Roy E. Hounsell
Revision Planner
PEMBROKE - Roy E. Hounsell of Pembroke, died on Thursday, March 11, 2004 at the Brockton Hospital at the age of 74.
He was the husband of Marion (Lowe) Hounsell of Pembroke; father of Terri Katon and her husband, Skip, of Arlington, Va., Donna Hounsell and her husband, Edward McGlynn, of Amherst, and Cindy Steffen and her husband, Bruce, of Bridgewater; brother of Janet Haley of Athol and Linda Skevington of Gaffner, S.C.; grandfather of Marjory and Matthew Katon and Tara and Joshua Steffen. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
He was born on Sept. 22, 1929 in Uxbridge to Roy G. and Marjorie Hounsell. He graduated from Athol High School and the Lab of Electronics in Boston.
He was a United States Army veteran, and served in Korea.
He was a Pembroke resident for 44 years, and worked at the Foxboro Company in East Bridgewater as a revision planner for 20 years. He enjoyed woodworking, model ships, working outdoors and camping. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.
Calling hours will be held on Sunday, March 14, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Shepherd Funeral Home, 7 Mattakeesett (Rte. 14, Pembroke center), Pembroke. A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 15 at 11 a.m. in the funeral home.
Burial will be private. Donations can be made to the Lahey Clinic Vascular Dept. 41, Burlington, MA 01805, or the Partners Home Care, 200 Ledgewood Place, Rockland, MA 02370.
Catherine L. Bowers
WENDELL - Catherine L. Bowers, 52, of 151 West St., died Monday, March 8, 2004, at Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield.
Charles A. Field
TURNERS FALLS - Charles A. Field, 91, of 84 L St., died Thursday, March 11, 2004, at home.
Rand Services
ATHOL - Funeral services were held Saturday, March 6, 2004 at Witty's Funeral Home, Orange, for Earle L. Rand, 89, of Riverbend Woods and formerly of Leverett, who died on Tuesday, March 1, 2004 at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, N.H. following an illness. The Rev. Julia Daley of the Orange United Methodist Church officiated.
Interment followed in South Cemetery, Orange. The pallbearers were Donald Lapenas, Ronald Rowe, Gary Rand, and Bill Ruby. The United States flag was presented to Earle's sister, Leona, by her son - in - law, Steven Rowe, Commander of the Orange American Legion Post 172. An honor guard from Post 172 was made up of Walter White, Sr. Vice Commander, Edward Bezio Sr., Adjutant, Leo Barber, Sgt. - at - Arms, Clyde Ball, Sr. Vice Commander - Sons of the American Legion, and Ray Fournier, Past Adjutant - Sons of the American Legion. The firing squad was made up of members from Athol American Legion Post 102: Robert Carey, Past Comander, Victor Litchfield, Past Finance Officer, Alfred Sousa, and George Terrien. Dick Tandy performed "Taps."
Following the committial service, a reception was held at his sister Leona's home.
Bruce G. Springer
Truck Driver
TEMPLETON - Bruce G. Springer, 62, of 8 Sawyer St., East Templeton, died Tuesday evening, March 9, 2004 in the Heywood Hospital, Gardner.
He was born in Athol on April 19,1941, the son of Gerrish J. and Jeanette (Harmon) Springer and lived in East Templeton for many years.
He was a truck driver, last working for 25 years for the Aspen Transportation Company. Previously, he had worked for the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Conn. He was a baseball and sports enthusiast, who played softball in his earlier years. He was a former member of the Templeton Fish and Gun Club.
He leaves his wife of 40 years, Diane H. (Lundberg) Springer; two sons, Robert G. Springer of Templeton and John G. Springer of Leominster; a daughter, Kimberly A. Lucier of Winchendon; two brothers, Brian Springer of Groton, Conn. and Gordon Springer of Athol; four sisters, Arlene Hilding of West Lebanon, N.H., Doreen Keeth of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Patricia Hannula of East Templeton and Sandra Major of Niantic, Conn.; seven grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Two sisters, Priscilla Allbright and Shirley Wright, predeceased him.
Calling hours in the Smith Funeral Home, 69 Vernon St., Gardner will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 12. Private graveside services will be held at the convenience of the family.
Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, ATTN: Memorial Honor Program FH, One St. Jude Place Bldg., PO Box 1000 Dept 300, Memphis, TN 38148 - 0552.
