors Associations. He was a member of the Vittorio Veneto Lodge # 1035, Order of Sons and Daughters of Italy in America, a past member of the Board of Directors of the Ninth Street Day Nursery, the Fall River Clover Club and the YMCA Youth Scholarship Campaign. In 2014 Michael was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Fall River Rotary Club.

For many years Michael volunteered with his family in the organization and operation of the annual Joseph C. Saulino Jingle Bell Walk named in memory of his brother which was conducted for the benefit of the American Cancer Society and raised in excess of one-half million dollars while in existence.

Michael was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph C. Saulino and is survived by his brothers, John E. Saulino, Esquire and Alphonse F. Saulino, III, his nephews Peter A. Saulino, Esquire, Justin A. Saulino, PharmD, his niece, Amanda Saulino Liepins, and their children, Grant S. Saulino, Caroline R. Saulino, Sloane M. Liepins and Whitney R. Liepins.

His funeral will take place on Friday, September 2, 2022 at 8:30 am from the Waring-Sullivan Home at Cherry Place, 178 Winter Street, Fall River, MA followed by his concelebrated funeral mass at 10:00 am in Holy Trinity Church, 951 Stafford Road, Fall River. Committal prayers and interment will be in St. Patrick Cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday, September 1, 2022 from 3:30 to 6:30 pm.

Flowers are welcome or donations in his memory may be made to either the FLY FOUNDATION, Inc. c/o Saulino and Silvia, P.C., 550 Locust Street, Fall River, MA 02720. (Financial Lift for Young Adults afflicted with cancer) or to the Holy Union Sisters Development Fund, 205 Bedford Street, Fall River, MA 02720.