Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service Obituaries

Obituary Preview: Thomas J. Duggan, Jr., 85, a resident of West Concord since 1964, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 11, 2024, surrounded by his family. Thomas was the husband of Simonne (LeBlanc) Duggan for over 61 years.Tom was born in Concord on September 10, 1938. He was the son of the late Thomas J. Duggan Sr. and Elizabeth (O’Toole) Duggan. Raised in Maynard as the second of five children, Tom was proud to carry his father’s name. He loved to share stories of his childhood; growing up with his brothers and sisters. Tom graduated from Maynard HS in 1956 and attended Fitchburg State Teachers College. In college, Tom held leadership roles in various clubs and he was a member of the FSC Soccer Team. While at Fitchburg, Tom enlisted in the US Army Reserves and served for 6 years.Tom and Simonne were married in July 1962. They lived in Newton and later bought their first home in West Concord where they have lived for 60 years. Tom took great pride in the home he and Simonne created for their family. He was known for his green lawn and neatly landscaped gardens. He loved his home and neighborhood. He could often be seen leaning on a rake talking with neighbors. Tom treasured his neighbors. He loved to be outside and would do anything to lend a hand to his Hillside and Old Stow neighborhood family.Tom began his career pathway as an Industrial Arts Teacher at Concord-Carlisle HS. He coached Riflery and Football. In 1965, he started the first CCHS Boys Soccer Program. After completing his Master’s Degree at Northeastern, Tom became an Administrator at CCHS.He became the Principal at Bedford High School in 1972 until he retired in 2000.  Tom was a longtime member of the Massachusetts Principals Association.  Not long after retirement, Tom started working at the Maynard Industrial Park with his brother, Bill.Tom valued education. He was elected to serve an unprecedented 3 terms for the Concord-Carlisle School Committee; 1976-1985.His years as a teacher, coach, and Principal were the foundation of many close friendships. He built relationships with his colleagues and students. Former students often sought him out to express gratitude for the difference he made in their lives.Family was everything to Tom. His many nieces and nephews speak fondly of their favorite memories of their uncle. Tom was known for his wit and “one liners”. Tom’s children were his world. No matter where he was, he was always there for them.He was always active in the lives of his children, as evidenced by his involvement in their many activities, coaching Concord and Massachusetts Youth soccer teams, and attending their events. He was an Usher at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in West Concord. One of the many childhood memories shared by his children is the trip to the Village Donut Shop after Sunday Mass. That tradition carried on through the years as his grandchildren always knew Grampa’s love of Boston Cream Donuts.Tom was a role model to his children and grandchildren. A man of faith, he was known for his work ethic, strong handshake, and dedication to his family. More than anything, he loved having everyone around. For Tom and Simonne, time with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandson brought them true happiness.In addition to his wife, he leaves behind his children, Linda M. Duggan-Johnson, Col. (Ret.) Thomas J. Duggan III (Amy), Denise M. Duggan, Michael J. Duggan (Jenny) and Anne Marie Duggan (Jeff), his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Tanner (Morgan), Susannah (Ben), Alana, Jack, Olivia, Emily, Erin, and Joseph, and his great-grandson, Mylo Thomas Duggan. He was the brother of James Duggan, William Duggan (Jean) and Teresa Nourse (Brian), and was adored by his many Duggan and LeBlanc nieces, nephews and extended family. Godfather of William R. Duggan, Celine Boyle, Deborah McNulty, and Jena LeBlanc.  He was predeceased by his sister, Mary Lou LeBert and sister-in-law, Audrey Duggan.Family and friends will gather for visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Monday, March 18th from 4 to 7 pm. Tom’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 19th at 11:30 am in St. Bridget’s Church (Ascension Parish), 1 Percival Street, Maynard. Burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.

Obituary Preview: Helen Norine (Couture) Ford, 84, a resident of West Concord since 1959, died Saturday March 9, 2024. Helen was the beloved wife for 45 years of the late Robert E. Ford Sr., who passed in 2004.She is survived by her daughter Brenda J. Lyons and her husband Deputy Fire Chief Kevin M. Lyons (Ret.) of Boxborough, and sons, Dennis J. Ford of Littleton and Robert E. Ford Jr. of Newburyport, three grandchildren, Firefighter Brendan M. Lyons and partner Hannah Egan of Ayer, Patrick K. Lyons of Boxborough and Cody Ford of Maine. She also leaves her beloved cats, Simone and Ivy Jean.She was the daughter of the late Mary E. (Bewell) and Leo A. Couture. She was predeceased by her sisters, Dorothy V. Whitney and Darlene A. Leavitt.Born in Worcester, she attended Watertown Public Schools, graduating in 1957. She worked as a Secretary for many firms in the insurance industry, technical typist for Sylvania Electric, and for 10 years as a floral designer. She worked for ETS of Acton, processing payrolls for nonprofits for 16 years. She was a Crossing Guard for the Town of Concord on the corner of Main and Pine Streets for 13 years, retiring in 1980.She enjoyed many arts and crafts throughout her lifetime, eventually settling on painting in acrylics, mainly florals and mostly self-taught. She exhibited her paintings at the Council on Aging in Concord and also pressed flower artwork at the gallery at Emerson Hospital. She painted chairs and tables to be auctioned for an HGRM fundraiser. In addition, she painted roof tiles removed from the Fowler Branch Library that were auctioned at a fundraiser during their renovation of 2010-2011.She enjoyed singing and playing classical music on the piano. She was a member of Sweet Adelines for 3 years in the early 80’s. Helen spent a majority of her time gardening in the spring and summer. She enjoyed many family gatherings and cookouts around her swimming pool. She spent many years volunteering at the Concord Council of Aging, transporting people to and from appointments. She was called upon to help decorate the COA float for the 375th Birthday Celebration for Concord. She also enjoyed decorating the family trees celebrating children’s literature at the Concord Museum. In Helen’s own words: “TATA for now!”Family and friends will gather for visiting hours on Friday, March 15th from 5 to 7 pm in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center. A private burial service will be held the following day at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Concord.

