Obituaries
Recent Obituaries
Joanne E. Welch
Apr 26, 2026
Joanne E. Welch (1935–2026)
"Grief is the price we pay for love” Queen Elizabeth II
Joanne Elizabeth Welch, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on April 26, 2026, leaving a void her family cannot fill.
Born in Malden, Massachusetts in 1935 to James and Elizabeth Flanders, Joanne was a proud graduate of Malden High School, Class of 1953. Later in life, she...
Dolores "Jennie" Funaiole
Apr 15, 2026
Dolores G. (Jennie) Simonds Funaiole, 88 years, of Townsend, MA, passed on April 15th at home.
Jennie grew up in Fitchburg, MA, and attended St. Joseph school. She married Albert Funaiole in 1956 and became a lifelong member of St. John's parish. She spent years as an Ecumenical Minister within the church.
Jennie had a passion for crocheting and provided blankets to...
Wendy A. Dugas
Apr 15, 2026
Wendy Dugas (Haskins Whyte)
Born September 12, 1941, in Malden, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on April 15, 2026.
Wendy was the beloved daughter of the late John and Doris Whyte.
She spent much of her life near the water—a place that brought her great joy. From her early years by the lake to later life with her late husband, Robert Dugas, in Alton...
Dana K. Carpenter
Apr 14, 2026
Our favorite artist, Dana Keith Carpenter, joined the leader of the band, Parker Carpenter, on April 14, 2026. He expressed his love through his drawings, paintings, and woodwork. His work is not in any museum we’re aware of, but can be viewed in the homes of loved ones all along the eastern seaboard. It is in the watercolor landscapes tucked...
Reita Colard
Apr 13, 2026
Reita Colard, age 82, of Pepperell, passed away on April 13, 2026, with her family by her side. Born on July 1, 1944, in Lowell, Massachusetts, Reita lived a life defined by devotion, resilience, and a deep, unwavering love for the people she held close.
She is survived by her son, James Colard, and his husband, Christopher Morrison, of Pepperell; her...
Jane Hodgman Carrubba
Apr 10, 2026
Jane Hodgman Carrubba, 83, a long-time resident of Pepperell, MA and later Hollis, NH passed away peacefully on April 10, 2026, with family by her side at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH.
Jane was born to the late Richard and Virginia Hodgman and grew up in the Arlington/Reading, MA area. She moved to Pepperell, MA in 1972, where she...
Toru Mike Yamanishi
Apr 5, 2026
Toru Mike Yamanishi, 58, of Pepperell, passed away peacefully on April 5, 2026, surrounded by his family.
Mike was born in Kao-hsiung, Taiwan, and grew up in Japan, attending Canadian Academy where he met lifelong friends. He later moved to the United States when he began college. He graduated from Butler University with a degree in Chemistry and Computer Science, then...
Cynthia C. Ebert
Apr 1, 2026
Cynthia C. Ebert passed away on April 1, 2026 at her home in Clinton, Massachusetts. She was 76 years old.
She was born in Oak Park, Illinois on July 30, 1949, the second of three daughters to Joseph M. and Regina C. Scannell. The family resided in Illinois and New Jersey before moving in 1958 to Massachusetts, where Cynthia’s parents had...
John Curtis Bruner
Mar 31, 2026
John Curtis Bruner died peacefully on March 31, 2026, with a full head of thick, black hair, surrounded by love, music and his family. A graduate of the Groton High School class of ‘73, John went on to complete his Bachelor of Arts in Music at Lowell State, followed by an MBA at Rivier University. He was many things in...
Margaret Mary Bell
Mar 12, 2026
Margaret Mary Bell (Wildes) lived her life with heart, grit, and deep love for her family—never quietly, always fully.
Born on September 27, 1933, in New York, New York, Margaret later settled in Pepperell, Massachusetts, where she grew up, graduated from Pepperell High School, and built the life that would define her.
As a teenager, she worked at a local donut shop...
