Obituaries

Jul 30, 1950

Leominster- Pfc. Norman P. Dufresne, of Leominster, son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A.  Dufresne, formerly of 126 Eighth Street, was reportedly missing in action in Korea on July 30, 1950 and presumed dead on December 31, 1953. After 63 years, Mr. Dufresne’s remains were identified and the family is finally bringing him home to lay him to...

Florence I. Hutchinson Athol – Florence Ida (Miller) Hutchinson, 95, of 171 South Royalston Road, died Thursday, November 27, 2014 at the Athol Hospital after a brief illness.      Florence was born in Worcester, MA, September 28, 1919, the daughter of Hulda and Olie Nelson.  She grew up in Worcester where she attended schools and Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster,...

David W. Duncanson Athol – David W. Duncanson, 71, of Fish Street, died Sunday, September 28, 2014 at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester.      David was born January 12, 1943 in Malden, Massachusetts, the son of William and Myrtle (Benhke) Duncanson.  He grew up and lived in Wellesley for many years, graduating from Norfolk County Agricultural Trade School.  David served in the...

Kenneth W. Blackmer Athol – Kenneth W. Blackmer, 93, of 379 West Royalston Road died Thursday, June 23, 2011 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare surrounded by his loving family.      Kenneth was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, October 9, 1917, the son of William H. and Alice (Bosworth) Blackmer.  He grew up in Orange, graduating from Orange High School in 1935.  He then...

Jean H. Joy Athol - Jean H. (Peters) Joy passed away Monday, August 26, 2013 at her home in Athol, MA, at the age of 89. She was predeceased by her husband, M. Verne Joy in 2006.      Her life is celebrated by her four children, Michael Kinsey Joy and his wife Gaye of Lewisville, NC; David Sullivan Joy and...

Richard J. Boutelle WAYNESBORO, Va. — Richard J. “Bam” Boutelle, 80, passed peacefully at his home in Waynesboro, on Feb. 28, 2013, surrounded by his wife and children. He was  born in Athol, Mass., on June 2, 1932, and was the eldest child of Richard T. and Dorothy E. (Oberg) Boutelle. He attended Athol High School and played basketball, baseball and...

Linda M. Flanders Orange – Linda M. (Maronie) Flanders, 62, of Magoon Road, died Sunday, October 5, 2014 at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.      Linda was born in Montague, Massachusetts, October 28, 1951, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Carey) Maronie.  She grew up in Orange, graduating from Ralph C. Mahar Regional High School in 1970.  She later moved to Rutland,...

Norman J. Rushford Orange – Norman J. Rushford, 74, of 37 West Myrtle Street died Saturday, July 19, 2014 at the Athol Hospital.      Norman was born in Gardner, MA, December 25, 1939, the son of Norman H. and Marion P. (Hager) Rushford.  He grew up in the Athol and Orange area where he has lived all of his life, graduating...

ATHOL - Sylvia S. (Cheetham) Bukowski, age 82, of Athol died Sunday, May 31, 2015 at home in Athol.   Mrs. Bukowski was born May 29, 1933 in Worcester, the daughter of the late Donald B. and the late Olive O. (Newton) Cheetham.   Sylvia grew up in Athol, later moving to Ramsey, New Jersey where she lived for many years, returning...

Esther Hoxie Athol – Esther (Morandi) Hoxie, 89, died Tuesday, April 14, 2015 at the Lutheran Rehabilitation in Worcester.      Esther was born in Athol, MA, on August 4, 1925, the daughter of Angelo and Mary (Emanuelli) Morandi.  She lived in Athol all of her life and attended Athol schools. Esther married the love of her life, Jack G. Hoxie, on...

Helen G. Buzzell Athol – Helen G. (Sinclair) Buzzell, 90, formerly of South Street, died Sunday, March 2, 2014, at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare surrounded by her loving family.      Helen was born in New Brunswick, Canada, December 22, 1923, the daughter of Robert D. and Mabel (Young) Sinclair.  She moved to Maine in 1926, later moving to Massachusetts where she...

Laura J. Berry Templeton – Laura J. (Hill) Berry, 74, died Tuesday, February 12, 2013, at the Legend Center in Gardner to reunite with her husband Richard W. Berry and their beloved son Richard Keith.      She was the daughter of George W. and Olive (Adams) Hill of Gardner.  She was predeceased by one brother, Robert B. Hill and a sister,...

Leslie P. Harris, Jr. Athol – Leslie P. Harris, Jr., 76 of 27 Morton Meadows died Friday, September 27, 2013 at Heywood Hospital in Gardner.  He was born in Brockton, MA, February 27, 1937 the son of Leslie P. and Beatrice E. (Bailey) Harris.  He had lived in Athol for several years and was a driver for senior transportation.  He served in the...

Peter J. Pinard Athol – Peter J. Pinard, 98, of 815 North Orange Road, died Saturday, February 4, 2012 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare.      Peter was born in Marlow, New Hampshire, December 28, 1913, the son of Horace and Mary Louise (Hill) Pinard.   He grew up in Unity, NH, later moving to Long Island, NY where he lived from...

Misty L. Arven Athol - Misty L. (Rochette) Arven, 62, died Saturday, February 25, 2012 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol.  Misty was born in Worcester, February 13, 1950 the daughter of Delphis and Blanche (Lemieuz) Rochette.  She grew up in Worcester where she lived for many years before moving to Athol.  She leaves brothers and sisters.  No funeral services are planned. $(document).ready(function(){...

GREENFIELD - Ronald D. Vatalaro, Sr., 77 of 8 Juniper Court, Greenfield, died Wednesday, January 9, 2013 in the New England Health Center, Sunderland, MA. He lived in Athol for 11 years before moving to Greenfield until his passing.  He worked as a manager at a Sunoco in Boston for 10 plus years, retiring in 2000. He enjoyed watching TV and...

Louisa A. Gelinas Orange – Louisa A. (Ferrari) Gelinas, 93, died Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at her home.      Louisa was born in Orange, Massachusetts, July 24, 1919, the daughter of Augostino and Mansuetta (DeGara) Ferrari.  She has lived in Orange all of her life and attended Orange schools.  She worked at the Union Twist Drill, McElwain Shoe Shop and the Orange...

Richard C. Beyette Petersham – Richard C. “Dickie” Beyette, 56, began his soar with the eagles after a long and courageous battle with cancer on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at his home.      Richard was born June 1, 1956, in Athol, Massachusetts, the son of Robert D. Beyette, Sr. and Edna (Flagg) Thomson.  He lived in Phillipston most of his life...

Tillie B. Hicks Orange - Tillie B. Hicks 87 went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 26, 2015.  Tillie was born on October 20, 1927, in Worcester, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Job R. Stanley Sr. and late Mabel (Hicks) Stanley.      She grew up in Somerset, MA where she met and married John Hicks of Providence,...

Lauren Laffond Barre – Lauren (Underwood) Laffond, 68, died Tuesday, July 29, 2014 at Heywood Hospital in Gardner.      Lauren was born in Winchendon, MA January 28, 1946 the daughter of Maurice and Melba (Peckham) Underwood.   She grew up in Winchendon and Warwick, graduating from Pioneer Valley High School.  She lived in Orange most of her life and for the past...