Obituary Preview: Peter Conrad, a pioneering medical sociologist who brought attention to the increasing medicalization of society, died in his home in Lincoln, Massachusetts, on March 3rd, 2024. He was 78 years old.He died at home, surrounded by loved ones, listening to Joan Baez. His cause of death was pneumonia after a long experience of Parkinson’s.Peter Conrad, the author of 16 books or monographs and more than 100 articles and chapters, was a dedicated academic at Brandeis University for more than 30 years, where he chaired both the sociology department and the Health: Science, Society, and Policy program.Peter Franklin Conrad was born on April 12, 1945, in New York City to George Conrad and Gertrude (Rosenthal) Conrad. They were recent Jewish emigres from Germany and Austria, respectively. Conrad always proclaimed that he was a disobedient, distracted student during middle and high school school — one of the sources of his later interest in ADHD — and that he only came alive academically after taking sociology courses at SUNY Buffalo, now the University of Buffalo.He went on to earn a master’s degree from Northeastern University, in part to get a draft deferment from the Vietnam War. As a conscientious objector, he was assigned to do alternative service as an occupational therapy assistant at Boston State Hospital, a historic mental health institution. Witnessing interactions between patients, clinicians and the institution provided him with initial insights that would later lead him to apply sociological tools in examining the medical system’s roles in society.Combining this perspective with sociology’s mid-century preoccupation with “deviance”, he wrote his PhD dissertation at Boston University, which became his first book, Identifying Hyperactive Children: the Medicalization of Deviant Behavior. Peter began to understand that the diagnosis of hyperkinesis — later called hyperactivity, then ADD, and now called ADHD — “medicalized deviance”. It transitioned a perceived “moral failing” into a medical diagnosis. This became a major theme in his research. As the subtitle of one of his most cited books puts it, medicalization transforms from “badness to sickness”.Over his career, he looked at how cultural and social factors in medicalization shape the definitions, perceptions, and experiences of alcoholism, depression, homosexuality, baldness, short boys and tall girls, among other conditions, in addition to ADHD.While many tried moralizing medicalization, Peter resisted that impulse. “I’m not trying to say it’s good or bad,” he’d often say, “I’m saying it’s happening and we should understand it.” Though his work was deeply analytical and theoretical, he always rejected the title of “theorist”, but prided himself on “conceptualization”. Beyond medicalization, Peter studied the experience of epilepsy, worksite wellness programs, medical education, the social meanings of the new genetics, and illness on the internet. Graham Scambler, emeritus professor at University College London, once wrote that, when it comes to medical sociology, “people and things tend to revolve around Peter.”Peter was elected Chair of the Medical Sociology Section of the American Sociological Association in 1987 and elected President of the Society for the Study of Social Problems in 1995.He was a dedicated teacher, mentor, and collaborator, and had tremendous pride in the accomplishments of his graduate and undergraduate students, even long after they became his colleagues.Beyond sociology, Peter had an enduring interest in green spaces and rural heritage in Massachusetts. He served on the Lincoln Conservation Commission, the board of Codman Community Farm, and the community board of Drumlin Farm, a site of the Massachusetts Audubon Society. He also nurtured this interest in his annual vegetable garden, cultivating multiple potato varieties, giving many opportunities for his younger family members to squash potato bugs.Peter was an avid traveler taking many journeys with his beloved wife and family. These included two sabbatical years abroad: one in Yogyakarta, Indonesia and the other in London, England. He was also a Distinguished Fulbright Scholar at Queens University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and maintained close professional relationships with colleagues there through a twenty-year visiting faculty appointment.One of the great joys of his later years was reuniting with a lost branch of his maternal lineage through family research that brought multiple branches of that family together in Munich and later in Washington, D.C. Peter spoke what he called “Kitchen German” from his emigre parents and engaging more deeply with his family history was deeply meaningful.Though born in New York, Peter was a devoted Boston sports fan, particularly of his beloved Celtics, who were a constant comfort in his last years and a joy he shared with many family members and friends. After his diagnosis with Parkinson’s in 2014, he also became deeply involved with Rock Steady Boxing at SLS in Lowell to maintain strength, mobility, and community. He was supported during this time by loving caregivers, most notably Annette and Moses Mugwanya, who were with him during the last four years.He is survived by his wife, Libby Bradshaw, a physician and assistant professor at Tufts Medical School of Lincoln, MA; his daughter Rya Conrad-Bradshaw, an executive in EdTech of Concord, MA; a son, Jared Conrad-Bradshaw, an educational consultant of Istanbul, Turkey; as well as three grandchildren Rafi, Sela, and Avi, and a son-in-law, Drew Magliozzi, and a daughter-in-law, Rita Ender, both of whom he adored. He is also survived by close-in-heart family members across the world, students from multiple generations, dear friends of more than 50 years (including multiple housemates), and a dog he tolerated. He is predeceased by his sister Nina (Conrad) Furgiuele.The burial will be on Tuesday, March 5th at 11 AM at the Lincoln Cemetery on Lexington Road, Lincoln, MA.Lunch will follow at the house, 20 Old Sudbury Rd, Lincoln (drop offs preferred and park on Boyce Farm Rd, which is opposite our long driveway – wear comfortable shoes and bring an umbrella).The family will receive visitors at their home on Tuesday, March 5th from 12– 3 PM and 5 – 8 PM.  Additional visiting hours at the family home will be from 4 - 7 pm on Tuesday, March 12th, Thursday, March 14th and Friday, March 15th.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Obituary Preview: Audrey Russell Reith, of Concord, MA, passed away peacefully on March 3, 2024 with family by her side. She was 87.Born in New York, NY on January 22, 1937, Audrey was a proud fifth-generation New Yorker and the beloved daughter of the late Edward and Helen (Machen) Reith, growing up on Riverside Drive on the Upper West Side. She attended the Lenox School, and then Wellesley College where she graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Zoology.Her career began in cancer research at Pfizer in Hackensack, NJ. She then headed out west to Los Angeles, CA, in 1960 where she stayed in the cancer research field at UCLA, before shifting careers into computers and earning a master’s degree in Computer Science in 1975.She worked for Xerox Data Systems (XDS) in Los Angeles in the late 1960s and 70s where she would meet a younger computer engineer named Richard “Dick” Hustvedt who would later become her husband for 32 years until his passing in 2008. In 1975, they both accepted positions with Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), relocating cross country to Concord, Massachusetts where their new chapter raising two sons began.Audrey worked for 27 years at DEC, which would later become part of Hewlett-Packard, as a computer engineering manager, where she retired in 2002. She worked on many of the company’s notable projects including the VAX 11/780, VAX 8800 and the groundbreaking 64-bit Alpha AXP Architecture.Audrey was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, including teaching Sunday School at All Saints’ Beverly Hills and later a weekly volunteer at Trinity Episcopal Church in Concord, MA.Audrey was also a proud member of the Wellesley College Alumnae Association for over 65 years, and attended her most recent reunion in May 2023.Audrey was a voracious reader of books, particularly mysteries. In retirement, she began attending Malice Domestic annual fan convention for traditional mysteries in Maryland. Malice became her second family, where she could be found tirelessly volunteering in the hospitality lounge or enjoying wine with friends at a table. In 2014, she was recognized as the Fan Guest of Honor.Those lucky enough to have known Audrey cherished her wry sense of humor, encyclopedic knowledge, and her ever-ready laugh.Audrey was preceded in death by her husband Richard “Dick” Hustvedt; her parents, Helen Machen Reith and Edward Reith, and her brother Edward Reith and sister-in-law Tempe Reith.She will be greatly missed and is survived by her son Eric Hustvedt and daughter-in-law Kristen McNeely-Shaw, granddaughter Ada, son Marc Hustvedt and daughter-in-law Carly Feingold, grandchildren Maverick and Edie, nieces, nephews and many friends. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to all of Audrey’s caregivers for their dedication and compassion.Family and friends are invited to celebrate Audrey’s life during a memorial service at Trinity Episcopal Church, 81 Elm Street, Concord on Saturday, March 23rd at 11 am.  To attend the service remotely, please click here to access the church live stream.In a reflection of Audrey’s spirit of generosity, the family suggests that in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Pat Brody Shelter for Cats or a charity of your choice.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Obituary Preview: Antone “Gerry” Singsen; A lifetime devoted to securing equal justice under the law for low-income peopleGerry Singsen, national advocate for civil legal aid for people living in poverty, passed away on March 1, 2024. Gerry’s career with legal aid was long, varied, and inspirational. He was a leader, a visionary, a strategist, a mentor, and a doer, who valued excellence, integrity, collaboration, and change in service of our country’s most marginalized and needy.In 1942, Antone Gerhardt Singsen III was the first of five children born to Antone and Mary Ellen Singsen. After graduating from Brown University in 1964 and Magna Cum Laude from Columbia Law School in 1967, Gerry clerked for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal, then began his service as a staff attorney and Heber Smith Fellow at the Legal Aid Society of Westchester County. He litigated New York’s welfare residency case, a case that was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, won a seminal voting rights case, created a county-wide community development effort, and became a Unit Director.But that was just the beginning for Gerry. He was soon a leader and visionary in managing and ensuring funding for civil legal services for the poor. As Deputy Director of Community Action for Legal Services in New York City, he became nationally known for establishing innovative and effective management and performance systems.As a result, he was called upon four different times to serve the federal legal services community at critical junctions. He helped to start up the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) in 1975. He came back to establish a funding policy in 1978 that guided the largest expansion of federal civil legal services ever. Then, federal legal services came under political attack. In 1979, as LSC’s Vice President for Finance and Management, Gerry played a key role in the fight to save legal services from Reagan administration cuts. Finally, he returned in 1994 to help fight Newt Gingrich’s efforts to close numerous local legal services programs and cut back funding.Gerry spread his knowledge and vision nation-wide. He led endless workshops throughout the country. In 1983, he became the Director of the Harvard Law School Program on the Legal Profession and was the founder and four-year coordinator of the Ford Foundation-funded Intra University Consortium on Poverty Law.Gerry wrote more than 28 articles on all aspects of legal services for the poor, from finance, to lay advocacy, hotlines, and the role of law schools and private attorneys. Perhaps his most influential writing was “High Quality Legal Representation: The Fundamental Goal for Legal Services for the Poor,” in which he set the national standard that the goal of legal services was not just to provide legal representation, but to do so in a manner that improved the lives of poor people.Together, Gerry and his wife Jayne formed “Singsen and Tyrrell Associates,” a professional training organization that equipped generations of legal services staff to improve their agencies’ financial and program management performance.For many in Massachusetts, Gerry is best known for his work with the Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission. He led the state planning effort that informed the Commission’s creation in 2005 and served as consultant to the Commission until he retired in 2016.With Gerry’s guidance and hard work, the Commission increased funding for Massachusetts programs and identified best practices for systemic advocacy, intake, screening, and hotline processes, as well as for fundraising, social service partnerships, court-based service centers, and expanding the civil right to counsel. The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission was often recognized as a model for establishing other, similar state-level commissions dedicated to expanding access to justice.In 2012, the National Legal Aid and Defender Association awarded Gerry the Denison Ray Award for dedicating his professional life to equal justice for the poor. In 2017, he received a lifetime service award from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute as well as a special Access to Justice Award in recognition of his longtime service to the Access to Justice Commission and his many years of leadership in improving access to justice in Massachusetts.Recently, Gerry completed the first draft of “Making Legal Services Count,” a forthcoming memoir chronicling his lifetime of contributions to equal justice for all.Gerry will be remembered by colleagues as a strategic thinker who attentively engaged with all stakeholders to work things out. He did this with grace and a smile, and with warmth and compassion for both the recipients of legal aid, as well as those who do the work to provide services.Most importantly, Gerry is remembered as a wonderful human being. He was trusting and forgiving, generous, gentle and kind, and most of all loving and patient.Mr. Singsen’s first marriage ended in divorce but gave Gerry two daughters. In 1985, he married Jayne Tyrrell, an advocate for increasing legal aid funding in Massachusetts.In addition to his beloved wife Jayne Tyrrell, Mr. Singsen leaves his cherished daughters, Hope Singsen of New York, NY and Molly Singsen Richter of Hopkinton, NH; and two adored grandchildren, Mia and Adam Richter. Mr. Singsen was predeceased by his younger brother Bill Singsen and his brother-in-law Ross Taggart, and is survived by six siblings and sibling-in-laws, Judy Singsen, Sarah and Bruce Nevin, Katrina Taggart, and Michael Singsen and Suzy Barnard, as well as nine loved nieces and nephews. Gerry will be missed.A public Celebration of Life will be held for Gerry Singsen at First Parish in Concord, MA on Saturday, March 16th at 2:00 p.m., located at 20 Lexington Road.  To attend the service remotely, please access the below Zoom information and link.