Gawronsky Services
ATHOL - Funeral services for Ruth E. (Wiggin) Gawronsky, 84, of 72 Wilson Ave., who died Friday, March 5, 2004 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare, were held Tuesday, March 9, 2004.
The Reverend James Callahan, associate pastor, celebrated the funeral Mass at the St. Francis of Assisi Church. Theresa Gabis was the organist and cantor.
Burial followed at Gethsemane Cemetery. Bearers were: Rob Willard, Jerry Lozier, Jeanne Berry, James Hebert, and Charles Petrowsky.
The J. Edward Murphy Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.
Mabel M. Phelps
BUCKLAND - Mabel M. (LaPierre) Phelps, 95, of 82 Ashfield St., died Tuesday, March 9, 2004 at the Charlene Manor Extended Care Facility in Greenfield.
Shatos, Dies
Pearl Harbor Attack Vet,
ORANGE - Joseph "Joe" Shatos, died Monday morning, March 8, 2004 in the Shasta Health Care Nursing Facility in Redding, Calif.
Born in Dekalb, Ill. on Dec. 30, 1912, a son of Salome and Paul Shatos, he grew up in Orange and attended schools and worked in the Orange/Athol area prior to his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1936.
He served in the United States Navy where he attained the rank of Chief Warrant Officer. His assignments were primarily in the Pacific.
He was attached to the USS Vestal (AR - 4) that was next to the USS Arizona during the attack on Pearl Harbor.
In 1941, he married Blanche Erickson, and they resided in Eureka, Crescent City and Redding, Calif., as well as Tillamook and Mapleton, Ore. Blanche passed away in 1992.
He enjoyed football, hockey, fishing, gardening, and DIY projects (he was a jack of all trades). He loved the outdoors, telling jokes and discussing many topics of interest.
He is predeceased by his wife, his parents, his brothers, Veto Shatos of Worcester, Charles Shatos Sr., Anthony "Tony" Shatos, and his sister, Francis "Franny" T. Salkaus, all of Orange.
He is survived by his son, Joseph Shatos Jr. and wife, Nancy of Keaau, Hawaii, his sister, Nettie E. (Shatos) Piragis of Orange. He leaves eight nephews, five nieces, and many friends and acquaintances.
There are no calling hours.
Rites of Committal are pending at the Eagle Point National Cemetery, Eagle Point, Oregon.
Contributions in his memory may be directed to the charity of one's choice.
Rosalina M. Bourgeois
Society Member
LEOMINSTER - Rosalina M. (Tocci) Bourgeois, 83, of 43 Dudley St., died Monday evening, March 8, 2004 in the Athol Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.
She is survived by three daughters, Anna M. Scherer and her husband Fred Scherer of Marstons Mills, Rosalie A. Duplease and her husband Gary E. Duplease of Rindge, N.H., and Theresa M. Melanson and her husband Armand G. Melanson of Athol; two brothers, Santino A. Tocci and Adolph L. Tocci both of Leominster; a sister, Esther A. Tocci of Leominster; four grandchildren, two great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews. Her husband, Louis “Phil” Bourgeois, died on June 17, 2000. She also had three sisters, Natalie M. Tocci, Pierina A. Pompei and Antonetta E. Marini, who predeceased her.
She was born in Leominster on May 18, 1920, daughter of Giovanni and Anna Maria (Tocci) Tocci and was a life long resident. She had worked at Union Products in Leominster for several years. She was a member of St. Anna's Church and the St. Anna's Society in Leominster.
Funeral services will be held Friday from the Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home, 106 West St., with a Mass at 10 a.m. in St. Anna's Church, 194 Lancaster St.
Burial will be in St. Leo's Cemetery.
Calling hours will be held on Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Athol Memorial Hospital, 2033 Main St., Athol, MA 01331.
Wessell Services
ORANGE - A graveside service was held on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 in South Cemetery for William A. Wessell, 85, of 5 Clark Ave., who died on Saturday, March 6, 2004 at the Quabbin Valley Healthcare in Athol. The Rev. Ralph T. Clarke of the First Universalist Church and the Rev. Vance E. Frank, Minister Emeritus, officiated. Representing the American Legion Post 172, Orange, were Ed Bezio, Sr., and Steve Rowe, who presented the flag to Mrs. Wessell. A reception was held in Unity Hall of the church following the service.
Witty's Funeral Home directed the arrangements.