Ralph J. Hulslander, III
Mar 7, 2026
Ralph J. Hulslander III, 76, of Pepperell, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2026, in the comfort of his home and in the care of his loving family. A member of the Chelmsford High School Class of 1967, Ralph entered the US Navy after graduation. Following discharge from the Navy, Ralph worked to earn his Journeyman and Master electrician licenses,...
Robert Milton Rich
Feb 25, 2026
Robert Milton Rich, age 92, passed away peacefully at Ayer Valley Rehab and Nursing on February 25, 2026 after a long illness. He was born February 16, 1934, in Lynn, Massachusetts, son of the late Milton and Christine (Smith) Rich.
Robert grew up in Swampscott where he attended the local schools and was a graduate of Swampscott High School. Following graduation,...
Marie M. St. Laurent
Feb 22, 2026
Marie M. St. Laurent (Guilmette) 93, of Pepperell, passed away Sunday, February 22, 2026 peacefully in her sleep with her husband of 70 years by her side, after several years of declining health. While we are sad to say goodbye, we are grateful, that thanks to the amazing, unwavering care and commitment of her loving husband Bernie, she was able...
Kathryn Ann (Haapola) Whittier
Feb 19, 2026
Kathryn Ann (Haapola) Whittier, age 81, of Pepperell, died unexpectedly at her home on February 19, 2026. She was born in Fitchburg on April 20, 1944, the only daughter of Olavi and May G. (Wennberg) Happola.
Raised in Fitchburg, she attended the local schools and graduated from Fitchburg High School. She went on to work at NEBS as a secretary for...
Robin (Farmer) Reading
Feb 13, 2026
Robin (Farmer) Reading, 62, of Pepperell, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 13, after a long and difficult battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
Robin was born in Lowell in 1964 to George and Dorothy “Dotty” (Pellerin) Farmer. She attended North Middlesex Regional High School before studying at Wellesley College. After graduating, Robin worked at the Renaissance Bedford Hotel while getting her...
Debra Dee (Douglas) Straight
Feb 8, 2026
Debra Dee (Douglas) Straight passed away peacefully on February 8, 2026, in her family home in Pepperell, MA, surrounded by her loved ones. She was born in Plattsburgh, NY, on July 16, 1957, the daughter of Thomas and Ava (Tuttle) Douglas.
Debbie lived a life full of dedication and service. She built a respected career working for Manning’s Law firm in...
Lydia Falco
Feb 5, 2026
Lydia Falco, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026, at her home, surrounded by loved ones, after a courageous 22-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born in New York City to Walter and Valentina Mantyka, where she spent her early years and developed the strength, resilience, and unmistakable spirit that stayed with her throughout her...
John Stafford Sheedy Jr.
Feb 1, 2026
John Stafford Sheedy Jr., born November 26, 1937, a life long resident of Groton, only child of John S. Sheedy Sr. and Alice C. Cleary, left us on February 1, 2026 in his home of 65 years.
John was a graduate of Lawrence Academy and attended Tufts University. Known to run out of class at the sound of the fire whistle,...
Lori Ann (Hickey) Bancroft
Jan 30, 2026
Lori Ann (Hickey) Bancroft, 63, of Pepperell, MA passed away peacefully on Friday, January 30, 2026 at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, surrounded by family.
She was born September 10, 1962, in Cambridge, MA, daughter of the late Elaine C. Hickey and her surviving father, John “Jack” Hickey.
Lori cherished family deeply and adored sharing stories of her children and grandchildren with...
Richard Varnum Flagg
Jan 26, 2026
Richard Varnum Flagg, 80, of Littleton, MA passed away at home on January 26, 2026, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Richard (Dick) was born on May 26, 1945, in Concord, Massachusetts. He was the son of the late Francis Warren and Dorothy (Knott) Flagg. Dick attended Fenn School and graduated from Littleton High School.
He grew up working on the family...
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