Obituary Preview: Barbara (Stien) Bickford Harding, of Concord, MA lived a long, rich, and impactful life, deeply touching those around her. She brought joy to all she encountered, inspiring others through her love and kindness. She died peacefully in her sleep on February 26, 2024, at the age of 91.Barbara was born to John “Jack” and Lillian Stien of Naugatuck, Connecticut, on January 14, 1933. At an early age, she took up drawing, a passion that later evolved to painting. Throughout her life, she created a diverse array of artworks, including sculpture and glass pieces, and taught numerous students to paint. Many of her works adorn the homes of her friends. In addition to drawing in high school, she was named “best bowler” and, true to form, she was voted “best figure.” Following high school, she moved to Boston where she attended Katharine Gibbs College while living in an apartment on Commonwealth Avenue. After returning home, she moved to Branford, CT where she lived on the water, sailed, and worked at Yale University. In 1965, the family moved to Concord. She fell in love with the town, and never left.As a single mother in the late seventies, she struggled to support herself and her children, working various odd jobs until holding administrative roles at The Fenn School and later at the North Bridge. While making ends meet, she studied graphology, which became another of her life’s passions. She embraced the study of handwriting, becoming a Certified Graphologist. She started a fledgling company called Barbara Harding Associates and offered analysis to individuals and organizations. What began with a few clients blossomed to over fifty corporate clients including several Wall Street firms and the international French Bank Credit Lyonnais. She gave advice on hiring anyone from managers to international money traders. Prominent businesswoman Helen Brown of Houston, owner of the advertising journal Greensheet, John Keith of the Keith Companies of Canton, Mass, Arthur Winn of the WinnCompanies of Boston were early clients, supporters, and then lifelong friends of Barbara. She loved them dearly. Not long after, the Wall Street Journal took note of Barbara’s growing business success and featured her in a front-page article entitled The Write Stuff on October 26, 1982. She opened an office in Concord and never looked back. She also began teaching a course entitled Your Script is Showing at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education where many of her students, including photographer Stuart Cohen and Jim Buttrick, became long term friends. She continued teaching there for over 40 years, meeting countless new acquaintances and friends.Barbara didn’t stop at being a Certified Graphologist; she went on to become a Certified Document Examiner. She was called on by the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Attorneys General to provide expert analysis and testimony. Many lawyers retained her in disputes over signatures and legal writings. She was as comfortable on the stand in court as she was giving advice to business owners on hiring. Barbara never stopped.Barbara’s other passion was horses. She was an accomplished equestrian, a skilled jumper, and a practiced dressage rider. She spent many years riding from her barn on Monument Street along the Concord River trails on her beloved thoroughbred, Daiquiri, always followed by her beloved dog, Jack.As she grew older, she loved long walks through Punkatasset and Estabrook Woods with her other best dogs, Maggie and then Roxy. She treasured her many lifelong relationships and spent many months with friends on Old Orchard Beach or wintering on Folly Beach outside Charleston and Pensacola Beach in Florida. She never stopped painting, creating, learning, or entertaining. She looked at everyone’s handwriting to the end, always astounding people as to the accuracy of her analysis.She is predeceased by her parents, Jack and Lillian Stien, her brother, John Stien, and her nephew, Jeffrey Stien. She is survived by her son, Scott Bickford (Ninh Tran) of New Orleans, daughter, Tammy Nuenighoff (Steven) of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, her grandchildren Dana Nuenighoff (Nicholas Ferry) and Rhett Nuenighoff, and her nephew, Jason Stien.Barbara was a magnet for people into her 90’s. She lived at home until she passed and was always surrounded by many friends. Her 90th birthday was celebrated by so many of those she loved. The family would like to thank her close friends including Lai Hing Chan and Warren Moberly, Kathy and Jeff Fast, Bonnie Kennedy and Russ and Lee Robb, who were there for her in her final years. We also thank Joanne Fontaine who so competently managed Barbara’s medical needs and Charlie Bates who always made her smile.  Finally, we are so incredibly grateful to her live-in caregiver, Mary Gichiengo.As Mom would say, remember her but live on your lives -- it’s all practically perfect.There will be a Celebration of Life on April 20th for friends and family from 11:00 to 1:30 pm in Concord, Mass. Please email barbaraslife@mbfirm.com for further information.Barbara always had a passion for saving animals and supporting the arts. If you would like to make a donation to a charity in Barbara’s memory please consider Buddy Dog of Sudbury, Mass or The Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, Mass.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Obituary Preview: Executive, Athlete, Volunteer, Grandfather ExtraordinaireEli Lipcon, 77, passed away at his home in Lincoln on Sunday, February 25, 2024, after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Never one to do anything halfway, Eli fought his disease as he lived his life, with strength, courage, and purpose.Eli left his birthplace in Staten Island, NY and enrolled in Boston University where he earned his degree in accounting. While at BU he coxed the varsity crew for three winning seasons. After graduation, Eli earned his CPA certificate and embarked on a career in public accounting. While working at Price Waterhouse he applied to Harvard Business School and was accepted, based in large part on his record of volunteer activities: teaching accounting at Norfolk State Prison, helping recently released inmates get jobs, and becoming a Big Brother.Harvard MBA in hand, Eli worked for a few Boston startups in leadership roles. After several years of entrepreneurial experience, he chose to move to a large company, and joined Digital Equipment Corporation as a financial executive. Eli’s 20-year career at DEC saw him succeed in various roles in operations and business management, leaving the firm as an industry marketing vice president.Other than a short stint at NYNEX, Eli filled the rest of his professional career in volunteer activities: fundraising for Boston University crew, mentoring non-profit organizations and serving on the boards of Housing Families and the Greater New England chapter of the National MS Society. He completed eleven Boston Marathon runs, raising money for the MS Society and Housing Families.Eli was an avid lifetime golfer in Concord and Grand Cayman where he enjoyed almost daily rounds with his golfing buddies. Eli enjoyed traveling the world with Jan and his family, visits from his grandchildren, and giving back to his community.Eli leaves his dear wife of fifty-three years, Jan (Palmer), son Jacob and daughter-in-law Michelle Barbera of Arlington, son James and daughter-in-law Meg (Sliney) of Stow, brother Jesse and sister-in-law Lynne (Johnson) of Wayland, brother-in-law Check Palmer of Boulder, CO, sister-in-law Debe Palmer of Ridgefield, WA, grandchildren Ella, Sam, Jimmy and Wiley, along with nieces, nephews and many friends. He was predeceased by his parents, Samuel and Dora Lipcon.Relatives and friends will gather for a memorial service on Sunday, May 12th at 2 pm in First Parish, 20 Lexington Road, Concord MA.

