Hertta E. Peura
HOLDEN - Hertta E. (Makela) Peura, 91, of Salibury Street, died Sunday, March 12, 2006 in UMass Memorial Healthcare from an illness.
She leaves her husband of 65 years, Sulo H. Peura; a son, Robert A. Peura of Princeton; a brother, Olavi Makela of Florida; a sister, Eva Koski of Gardner; four grandchildren; three great - grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces. She was predeceased by four sisters, a brother and a grandson.
Mrs. Peura was born in Finland, the daughter of Thomas and Matilda (Nikula) Makela, and lived in Gardner and Worcester for many years. She resided in Holden for her last 42 years. She graduated from Gardner High School and attended Becker Junior College. She worked at Paul Revere in Worcester for many years and previously worked at Denholms. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester.
Funeral services were private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 73 Lancaster St., Worcester, MA 01609. Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, directed arrangements.
David J. Smith
STERLING - David J. Smith, 66, of Sterling, died Saturday March 4, 2006 at the Hospice Residence on Coes Pond in Worcester, after a lengthy illness. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Priscilla (Winiewicz) Smith; three sons, David Smith Jr. of Lancaster, Peter Smith and Joseph Smith, both of Sterling; a daughter, Elizabeth Abare of Lancaster; two brothers, Richard Smith and Paul Smith, both of Wakefield; two sisters, Ruth Morrissey of Lynn and Phyllis Cabral of Wakefield; and two grandchildren, Sarah Abare and Maxwell Abare of Lancaster; and several nieces and nephews.
He was born in Somerville, the son of the late William E. and Margaret (McCarthy) Smith. He was a graduate of the Rindge Vocational High School in Cambridge and attended Northeastern University. Mr. Smith began his career with CR Bard, Inc. as a design engineer until establishing his own business in 1984. For the past 22 years, he and his family owned and operated the Nashoba Packaging Company in Clinton. He was a member of the Clinton Elks Lodge, Concord Rod and Gun Club, and past assistant scout master to Boy Scout Troop 30 in Billerica.
Funeral services are private, under the direction of Philbin - Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton. Memorial contributions may be made to the Hospice Residence on Coes Pond, 10 Judith Rd., Worcester, MA 01602.
Alfred J. Vassar
HOLDEN - Alfred J. Vassar, 92, died Monday, March 6, 2006, in Holden Nursing Home.
His wife, Irene (Raymond) Vassar, died in 1984. He leaves his daughter, Norma Hultman of Jefferson; several grandchildren and great - grandchildren. A son, Robert Vassar, died in 1994. He was born in Worcester, the son of Frank and Eva (Lamoureux) Vassar.
A private funeral service was held in the Holden Nursing Home. Memorial donations may be made to the activities fund at the Holden Nursing Home, 32 Mayo Dr., Holden, MA 01520. Miles Funeral Home,, 1158 Main St., Holden, directed arrangements.
Rose Rustigian Baljian
PAXTON - Rose Rustigian Baljian, 85, of Worcester, formerly of Paxton, died Thursday, March 9, 2006, five days before her 86th birthday, at the Odd Fellows Home in Worcester after a long illness.
She was married for 57 years to the late Vahe V. Baljian, who died in 1999. Born in Hartford, Conn., she was the daughter of Kevork and Aghavni Rustigian She graduated from Bulkeley High School in 1937 and worked at The Travelers Insurance Co. until her marriage. She moved to Worcester in 1947 and retired from Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. in 1982 after 23 years. She was a member of the Holy Trinity Armenian Apostolic Church and its Ladies' Guild. She was an expert Armenian cook and her happiest times were gatherings of family and friends around her table. She learned to play the piano on her own and could play anything after hearing it just once. She sang in various Armenian choruses, enjoyed crossword puzzles and was an expert Scrabble player.
