F. Wesley Padula

F. WESLEY PADULA ORANGE, MA- F. Wesley Padula, 76, of 865 North Main Street, died Monday, Nov. 4, 2002, in Athol Memorial Hospital, after being stricken ill earlier. He leaves his wife of 20 years, Ella "Rosie" (Frost) Padula; his first wife, Mary L. (Berube) Padula, died in 1995. Besides his wife , he leaves a son, Thomas Padula of Phillipston; three daughters, Kathryn Lord of Winchendon, Deborah Padula of Phillipston, and Pamela Ablaza of East Templeton; four step-sons, Lawrence Sylvester of Orange, Robert Sylvester of Gardner, David Sylvester of Orange, and Michael Sylvester of North Carolina; four step-daughters, Betty May of Winchendon, Cathy Steiner of Erving, Barbara Gerard of Florida, and Bonnie Benoit of Athol; a brother, Dervin LaGoy of Florida; 28 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. A son, Peter Padula, died in 1973. He was born in Lunenburg, March 16, 1926, a son of Ferdinand and Rachel Padula and was raised and attended schools in Lunenburg. He had lived many years in Phillipston before moving to Orange several years ago. He was a United States Navy veteran of World War II. Mr. Padula was a foreman for the Eastern Furniture Company in Athol for 18 years, retiring in 1988. Previously he was a truck driver for Seaman Paper Company in Otter River for many years. Following his retirement, he drove bus for the Swift River Bus Company until the spring of this year. He was skilled at woodworking, and raised rabbits and grew vegetables at the Look-n-Good Farm which he operated from his home. The funeral service, with military honors, will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home, 137 Main Street, Athol. Rev. James B. Callahan, associate pastor of Our Lady Immaculate Church will officiate. Burial will follow in Silver Lake Cemetery. Calling hours in the funeral home are Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Athol Veterans Park Memorial Program, 134 Chestnut Hill Ave., Athol, 01331. $(document).ready(function(){ });