Obituary Preview: Sally Williamson, 87, of Brookline, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on February 24, 2024, at The Blaire House of Worcester with her family by her side.Sally was born on February 4, 1937, in Lake Worth, Florida, to Helen Mower (née Wilmarth) and George Williamson. She was raised in Massachusetts, excelled in school, and was involved in many afterschool activities. She was very proud of being a Camp Fire Girl and a Junior Life Saver. She graduated from Concord High School and attended Keene College in New Hampshire.Sally married Owen F. Devereux and began a family. They moved several times before settling in Laguna Beach, California. Sally volunteered at the Huntington Beach Hospital where she entertained pediatric patients with arts and crafts. She served as a Cub Scout Den Mother for a group of rowdy fourth-graders. And she was a member of the Laguna Presbyterian Church Choir.Sally stayed California after her marriage ended. For a while she lived on Catalina Island, and then later, she moved to Van Nuys where she worked at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital. Eventually, she made her way back to Massachusetts. Over the years, she held many jobs, but her absolute favorite job was working for the National Park Service in Boston; it was job that placed her in the midst of America’s historic past.Sally loved the arts. She was fascinated by architecture, artwork, and Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts. She enjoyed seeing local plays, the theatre, and ballet. She was obsessed with American literature, especially the works of Louisa May Alcott, Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. And she loved spending the Fourth of July on the Charles River Esplanade listening to the Boston Pops.Sally also loved sports. She was passionate about tennis, ice skating, and swimming. Her passion for swimming may have come from her father: an Olympic hopeful who was a skilled competitive high diver. Sally and her youngest son, Scott, loved watching the Boston Marathon in April and the Red Sox at Fenway Park during the spring and summer. She was rarely without her Red Sox hat.Sally enjoyed entertaining during the holidays, and she made all her children’s birthdays special and memorable. She was a superb cook and an amazing baker, whose specialties included a baked Alaska cake, a pineapple upside down cake, and a delicious fruitcake whose recipe appears to be lost forever.Sally is survived by her children, Owen M. Devereux, Amy L. Gronus (Charlie), Jonathan W. Devereux (Gail), Nancy J. McDonough (Jim), and Scott J. Williamson. She also leaves behind her brother, Charles L. Williamson; his wife, Sarah Ullman; and his son, Jesse W. Williamson.Sally’s family extends its heartfelt thanks to The Blaire House of Worcester for the care they provided Sally during her illness. Sally always had a smile on her face, laughed at everyone’s jokes, and loved being a part of the conversations and activities. And it was very obvious from the way she responded to her caregivers that there was a lot of love in The Blaire House.Family and friends will gather for Sally’s funeral service on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the Farrar Chapel of Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center. The burial will follow at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Concord.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Obituary Preview: Arnold Roth, age 84, died at his Concord home on Friday, February 23, 2024. He was the husband for 60 years of Linda Roth.Arnie was raised in Shaker Heights, Ohio. As a child and young man, he faithfully helped his mother, Blanche, with the family owned toy store business. During his early years, he would say his biggest joy came from the experiences he had at summer camp.After receiving an undergrad from Lehigh University, Arnie continued his studies by earning an MBA in economics from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. While at college, he was a member of the ROTC program, which led to three years of service in the United States Air Force.Arnie found his career path while working in a bank during the three years he resided in Los Angeles. It was there that he began to develop his knowledge as a Professional Investor, which culminated in a Senior Vice President position with Jennison Associates, based in Manhattan. Over the years, he took pride in assisting clients with their investments and pensions, though his specialty was bonds. A forty-year Concord resident, Arnie donated his professional expertise as an appointed member of the town’s Retirement Board and an advisor to Jewish Family Services.In his spare time, Arnie enjoyed the peace and creativity that came from gardening and tending to his property. He was a collector of steel soldiers, from ancient to modern era. Recently, he donated hundreds to enhance the collection at Brown University. He regularly played doubles tennis with Linda and a group of friends, striving to remain as active as possible in his later years.In addition to his wife, survivors include his sister, Nessie, his daughter, Jessica Thomas and her husband Scott, his daughter-in-law, Marianne Roth, along with four grandchildren, Brendan and Ryan Thomas, and Ari and Kate Roth.A private gathering will be held at a later date.

Obituary Preview: Cynthia Ann (Leslie) Shaw, 65, of Worcester, formerly of Templeton, Maynard and Lincoln died on Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, surrounded by family.She is survived by her beloved children, Chris Shaw of Sterling and Amanda Shaw and her wife Kristine of Worcester; her beautiful grandchildren Kaleigh and Brayden Shaw; and Alana Bonilla, her loving siblings, Paul Leslie, Jr., Peter Leslie, Betsy Olivo and her husband Tom, and Mary Leslie; the loving mothers of her grandchildren Karen Mitzcavitch and Laura Shaw. She is also survived by her dog, Penny, who has brought her great joy and companionship and many nieces and nephews, cousins, and dear friends.Born on April 2, 1958, in Concord, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Elizabeth (Lips) Leslie and the mother of the late Julie Shaw, her little angel in heaven that she is reunited with. She was also preceded in death by Michelle Art, longtime companion of her brother Paul.Cynthia attended Lincoln Public Schools and Lincoln Sudbury Regional Highschool. She attended Becker College in Worcester and Fitchburg State College where she received a degree in Social Work. Upon her graduation, she embarked on a career with the Massachusetts Department of Correction at MCI Framingham. Her career spanned over 30 years. At the time of her retirement, she was the highest ranking Lieutenant. She was very devoted to her job and treated all who she was surrounded by with care and compassion.Cynthia’s greatest gift in life was her love for her children and grandchildren. She was very involved in scouts with her son, guiding and walking beside him to reach the level of Eagle Scout. She was deeply honored that her son enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, was deployed overseas, and that he followed in her footsteps by working for the department. She loved seeing her daughter participate in dance in her early years and various sports and clubs during high school. She was honored to see her daughter serve in the Army National Guard. She was very proud of the career path her daughter took by serving others as a Social Worker. Her grandchildren, Kaleigh, Brayden and Alana, felt the light of her love over the years. They were her world, and will forever treasure the unbreakable bond with their Grammy.Affectionately known to her siblings as “Sis”, “Sissy”, or “Sissy-Sassy”, she loved and deeply cared for them and enjoyed talking about the memories when they were younger. Cynthia will be remembered as a hardworking, genuine, loving lady. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.Family and friends are invited to gather for visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Friday, February 23rd from 3 to 7 pm, concluding with a time of remembrance. Cynthia’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 24th at 9 am in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord Center. To attend the Mass remotely via church live stream, please click here. Burial will be private.

