Obituaries

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...

Guy P. Richardson Athol – Guy Prescott Richardson, 82, of Lake Ellis Road, died Sunday, February 02, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family.      Guy was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, June 3, 1931, the son of Herbert E. and Kathryn (Sullivan) Richardson.  He grew up in North Grafton, graduating from North Grafton High School in 1949.  Following his graduation he...

Everett F. Glenn, Jr. Petersham – Everett Francis “Cy” Glenn Jr., 76, of South Street, died Thursday, March 12, 2015 at his home surrounded by his family.      Cy was born in Boston, MA, June 12, 1938, the son of Everett F. and Lillian (Hickey) Glenn, Sr. and was the oldest boy of 10 children.  He grew up in Acton where...

Marcia D. Hastings Orange – Marcia D. (Savoy) Hastings, 67, of 55 Spring Street, died Sunday, April 8, 2012 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare surrounded by her loving family.      Marcia was born in Athol, May 26, 1944, the daughter of Ishmael M. and Irene O. (Daigle) Savoy.  She grew up in Athol and attended Athol schools.  In 1976 she moved to...

Norman R. Rouisse, 81, of Petersham Road, died peacefully at home with his family on Monday, December 22, 2014.      Norman was born the youngest of four siblings in Fitchburg, MA, November 20, 1933, the son of Robert E. and Eva (Marcil) Rouisse.  He grew up in Fitchburg, graduating from Fitchburg High School in 1952, then married and had two children...

Richard H. Barnish Athol – Richard H. Barnish, 74, of School Street, died Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at his home.      Richard was born in Greenfield, Massachusetts, October 6, 1938, the son of Leo G. and Louise T. (Serrell) Barnish.  He grew up in Greenfield and Brattleboro where he attended schools and also had lived in many parts of the United...

Francis J. Posk Athol – Francis J. Posk, 80, of 72 J Street died Thursday morning, October 20, 2011 at his home. He was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, August 5, 1931, the son of Frank A. and Monica (Hendricks) Posk.  He grew up in Athol where he lived all of his life, graduating from Athol High School. Francis served in the...

Deborah S. Harris Whitinsville – Deborah Sue (Kimball) Harris, 59, died Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at Brigham & Women’s Hospital in Boston after an illness      She was born in Athol, Massachusetts, November 4, 1951, the daughter of Richard E. and Madeline E. (Worsley) Kimball, Sr.  She grew up in Athol, graduating from Athol High School in 1969 and has lived...

Jack G. Hoxie Athol – Jack G. Hoxie, 85, of Chestnut Street, died Friday, January 16, 2015 at the Athol Hospital.      He was born September 15, 1929 in New Haven, CT, the son of Joshua and Ruth (Ruwet) Hoxie.  Jack grew up in Baldwinville, graduating from Templeton High School in 1947.  He also attended Worcester Boy’s Trade School and graduated from...

Donald J. Poirier Athol – Donald J. Poirier, 87, formerly of 739 Daniel Shays Highway, died Friday, December 26, 2014 at his son’s home in Winchendon following a brief illness.      Don was born in Malden, MA, October 26, 1927, the son of Alfred M. and Justine (Bourque) Poirier.  He grew up in Leominster, graduating from Leominster High School and from...

Orange – Suzan J. (Blum) Phillips, 72, of 383 East River Street, died February 5, 2011 at her home.      Suzan was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, August 9, 1938, the daughter of James and Madeline (Stewart) Blum.  She grew up in Orange, attending Orange schools and Bement School in South Deerfield and has lived in the Athol-Orange area all of her...

Kathryn J. Grout Orange – Kathryn J. (Webster) Grout, 74, of 519 East River Street, died Monday, December 1, 2014 at the Athol Hospital.      Kathy was born in Wendell, MA, June 23, 1940, the daughter of George A. and Delphine (Fox) Webster and was from a family of 10 siblings.   She grew up in Wendell, graduating from Ralph C....

Alice R. Brockney Athol – Alice R. (Emmett) Brockney, 68, of 534 Pinedale Ave., died Wednesday, November 16, 2011 in the arms of her husband Jack at their home.      Alice was born in Montague, Massachusetts, May 31, 1943, the daughter of Arthur and Mildred (Newell) Emmett.  She grew up in Athol where she has lived most of her life, graduating...

Cathy C. Lewis Athol – Cathy C. Lewis, 53, of 121 Marble Street, died Monday, April 16, 2012 at her home after suddenly being stricken ill.      Cathy was born in Athol, October 25, 1958, the daughter of Ralph and June (Oliver) Lewis.  She grew up in Orange and Wendell where she also attended schools and has lived in many different...

Donald P. Shepardson New Salem – Donald Paul Shepardson, 64, of 16 Ellis Drive, died Monday, April 1, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loving family.      Don was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts, September 22, 1948, the son of Daniel E. and Esther H. (Wheeler) Shepardson.  He grew up and lived in Athol most of his life, graduating from Athol...

Robert J. Anthony Royalston – Robert J. “Grumpy” Anthony, 82, of Morse Road, died Thursday, February 19, 2015 at his home.      Bob was born February 17, 1933 in Boston, MA, the son of John L. and Caroline C. (Depalma) Anthony.  He grew up in East Boston and New Hampshire where he attended schools.  He also lived in California, Utah and Maine...