She is survived by a daughter, Barbara Baljian of Worcester; a son, the Rev. Fr. Antranig Baljian of Waltham; a granddaughter, Nayiri Bell of Waltham; a grandson, Deacon Nishan of Waltham; and a brother, Robert Rustigian of Honolulu, Hawaii; many nephews and nieces, George Rustigian and Roy Zartarian of Newington, Conn., Dr. Arsine Oshagan of Radnor, Pa., Jackie Rustigian of Alexandria, Va., Anne Zartarian of New York City, Charlene Zartarian of Larchmont, N.Y.; Lois, Robert, Pamela and Ronald Rustigian of Conn.; Marianne Pajak of Az. and Craig Rustigian of Or.; grandnephews and nieces; and cousins. She was predeceased by two brothers, Jacob Rustigian and John Rustigian; and two sisters, Margaret Zartarian and Alyce Rustigian.
Funeral services under the direction of Nordgren Memorial Chapel (NordgrenMemorialChapel. com) were held March 14 in Holy Trinity Armenian Church, 635 Grove St., Worcester. Burial was in Hope Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vahe and Rose Baljian Memorial Scholarship Fund of St. Stephen's Armenian Elementary School, 30 Elta Ave., Watertown, MA 02472.
Janet Carrick
HOLDEN - Janet (Alden) Carrick died March 10, 2006 at UMass Memorial Medical Center from complications of a severe aneurysm.
She leaves her husband of 57 years and closest friend, William R. Carrick of Holden; her daughter, Lisa C. Haupt of Fitzwilliam, N.H.; two grandchildren; five great - grandchildren; nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mrs. Carrick was born in Whitinsville to Edward S. Alden and Una E. Alden, and was
Mayflower direct descendant of John Alden. She attended schools in Northbridge, and graduated from Lincoln School in Providence, R.I. She received a bachelor of arts degree from Connecticut College.
She lived in Douglas, Philadelphia, Concord, N.H., Detroit, Boylston, Chicago, New York and London before moving to Holden in 1992.
She was a proficient rider, and exercised race horses at Oakhurst Farms in Whitinsville as a teenager. Later sports included tennis and golf. She was a licensed private pilot for over 40 years, and traveled extensively abroad.
She enjoyed playing duplicate bridge at the Cavendish Club and online with partners here and in Canada. She was recognized as a Life Master by the American Contract Bridge League. While living in Boylston, she managed a family business, Agency Automation, Inc., which provided computerized accounting services to insurance agencies. She later was comptroller at PortionPac Chemical Company in Chicago.
Volunteer activities included Girl Scout leader, helping coordinate activities for foreign students at the International Center in Worcester, and money management volunteer through the Age Center of Worcester.
A memorial service was held Tuesday at the First Congregational Church in Holden.
Memorial donations may be made to the Evergreen Cemetery Association and mailed to Barbara Gjeltema, 12 Grove St., Douglas, MA 01516. Caswell - King Funeral Home, 1147 Main St., Holden, directed arrangements.
Walter Karcheski Jr.
HOLDEN - Walter "Chip" Karcheski Jr., 55, of Louisville, Ky., formerly of Holden, died April 5, 2006 in Louisville.
Mr. Karcheski, a long - time resident of Holden, joined the Higgins Armory Museum staff in 1979 as an intern. Upon earning a B.A. and M.Ed. from Worcester State College, he was appointed as the curator of arms and armor in 1985, and senior curator of arms and armor in 2000.
He left the Higgins in 2001 to become the chief curator of arms and armor at the Frazier Historical Arms Museum in Louisville, where he was instrumental in forming a relationship with the Royal Armouries, Leeds. In 1985, Mr. Karcheski assisted the Royal Armouries Museum at the Tower of London, and the St. John's Gate Museum, Clerkenwell, with the cataloging of Rhodes armor, which spawned a book "The Medieval Armour From Rhodes." He also authored "Arms and Armor in The Art Institute of Chicago" and numerous articles and catalogues, lectured in the U.S. and abroad, served as consultant to several museums and was a member of a number of international arms societies.
He leaves his wife, Cynthia; and countless friends and colleagues from around the globe.
Florence M. Brothers
STERLING - Florence Mae (Neault) Brothers, 92, of 81 Clinton Road, formerly of Clinton, died Saturday, April 8, 2006, at Health Alliance Leominster Hospital after being stricken ill.