Obituary Preview: Joe Wheeler, Man of VisionJoseph Coolidge Wheeler, age 97, died in his sleep at his home in Concord, Massachusetts on Feb. 11, 2024, following a normal day.Joe was born in Concord on Thoreau Farm on November 21, 1926, to Caleb Henry Wheeler (a 9th generation descendant of the first English colonists to settle in Concord) and Ruth Winifred (Robinson) Wheeler, author of Concord, Climate for Freedom, written after she and Caleb retired from farming. Joe was educated at Concord High School (1945), Bowdoin College (1948), the Graduate Institute of International Studies of Geneva, and Harvard’s Littauer School (MA/MPA 1951). He had a distinguished career in international development, living near Washington, D.C. between posts in Jordan, Pakistan, Kenya, Paris and Geneva. After retirement, he returned to his beloved hometown. He quickly involved himself in town affairs and was instrumental in the promotion and passage of the Community Preservation Act and the preservation of the Thoreau birth house.Joe considered his early boyhood on the Virginia Road farm idyllic. Despite the depression, there was always plenty to eat. The rhythms of milking a couple dozen Ayrshires twice a day, cutting asparagus, haying and raising chickens were punctuated by trips to his grandfather Robinson’s summer home situated on stone terraces overlooking Fairhaven Bay for a swim or tennis game.You could say that Joe’s international career was launched in high school by a $20 gift from his eldest brother, Henry, to attend a Quaker conference in the Poconos on World Federalism. Joe became a leader of the Student World Federalists, helping to organize national and international conferences, promoting the concept of a world governing system that would put an end to war.Joe enlisted in the army at age 18; World War II ended before he was deployed. After completing his education, he began working for the US government in agencies that eventually became the US Agency for International Development. There was a hiccup when at one point during the McCarthy years he was denied security clearance because he had grown up on Thoreau Farm (which was apparently suspected to be a communist institution). He was USAID Mission Director to Jordan 1965-1967 and Pakistan 1969-1977 and Assistant Administrator for USAID from 1980 to 1982. He then worked for the UN Environmental Program and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). He helped to plan the 1992 Earth Summit, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro, out of which came the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and Convention on Biological Diversity.Joe met his first wife, Jean (Huleatt) Wheeler when he introduced himself after their pictures both appeared on the front page of the Boston Globe as scholarship winners for international study. They married as students in Geneva, then lived at Thoreau Farm while studying for graduate degrees at Harvard, before moving to Washington, D.C.Joe’s children remember him as central to family life. While Jean was staying up late at night to write her PhD thesis, he took on the morning responsibilities of getting five young children organized for school and feeding them a breakfast of hot cereal and poached eggs on toast. The Jordan years were filled with weekend and holiday camping and traveling throughout the Middle East.Joe lost Jean and his son Daniel in a car accident in 1969. Afterwards, in Pakistan, he was very fortunate to meet and marry M. Verona (Farness) Wheeler, to whom he was married for 44 years. Both loved the outdoors, trekked together in many places in the Himalayas and travelled extensively throughout the world. One memorable summer included a camping road trip from Munich to Islamabad with seven teenagers. The couple lived in Islamabad, Washington, Nairobi, Paris, and Geneva. Between adventures, they hosted innumerable diplomatic and family gatherings. His children and grandchildren will always remember their visits to Paris and Kenya, fabulous holiday meals, and intensely competitive family croquet games.When he was in his eighties, Joe gradually and completely lost his eyesight. A lifelong stoic and optimist, he found ways to manage his blindness with grace, and described his quality of life as very good right up until the end. He was assisted over the years by devoted caregivers. The family would particularly like to recognize Nicole Palmer, Larissa Almeida, and Shannon Dooling, each of whom helped him to continue to pursue his goals and interests in different ways.Joe leaves five living children, Juliet Wheeler and Rachel Wheeler of Concord, MA, Deborah (Wheeler) Burk of Annadale, VA, Caleb Henry Wheeler of St. Louis, MO, and Margaret Jeanne Kane of Walnut Creek, CA. Juliet’s husband Kenneth Turkington and Rachel’s husband John Myers have been great supports to him. He will be missed by his five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his four brothers, both wives, son Daniel Lincoln Wheeler and step-daughter, Marilee Kane.For more, see a film by Susan Rieder https://susanrieder.com/joe-wheeler or Joe’s memoirs https://adst.org/OH%20TOCs/Wheeler-Joseph-C.memoir.pdf . Two oral histories are at the Concord Free Public Library, and one at the Library of Congress: 1995 https://concordlibrary.org/special-collections/oral-history/Wheeler_J 2008 https://concordlibrary.org/special-collections/oral-history/Wheeler_J_2008Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life service on Saturday, June 1st at 10 am in First Parish, 20 Lexington Road, Concord Center.

Obituary Preview: Richard Smart Culver, age 86, a resident of Newbury Court in Concord, MA, formerly of Binghamton, NY, passed away on February 5, 2024. He was the beloved husband for 61 years of Margaret Harriet “Smuggles” Culver.He was born in Berkeley, CA on July 26, 1937, as the son of the late, Joseph Simpson Culver and Ella Elizabeth (Smart) Culver. Dick spent his first five years living in California, after which his family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee where his father was one of the first engineers to work at the Oak Ridge National Labs. Dick was a member of the first graduating class from the newly founded Oak Ridge High School. He worked in the Oak Ridge Labs while obtaining an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Vanderbilt University where he was class valedictorian for the School of Engineering. Subsequently, he earned a master’s in Engineering Mechanics from Stanford University in 1960, and his PhD in Mechanics of Materials from Cambridge University in Cambridge, England in 1964.A Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Professional Engineer, Dick led a distinguished multi-national career in research and education, including roles as a Professor at Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria and University of Calgary, Canada. At the Colorado School of Mines, Dick served several years on the Engineering faculty and as Dean of Students. Dick’s longest professional stay was at Binghamton University, in the Thomas Watson School of Engineering where he was the inaugural Associate Dean of Academic Affairs. He spearheaded the establishment of the Watson School’s nationally renowned lower division program from 1994 to 2000 and retired as Professor Emeritus in 2007. A passionate pioneer in engineering education, Dick understood the imperative of nurturing the holistic growth of students within the engineering curricula. To read more about his career and professional legacy, please click here.While a resident of Binghamton, New York, Dick was a dedicated community volunteer and an active member of the Tabernacle United Methodist Church. He also enjoyed singing with the Binghamton Downtown Singers for over thirty years.In the 1950s, Dick’s family built a cabin on Watts Bar Lake in Rockwood, Tennessee where Dick and his brothers were avid trick water skiers. In later years, Dick and Smuggles enjoyed gathering “at the lake” with extended family for annual summer vacations, and where Dick continued stunt skiing into his seventies.Dick was a lifelong skilled craftsman and artist who enjoyed drawing, woodworking, and stained glass. As a child, he built balsa wood and tissue paper model airplanes with which he won many flight competitions including holding a national record for indoor hand-launched gliders. He designed and built many things from furniture pieces to the family home in Golden, Colorado. In later years, he developed an extensive portfolio of original stained glass designs. Several of his pieces have been shown in galleries and are installed in homes and buildings in Binghamton. One of his later pieces hangs in the North Lobby at Newbury Court.Dick and Smuggles built lifelong communities of close friends who shared international travel, cycling, skiing and celebrations for decades, including a group from Cambridge University who call themselves the Blackbirds.Dick was a loving, kind, unassuming, and tirelessly helpful husband, father, and friend. He will also be remembered as a creative problem solver and master of the home project.In addition to his wife, he is survived by four children, Joseph Culver and his wife Mary of St. Louis, MO, Robert Culver of Durango, CO, Thomas Culver and his wife Polly of Amherst, NH and Kande McDonald and her husband Michael of Concord, MA, along with seven grandchildren, Easton, Owen, Audrey, Hannah, Marlena, Eliot and Naomi, and three brothers, Ed Culver of Maryville, TN, David Culver and his wife Ginny of Columbus, OH and Gene Culver of Maryville, TN. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.Relatives and friends will gather for a celebration of Dick’s life in the Duvall Chapel at Newbury Court, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord, MA on Sunday, May 26 at 2 p.m.

