Anne M Richard

HUBBARDSTON- It was with great sadness that Anne M. (Henaghan) Richard, 94, of 127 Gardner Road, Hubbardston ascended heaven on her favorite holiday, Easter Sunday, April 4, at Heywood Memorial Hospital following a period of declining health, surrounded by her five children. Anne was most proud of her family and fully enjoyed the time spent with them on holidays, her annual Fourth of July family reunions, as well as Christmas open houses over the years. She particularly cherished the special “dates” she would take her grandchildren on when they were younger. The devotion to her family was evident in the hours spent compiling cherished scrapbooks chronicling the lives of each of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. A prolific writer, she enjoyed writing poetry and had her works featured in numerous publications. However, her greatest talents came writing scores of personal poems for family members and friends for special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries and milestones in their lives. She was born November 17, 1926 in Dorchester, Mass. the oldest of seven children born to Joseph J. and Alice M. (Masterson) Henaghan. She graduated from Mission Church High School in Boston in 1945 and from Emmanuel College in Boston in 1949 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Education. She taught at Hubbardston Center School for 26 years and while there coached several sports and also wrote the school’s alma mater, which is still sung at school assemblies there. She married her husband Louis A. Richard on May 8, 1954 and together they raised their family on Gardner Road in Hubbardston. Anne would always proudly tell the unlikely story of the school teacher from the city coming to the country, only to marry a pig farmer. Together they celebrated 55 years of married life until Louis’ death on June 13, 2009. Anne and Louis were among the first members of the Holy Spirit Church parish when it first opened in 1954. For more than 50 years, they devoted their time to many church activities as well as being members of Parish Council. She also served for many years as a church greeter. She was also a proud citizen of Hubbardston, serving on the town’s Bicentennial Committee of 1967. Anne outfitted her entire family, sewing period costumes to wear aboard the float created by Louis of the family pig farm. Anne would later serve on committees for the town’s 125 anniversary, as well. Following her retirement from teaching, Anne served in a number of local voluntary capacities, first as a volunteer teacher at the Elm Street School in Gardner. She later volunteered at the Gardner District Court, Heywood Memorial Hospital, the Gardner blood bank and the Organization for Abused Women and Children. Active in the Greater Gardner A.A.R.P., she was the first woman to serve in the capacity of president for a two-year term and also as secretary. She was a member of the Board of Directors, chairperson of the Scholarship Committee and wrote and directed the popular A.A.R.P. variety shows over the years. With the A.A.R.P. she received the Dedicated Service as President Award, was named one of the Outstanding Women of Gardner and also received the Outstanding Volunteer Award. She was predeceased by her parents, sister Joan Martin, brothers Joseph and Thomas Henaghan, three siblings who died in infancy, and her son-in-law Steven Molesky. Anne leaves her five children Michael and his wife Peggy of Sandwich, Kathy Molesky of Hubbardston with whom she lived for the past eight months, Rosemary and her husband William LeBeau of Auburn, Jeanne and her husband Joseph Martone of Barre, and Robert and his wife Patricia of West Brookfield. She also has eight grandchildren Robert Balsewice of Gardner, Casey Richard and his wife Melissa of Wall, N.J., Lindsey Richard and her significant other Blake Huggins of Medford, Chelsea Hueter and her husband Adam of Danvers, Sam LeBeau of New Orleans, Evan Molesky and his significant other Kacie Francis of Pueblo, CO and Alexander and Katherine Richard of West Brookfield. She also has four great-grandchildren, Theo and Grace Richard of New Jersey, and Calvin and Jack Hueter of Danvers. She is also survived by several sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. Anne also leaves hundreds of students who she helped to mold, nurture and inspire over her many years in the classroom. In October of 2020, a bench was dedicated in her honor at the Hubbardston Center School on the 70th anniversary of the start of her teaching career. A funeral mass will be held Saturday, May 22, 2021, 11:00am at Holy Spirit Church, 50 Lovewell Street, Gardner. Calling hours will be held Friday, May 21, 2021, 4:00-7:00pm at Mack Funeral Home, 105 Central Street, Gardner. Memorial contributions may be made in her memory to St. Jude. To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com Mack Funeral Home, 105 Central Street, Gardner is assisting with arrangements.