She was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Andrew C. Brothers, in 1990; her son, Andrew C. Brothers Jr., in 2005; three brothers, George Neault, William Neault and Joseph Neault; and two sisters, Lillian Sanderson and Victoria Gravel.
She is survived by her son, Raymond Brothers of Lake Havasu, Az.; a daughter, Carole Phelps of Sterling; a daughter - in - law, Virginia Brothers of Plainville; a sister, Louise Pasierb of Marlborough; a foster sister, Margaret DiLuzio of W. Boylston; eight grandchildren; 15 great - grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Brothers was born in Lancaster to George H. and Lena (Bashaw) Neault, and attended local schools. She was a longtime Clinton resident until moving to Sterling in 2003. She was a lab tester in quality control for over 30 years at the former ITT Suprenant Company in Clinton. She was a founding member of Our Lady of Jasna Gora Church in Clinton, where she was a former officer of the Catholic Women's League. She was an avid ballroom dancer, enjoyed crossword puzzles and treasured time with her family.
Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 12, from the Philbin - Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton, with a Mass in Our Lady of Jasna Gora Catholic Church, Clinton. Burial was in Hillside Cemetery, Sterling. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's School, 128 Franklin St., Clinton, MA 01510.
Sonya L. Campbell
PAXTON - Sonya Lee Campbell, 28, of 6378 Whippoorwill St., Ventura, Calif., formerly of Worcester and Paxton, died suddenly April 2, 2006.
She is survived by her mother, Christina (Nugent) Oldenburg and her stepfather, Randy Oldenburg; her father, Mark Campbell and stepmother, Ann. Sonya; two half brothers, Luke and John Campbell; three half sisters, Hannah, Elisabeth and Gabrielle Campbell; two stepbrothers, Randy and Brandon Oldenburg; and a stepsister, Erin Rivett; her grandmothers, Mary Nugent and Virginia Casey; a great - grandmother, Anna DeFeudis; an aunt, Helen Matukevitch, and an uncle, Keith Nugent. She is also predeceased by her beloved "Papa."
Ms. Campbell attended schools in Paxton and Holden, graduating from Wachusett Regional High School. She attended Brooks Institute in Ventura, Calif., where she was completing her final year of study. She was an accomplished artist/photographer beginning to show in galleries, garnering interest in the art community.
The funeral was April 8, in Dirsa - Morin Funeral Home, 298 Grafton St., Worcester, MA. Burial was in St. John's Cemetery, Worcester.
Charles S. Capparelli Jr.
STERLING - Charles S. Capparelli Jr., 65, of 25 Hall Avenue, Sterling, died Saturday, April 8, 2006 in St. Vincent Hospital, Worcester, after an illness.
He leaves his wife of 14 years, Nancy (Bekier) Capparelli; two sons, Casey Capparelli of Newbury Park, Calif. and Andrew Capparelli of Sarasota, Fla.; a daughter, Gina Brosnihan of Port St. Lucie, Fla.; a stepson, Adam O'Malley of Sterling; a sister, C. Sue Rinaldo of Sherrill, N.Y.; four grandchildren; several nieces and nephews. He was born in Canastota, N.Y., the son of Charles S. and Mary R. (Sicilia) Capparelli.
Mr. Capparelli graduated from Canastota High School and the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, where he was a four - year varsity football player and elected to the Eastern College Athletic Conference "All - East" football team in 1961. He worked at the Millbury Jr. - Sr. High School for 37 years, where he taught history for 14 years and was assistant principal for 23 years, retiring in 2002. In 1994, he was named "Assistant Principal of the Year" by the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrator's Association. He was completing a term on the Wachusett Regional School District Committee, where he had also served previously. He was an avid fly fisherman who spent time fishing in California, Florida and Colorado.
The funeral was April 11, from the Miles - Sterling Funeral Home, 100 Worcester Road, with a Mass in St. Richard of Chichester Church, both in Sterling. Memorial donations may be made the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115.