Obituary Preview: Dr. Thomas A. Caldwell, DMD, age 85, of Hingham, formerly of Lexington and Concord, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, February 4, 2024. He was the devoted husband for 54 years of Sharon (Malloy) Caldwell.Tom was born in Concord, MA on October 30, 1938 as the son of the late Malcolm and Bertha (Lorimer) Caldwell. After graduating from Concord High School with the class of 1957, Tom attended the University of Massachusetts and then graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in 1965. He served an Internship in Oral Surgery at Yale-New Haven General Hospital in New Haven, CT followed by a Residency at Philadelphia General Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. He received his Board Certification from the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery in 1972.A retired Lieutenant Colonel, Tom was Chief of Oral Surgery at the U.S. Army Hospital in Heidelberg, W. Germany from 1969 until 1972. While in the reserves, he was assigned to the 351st General Hospital at Hanscom AFB for over twenty years. In 1991, he served on active duty while stationed at Fort Hood in Killeen, Texas.Tom was a founding partner of Cail-Caldwell Associates, a private oral surgery practice in Concord and Lexington until his retirement in 2005. During his professional life, he was affiliated with Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Manchester, NH.He was a member of the American Dental Association, American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, and the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States. Tom selflessly volunteered on several trips with the 1000 Smiles Project, an organization that provides free dental care to thousands of people in Jamaica and St. Lucia.Tom will be lovingly remembered as a true New Englander who was hard-working, practical, and down-to-earth. He had a great sense of humor. His warm, welcoming demeanor never wavered, and he always loved a good joke.A family man, his proudest accomplishment was fulfilling his roles as dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. Tom and Sharon loved to travel and did so extensively within the US and abroad. They collected dear friends wherever they spent time. Tom was involved with many of his kids’ activities; he coached various sports teams, was a Boy Scout leader, and attended innumerable sporting events and theatrical performances. Affectionately known as “Gaga” to his beloved grandchildren, Tom took great pride in their activities and never passed up an opportunity to watch another generation of school and sporting events. He taught several grandchildren to ski and he enthusiastically took them on hiking and camping trips. A camp director at heart, he was always coming up with a new game, competition, or adventure to share with them.Never one to sit still, Tom had many hobbies over the years including hiking, skiing, camping, running road races, photography, woodworking, and beekeeping. In addition, he obtained a private pilot license and learned how to sail. There was nothing beyond his reach and he was always looking for the next experience.Above all else, Tom was happiest spending time with family and friends at the lake house in Meredith, NH. It was here that he cultivated family values and traditions that will remain in place by those he loved.In addition to his wife, he will be forever missed by his three children, Dr. Gregory Caldwell and his wife Lynne of Winchester, Kristine O’Keeffe and her husband Colin of Duxbury and Andrea Beaulieu and her husband Marc of Hingham, his grandchildren, Claire, Sean, Andrew and Brendan Caldwell, Caroline, Lizzie and Norah O’Keeffe, and Griffin and Kate Beaulieu, as well as several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sister Jean, and brothers Malcolm, Bruce, Douglas and Richard.Family and friends are invited to gather for visiting hours on Thursday, February 15th from 4 to 7 pm at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center. His funeral service will be held on Friday, February 16th at 11 am in Trinitarian Congregational Church, 54 Walden Street, Concord Center. Private burial will be at Oakland Cemetery in Meredith, NH.Concord’s Town Flag will fly at half-staff on Friday, February 16, 2024 in honor of Tom’s service in the United States Army.

Obituary Preview: John E. “Jack” Innella, age 87, of Bolton, formerly of Carlisle, entered eternal rest in the Kingdom of Heaven on February 1, 2024. He passed holding the hand of his oldest grandchild, Lilly, while listening to the songs of Frank Sinatra. His final days were spent surrounded by his loved ones. Jack has been reunited with his loving wife, the late Cecilia (Dubon) Innella, who died in 2022.Born on December 4, 1936, Jack grew up in Queens, New York as the son of the late Edward and Theresa (Ramberg) Innella. A true Patriot, he enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 displaying his bravery as a Para trooper and achieved marksman status and the rank of Sergeant at the time of his honorable discharge. Jack retired as Vice President of Sales for Pitney Bowes. He worked tirelessly during a long and successful career, but made time to prioritize his family and took great pride in their abundant achievements.Always ready for a new adventure, Jack was an outdoors enthusiast who loved sailing, canoeing, camping, fishing, hiking and cross-country skiing. He was one who enjoyed travel and often exploring off the beaten path. He was fascinated by history, and could recite excerpts of Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” by heart. Known to many as “Carlisle Jack”, he treasured spending time in both Concord and Carlisle, and worked on the local Trail Committee. He was a lifelong dog lover. Jack also took pride in watching his children and grandchildren play sports, shine on stage with dance, playing music and admiring their artwork. During his younger years, he played football, lacrosse and tennis. His admiration for music never wavered, whether it was attending various musicals, listening to his granddaughter Lilly play violin, or the sounds of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darrin. Some of his happiest memories were made with his family on Craigville beach, Cape Cod, where he could be found exploring, crabbing, swimming and enjoying a local lobster. His great story telling, sharp wit and sense of humor will be sorely missed by everyone that had the great pleasure of knowing him.Jack was the dedicated father of John Troy Innella and his wife Vicky of Plaistow, NH, Tracey Innella of Acton, John Todd Innella and Annette Aird of Northwood, ND, Tara Livolsi and her husband Paul of Maynard and John Ted Innella and his wife Gabriella of Acton. He was the proud grandfather of Lilly Innella, Celia, Joseph and Jennifer Livolsi, Lucy Pinto and Clara Innella.Family and friends will gather for visiting hours in the Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Thursday, February 8th from 4 to 7 pm. Jack’s funeral will be on Friday, February 9th at 9 am from Dee Funeral Home, followed by his Funeral Mass at 10 am in St. Irene Parish, 181 East Street, Carlisle. Burial will follow with United States Marine Corps military honors at Green Cemetery in Carlisle.

Obituary Preview: Christine Healey, of Concord, Massachusetts, died at home on January 31st, 2024 at the age of 74. One of eight children of Priscilla and Paul Healey, Christine was born on December 14th, 1949 and grew up in Canton, Massachusetts.She graduated from Goddard College, and later earned her Master’s degree in Special Education from the University of New Orleans. Her course of study helped her to develop her innate interest and natural ability to take care of others; most especially children and young adults with special needs.Following her marriage to Charles “Chip” Poutasse in 1978, she focused on family. She and Chip welcomed three sons. When Duncan, her youngest, enrolled in kindergarten, Christine went back to school as well. She served as a classroom aide, and later as a special education teacher at Alcott School in Concord. Her work highlighted her unique way of making sure all children felt seen, appreciated, challenged, and loved. When she switched careers and became a nurse later in life, she found yet another outlet for her intelligence, diligence, selflessness, and care.She and Chip lived in the house at Brigham Farm where Chip had grown up. Christine was known for hosting legendary Pumpkin Picking Parties, where dozens of friends and family members would gather together to help Chip pick, move, sort, and store that year’s crop of pumpkins. Christine also loved to swim, and she played badminton for many years at the Maugus Club, in Wellesley. She was an avid reader and a devoted crossword enthusiast. Later in her life, Christine took up the viola. She was a very loving person who opened her home to everyone.Christine is survived by her husband of 46 years Charles Poutasse; her sons Samuel Poutasse and his wife Katharine Covino of Harvard, MA, Jesse Poutasse and his wife Meggie Winchell of Northfield, MA, and Duncan Wellan and his wife Kristin Wellan of Maynard, MA; her sisters Johanna Healey of Sharon, MA, Jill Healey and her husband Jim Stark of Tigard OR, Paula Healey and her husband Brian Milburn of Clinton, MA, Rebecca Healey and her husband Alex Mak of Canton, MA, and her brother John Healey and his wife Katie Healey of Canton, MA. She is predeceased by her brother Vincent Healey and leaves her sister-in-law Carole Healey of Plympton, MA and is predeceased by her sister Patricia Healey and leaves her brother-in-law Timothy Trask of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. She also leaves her beloved grandchildren Russell Poutasse, Gwyneth Poutasse, Flora Poutasse, Saylor Winchell, Ember Winchell, Leah Wellan, and Heather Wellan and as well as many nephews and nieces.Family and friends are invited to celebrate Christine’s life during visiting hours on February 9th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, Center. Her memorial service will be held at the First Parish, 20 Lexington Road, Concord Center on Saturday, February 10th at 10:00 am.

Obituary Preview: Beulah E. Pelletier, 96, of Westford, MA, died at Lowell General Hospital on January 30, 2024.She was born in Quincy, MA on May 1, 1927 as the daughter of the late Paul and Beulah (Scanlan) Elder.She was the loving mother of Janeen Pelletier and Bonni-jean Asbjornson and her late husband Ronald.  She is also survived by her grandson, Eric Asbjornson, and was preceded in death by her other grandson, Paul Asbjornson.Burial at Maine Veterans' Memorial Cemetery will be private.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Obituary Preview: Robert A. Flynn, 94, of Chelmsford, MA, formerly of Concord, MA, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 29th, 2024.Bob was born in Concord, MA on September 17, 1929. He grew up in Concord and graduated from Concord High School. After high school, he proudly served stateside in the US Army, 82nd airborne division during the Korean War. Upon his return from active duty, Bob worked for his father’s construction company and continued to be a carpenter in the Town of Concord until his retirement.He is survived by his three children, Kathy Merry of Westford, Richard Flynn of The Netherlands, and Mary Ellen Walek and her husband Joseph of Chelmsford. He also leaves behind six grandchildren Jacqueline Stout and her husband Jeremy, David Merry and his wife Madison, Emily Flynn, Sean Flynn, Robert Walek, Daniel Walek, his great granddaughter Hannah Merry, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 66 years, Jacqueline, parents Richard and Margaret, his twin Richard (Dude), his brothers John (Jumbo) and William (Billy), his sister Margaret (Peggy), daughter in law Lucie Flynn, and son in law David Merry.Bob was an easy going, kind man who always made time for his family and friends. He enjoyed a round of golf, a cup of coffee and a good laugh.Bob will be laid to rest during a private burial service with military honors at St. Bernard’s Cemetery, Concord.

Obituary Preview: Robert Charles Rush, Sr., 90, of Concord, died peacefully at Emerson Hospital amidst the presence of his loving family on January 29, 2024, following a brief illness. He was the beloved husband for 69 years of Isabelle (Gagnon) Rush.Born on November 11, 1933, he was the son of the late Joseph and Sophronia (Kelly) Rush. Growing up in a rural area of northern Maine, Bob was the youngest of 8 siblings. He had a happy childhood that included potato farming, fishing, hunting and assisting at his father’s general store. He earned a B.S. in Biology from St. Bonaventure University in New York.Just out of college, Bob worked in pharmaceutical sales, which was followed by serving as Vice President of Sales for a lab equipment manufacturing company. His professional career culminated with the founding of Rush Enterprises, a scientific equipment manufacturing company he operated for nearly twenty years.Bob was a parishioner at Our Lady Help of Christians, and later St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish in Concord. He was also a lifelong golfer. Bob took immense pride in his grandchildren, which included annual family trips. He looked forward to attending Rush family reunions every five years in Maine. In November 2023, Bob marked his 90th birthday with a wonderful celebration, where great stories were told and many laughs were shared. He treasured being with those he loved.In addition to his wife, he leaves behind two daughters, Ginger Bailey and her husband Michael and Diane Day and her husband Nathan, his grandchildren, Kristin Rush and her partner Tom Cross, Kimberly Kelley and her husband Michael, Ryan Day and his wife Danielle, Heather and Alyson Bailey, as well as two great-grandsons, Noah and Caleb Kelley. He was predeceased by his son, Robert C. Rush, Jr. and seven siblings.Family and friends are invited to Bob’s Funeral Mass on Monday, February 5th at 10 am in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord Center.  To attend the Mass remotely via church live stream, please click here.  Burial will follow at St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Concord.

Obituary Preview: Robert L. “Bob” McHugh, age 91, a longtime resident of Maynard, passed away peacefully at his home while surrounded by family on January 28, 2024.He was born on April 2, 1932 to the late Francis C. and Alice C. (McNamara) McHugh in Concord. Bob was the sixth of twelve children, all of whom preceded him in death. In addition to his parents and siblings, Bob was predeceased by sons, Robert L. Jr., Dennis U., and Keith P., and grandchildren, Jessica P. McHugh and Bryan R. Madden.  Bob is survived by children, Lauri P. (Gaetz) McHugh, Darren P. McHugh, Wendy M. Bandzul and her husband John, John F.K. McHugh, Liberty E. Pilsch and her husband Michael, and nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.Bob worked alongside his siblings and extended family at the three generation McHugh family farm on Lexington Road in Concord as a child.  A graduate of Concord High School, Bob enlisted in the United States Army in 1952.  Bob often expressed gratitude for the experiences provided during his military service, citing these were among the most formative of his life.  Especially proud of his service to his country, Bob was rarely seen without his Korean War veteran cap and continued to support our service men and women throughout his life.After returning from Korea, and beginning his family in Stow, Bob began work for Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) of Maynard as a Tractor Trailer Driver.  Recognition of his technical expertise in driving within DEC and national truck driving rodeos led to Bob being recruited as a stunt truck driver for a Hollywood film in the early 1980s.Upon retirement from DEC, Bob spent nearly two decades as a popular school safety monitor at Acton-Boxborough Regional High School. He was recognized by the students as both a friendly and no nonsense kind of gentleman.  Bob retired from Acton-Boxborough schools at age 80.   His retirement was spent enjoying community concerts, particularly Irish, big band, and patriotic music, good conversation, long drives, crossword puzzles, an occasional horse race, and, of course, the smiles and adoration of his grandchildren and great grandchildren.Family and friends will gather for visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Friday, February 2nd from 5 to 8 pm.  Bob's funeral will be held on Saturday, February 3rd at 10:30 am from the Dee Funeral Home, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11:30 am in St. Bernard's Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord Center.  Burial will follow with United States Army military honors at Brookside Cemetery, Stow.  Services will conclude with a reception at the Maynard Elks Lodge.Concord's Town Flag will fly at half-staff on Saturday, February 3, 2024 in recognition of Bob's dedicated service to our country during the Korean War.Maynard bids farewell to a beloved member of its community. Rest in peace, Robert McHugh. Your legacy will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved you.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Obituary Preview: John J. Moriarty, 87, of Concord, MA, passed away peacefully on January 26th, 2024, with his family by his side.Born in Boston in 1936, John was the loving son of the late John J. Moriarty and Margaret T. (Driscoll) Moriarty. Raised in Allston and Brighton with a great love for music, family, and his Irish roots, John also loved spending time in the country at the family farm in Sherborn, MA. In 1962, John married the love of his life, Kathleen (Tierney) of Schenectady, NY. They raised their four children in Burlington and West Concord, MA, where they have lived since 1973.John was an incredible family man and loved nothing more than a great family gathering and a good laugh. Generous, thoughtful, kind-hearted, and quick-witted, John possessed an intellectual curiosity that carried him through a lifetime of adventure and change. John led an active life, enjoying sailing, skiing, traveling Europe with his wife Kathleen, and spending many good times with family and friends at their cottage on Sebago Lake, Maine.A proud “Double Eagle,” John attended both BC High and Boston College as an academic scholarship student. He earned an MS in Physics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, working summers at the Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico. John led a distinguished career as a physicist, and later in patents and management, for over forty years at Raytheon until his retirement in 2005.John was a devout Catholic, serving in Our Lady’s and Holy Family parishes as a lector and choir member for many years. Always concerned with the welfare of others, John was active in the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and a reliable supporter of many charitable organizations.John is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Kathleen M. Moriarty of Concord, his son Michael (Wendy) of Marshfield, MA, his daughters Mary Ellen Henry (Ed) of East Dover, VT, Eileen Silva (Bob) of Byfield, MA, and Susan Mahoney (Doug) of Westmoreland, NH. He also leaves behind his 8 cherished grandchildren, Patrick and Kevin Moriarty, Jack and Carolyn Silva, and Liam, Maeve, Neala and Emmett Mahoney.Family and friends will gather for visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center, on Thursday, February 1st from 4 - 7pm. John’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord Center, on Friday, February 2nd at 10 am, followed by burial services at St. Bernard’s Cemetery.  To access the Mass live stream, please click here.  A reception will follow.

Obituary Preview: Jeffry Royle Gibson, 81, of Wayland, formerly of Sudbury, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2024. He was born in Atlanta, GA on November 13, 1942 to Royal and Olive (Givens) Gibson and grew up in York, PA.After graduating from William Penn High School, Jef started at MIT at age 16 where he met his wife Roberta Richards, and then went on to earn a B.A. from Northeastern and an M.A. and PhD in Sociology from Cornell University. He taught Sociology at Tufts University and worked for many years in Public Relations and Corporate Communications for Digital Equipment Corporation before finishing his career as a speechwriter.Jeffry was a husband, father, brother, son, teacher, writer, and friend and mentor to many. He was a voracious reader, faithful letter writer, lifelong chess player, mountain climber, ESL tutor, and loyal Red Sox fan. His family will miss his curiosity, intellect, generosity, tolerance, gentleness, sense of humor, and utter devotion to his family.Jeffry was predeceased by his wife Roberta in 2005. He leaves behind his beloved daughters Jill (Vincent) of Concord, MA and Jaralyn (Joseph) of Wellington, FL, his adored grandchildren Nicolo, Fiona and William, his brothers Bruce of Pensacola, FL, Thom of Gainesville, FL, and Kirk of Lake Oswego, OR, and his lifelong best friend Jack Giambalvo of York, PA.

Obituary Preview: Mary Tappe Barbaro (née Michel) of Concord, MA passed away peacefully on January 24, 2024 at Emerson Hospital after a brief illness. She was 96 years old.Mary was born on October 12, 1927 in Freeport, Illinois to Mildred and Clement Michel. She graduated from Aquin High School and went on to attend university at Clarke College in Dubuque, IA. She graduated cum laude from Clarke in 1948 and married her high school sweetheart, Richard (Dick) Tappe, in 1949. They soon decided to move to Stevens Point, WI to put down their roots.In 1957, she and Dick adopted their son, Jimmy Tappe, followed by Mary Jane Tappe Hayes in 1960. In an era when most married women with children were exclusively homemakers, Mary decided to pursue her education while her children were young; she went back to school in the late 1960’s to earn a Masters of Library Science from the University of Wisconsin.After many happy years in Wisconsin, Mary’s husband, Dick received an offer from Sentry Insurance to transfer to their office in Concord, MA. So, in 1974, she and her family relocated to New England. Once in Concord, a place Mary once called her “forever home,” she busied herself working at the quilt shop downtown, where she could share her expertise and love of quilting with customers.After Mary’s husband, Dick, passed away in 1980, she went to work for Sentry Insurance in their legal department, where she worked until her retirement in 1995.In 1991, after she lost her beloved son Jimmy to the AIDS crisis, Mary channeled her love and loss into the AIDS Quilt, a global effort to commemorate and honor those who lost their lives to the epidemic. The quilt panel she lovingly made in Jimmy’s honor is a part of the full AIDS Quilt now housed in San Francisco, stewarded by the National AIDS Memorial.Mary shared her passion and talent for quilting with her extended family as well. Every time a new baby was born, she would create a beautiful baby quilt, many of which are treasured to this day by her daughter, grand-daughter, nieces, nephews, their children, and their children’s children. Mary was also an expert knitter, knitting countless wool socks, hats, mittens, and scarves as gifts for her loved ones.Mary was a talented pianist who loved sharing her music with others. For many years, she could be found most Sundays playing the organ during mass at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church.Not content to spend all of her time in Concord, Mary was a lifelong traveler, taking trips to Italy, Paris, Spain, and other far flung places. When she wasn’t traveling, quilting or knitting, she spent countless hours devouring books she checked out at the Concord Public Library and enjoying the company of her friends at the Concord Council on Aging’s Lunch Club.Mary was a devout Catholic, and a compassionate, empathetic person who believed in family, community, kindness, and a good crossword puzzle.She is survived by her daughter, Mary Jane Hayes (née Tappe), granddaughter Stephanie Hayes Wyman (Steve) and great-grandchildren Bruce and Valerie, grandsons Brian Hayes (Christine) and Jimmy Hayes, brothers William Michel and Jeron Michel, as well as fourteen nieces and nephews, countless grand- and great-grand-nieces and nephews, and a circle of friends and caregivers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mildred and Clement, her younger sister Jane Smith Melnick (née Michel), her nephew Jeffrey Michel, her husband Richard Tappe, her son Jimmy Tappe, and her second husband Jim Barbaro.Visiting hours will be held in Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord, MA on Tuesday, January 30th from 5 – 7 pm, concluding with a prayer service at 7 pm. Mary’s ashes will be interred at her family plot in Freeport, IL in the coming months.

Obituary Preview: Marie T. Dempsey, 90, of Sudbury and Hyannis Port, MA, passed on January 21st, 2024, peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family.Marie was a graduate of Notre Dame Academy and continued to Emmanuel College where she earned a degree in education. She loved playing tennis, golfing with her 9-holer group, playing bridge, and constantly entertaining her family and friends. If she wasn’t boating on the water, she could be found enjoying the beautiful views of the ocean from her Hyannis Port porch. Her flare for interior design led her to a career in real estate without ever missing a sporting event of one of her kids or grandkids. Of all, her greatest passion in life was being with her family.She was the loving daughter of the late Charles and Marie Deignan. She was the wife of the late John Dempsey, Jr. and the beloved partner of Robert Rhodes of Sudbury. She was the dear sister of Rita Lyons of Norwood, MA and the late Eleanor Levesque. She leaves behind her 5 adoring children, Jack of Huntington, NY, Kathy Cunningham of Lincoln, MA, Diane Leavitt of Los Angeles, CA, Greg of Needham, MA, and Nancy Foster of Westborough, MA. She also leaves behind her 14 loving grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and nieces and nephews whom she thought of as extensions of her immediate family.Marie was patient, compassionate and kind. She had a great sense of humor and an even bigger heart. She always found the best in everyone she talked to, and her legacy will be carried on forever. She will be greatly missed.Relatives and friends will gather for visiting hours at Dee Funeral Home, 27 Bedford Street, Concord Center on Thursday, January 25th from 5 – 8 pm. Marie’s Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Bernard’s Church at Holy Family Parish, 12 Monument Square, Concord Center on Friday, January 26th at 10 am with a luncheon to follow. Burial will be private at a later date.Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.

Obituary Preview: Marjorie Spencer (Worby) Stetson, 99, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Saturday, January 20, 2024. She was born on May 11, 1924 in Montreal as the eldest daughter to the late George and Lillian (Hampton) Worby.At the age of 18, at the height of WWII, Marjorie signed up to be a member of the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant. Stationed in Victoria, B.C. she used a radio signal receiver and special typewriter, transcribing secret code. She was very proud of her work and dedication during the war.Following her service, Marjorie attended Graham’s Business College in Montreal. She was then employed at Trans-Canada Airlines. During this time, she traveled to Vermont to participate in a veteran’s dance celebrating the end of WWII, meeting her future husband, Arthur Bartlett Stetson, a United States Navy Veteran. They enjoyed 63 years of marriage.They were married on June 20th, 1949, and settled in Concord where they made a home for 65 years raising their three sons. Marjorie was a Cub Scout den mother and taught Sunday school at her beloved Trinity church. She also worked for the Town of Concord as a secretary. She was an active member Concord Council of Aging gift shop, past President of the Concord United Women’s Club, and member of the Concord Rod & Gun Club. In her leisure, she enjoyed making miniatures, gardening, and family genealogy. She was the leader of the Senior Shakers tambourine group, playing throughout New England. The highlight of the group was when they flew to California to perform for the Jay Leno Tonight Show.Marjorie is predeceased by her devoted husband, Arthur, her parents George and Lillian Worby, and her sister, Elizabeth (Worby) Lambert. She is survived by three sons, Brian (Teresa) of Henderson, NV, Bruce (Donna) of Methuen, MA, and Bradley (Cheryl) of West Concord, MA; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Obituary Preview: Ralph P. Damico Jr., 80, a lifelong Lincoln resident, died peacefully at his Lincoln home on January 20th, 2024. Born in Cambridge, MA on October 24, 1943, he was the beloved son of Ralph P. Damico Sr. and Elvira (Perry) Damico, both late of Lincoln.A graduate of Lincoln-Sudbury Regional HS, Ralph went into business with his father in excavation and construction. He met his wife Edwina at a party in Boston through a mutual friend, and they were married in 1970. In recent years, Ralph enjoyed watching the Patriots, movies, and keeping up with the news. He spent his younger years working outdoors, and loved being outside and running heavy machinery. We will always remember him driving his beloved green 1956 Mack dump truck to and from excavation jobs in Lincoln and beyond, and in the winter, plowing snow and cutting and splitting huge mountains of firewood. Ralph’s favorite place to be was home with his loved ones, although he took a few epic trips in his life: he took several trips to Florida, and trips out West with his wife to see their daughter by way of Las Vegas and Bryce Canyon. He was a fan of 1950s-1970s rock and roll music and classic cars from the same era. He had a big heart for animals; he had many loyal dogs throughout his life. Above all other things, Ralph loved his family, and was a dearly beloved husband, father and grandfather in return.He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Edwina, of Lincoln, his daughter Christine and son-in-law Jim of Kirkland WA, his son Mark of Lincoln, and four loving grandchildren, Abigail, Jessica, Zack and Zoe. He will be deeply missed.Services will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to Buddy Dog Humane Society, P.O. Box 296Sudbury, MA 01776 (www.buddydoghs.org).Arrangements are entrusted to Dee Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Concord.