Bernice R. Swett
SHREWSBURY Bernice R. Ben Swett, 78, of Shrewsbury, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2007, in Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation.
Born in Leominster, he was the son of the late Roswell B. and Avis (Howe) Swett.
He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran.
Mr. Swett worked as a machinist at Morgan Construction for 35 years. He was an avid fisherman and a member of the Elks Lodge in Laconia, N.H., the NRA and Wachusett Old Car Club.
He leaves two daughters, Avis R. and her husband, Al Pepin, of Upton, and Debra A. and her husband, Tony Mastrogiacomo, of Shrewsbury; a brother, Richard Howe of Worcester; two sisters, Phyllis Hammond of Worcester and Evelyn Wills of Auburn; four grandchildren, Kimberly Polymeros, Kelly Walker and her husband, Kyle, Lisa and Angela Mastrogiacomo; two great-grandchildren, Sophia and Kyle James Walker; his former wife, Silvana L. (Braidotti) Swett of Worcester; and several nephews and nieces.
He was the brother of the late Stanley Swett and Ralph Sweet.
A memorial service was on Tuesday, Jan. 23, at noon, in the Britton-Shrewsbury Funeral Home, 648 Main St., Shrewsbury.
Burial followed in Mountain View Cemetery, Shrewsbury.
Donations may be made to American Diabetes Association, 330 Congress St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02110.
Lois E. Salsman
WESTBOROUGH Lois E. Salsman, 96, of Westborough, died Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at Beaumont Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center.
She was the wife of the late Eldon M. Salsman.
Born in Barss Corner, Nova Scotia, Canada, the daughter of the late David and Lillie (DeLong) Nichols, she was employed as a clerk at Jordan Marsh in Framingham, retiring in 1975.
Mrs. Salsman was an 81-year member of the First United Methodist Church and former member of the Methodist Women.
She leaves her children and their spouses, Eldon M. Jr. and Beverly Salsman of Shrewsbury, Paul M. Salsman and Lynn McGrath of Framingham, Vivian I. and Lester Wentworth of Thompson, Conn., Laura E. and Phillip Morrill of Southbridge, and Susanna L. Hitchings of Westborough; 17 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was the grandmother of the late Jared M. Salsman, Lee A. Wentworth and Sandra Mahoney, sister of the late Hattie Nichols, her twin Pauline Robinson, Hilda Arnold, David Nichols and Eva Grant, and mother-in-law of the late Clement Hitchings.
The funeral service was on Saturday, June 9, at 10:30 a.m., at the First United Methodist Church, 120 West Main St., Westborough.
Burial followed in Pine Grove Cemetery.
Arrangements were under the direction of Rand-Harper-Pickering Westborough Funeral Home, 62 West Main St., Westborough.
Harry E. Tripp Jr.
NORTHBOROUGH Harry E. Tripp Jr., 81, of Northborough, died Friday, June 8, 2007, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Worcester surrounded by his loving family.
He was the husband of Elizabeth A. Betty (Sedelow) Tripp for 60 years.
Born in Westborough, son of the late Harry E. Tripp Sr. and Regina (Cruise) Tripp, he was raised in Shrewsbury and graduated from Shrewsbury High School in 1943.
Following high school, he served in the Navy for four years during World War II, spending 2 ½ years in the Pacific Theater aboard the USS Kittson.
On his return from his service, Mr. Tripp was employed as a plant engineer for Henley-Lundgren Co. in Shrewsbury from 1947 until his retirement in 1991.
He was a member of Teamsters Local 170 and served as shop steward at Henley-Lundgren. He also worked part time as a security guard for many years at New England Electric, UPS in Shrewsbury and Stop & Shop.
He was a life member of the American Legion Post 234 in Northborough and served on its personnel board. He was also very active in his community serving on the Earth Day Clean-up Committee as well as the Bicentennial Committee something he took great pride in in Northborough.
Mr. Tripp was an active member of St. Rose of Lima Church, where he served as an usher for many years, and was a bowling enthusiast who bowled for many years in leagues at Sawyer's Bowlardome.
Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Jonathan P. Tripp and his wife, Linda, of Oxford and Wesley C. Tripp and his wife, Marjorie, of Jacksonville, Fla.; three daughters, Elise M. Conlon and her husband, Tom, of Alton, N.H., Susan M. Bouckaert of East Douglas and Jacqueline M. Graham and her husband, Joe, of West Boylston; a sister, Geraldine Francesco of Northborough; many nieces and nephews; 12 grandchildren, Edward, Brian, Carolyn, Anne, Andrew, Katelyn, Christopher, Joann, Jason, Cameron, Ryan and Ava; and six great-grandchildren.
He was predeceased by his sister, Eleanor Pododlesney, and his granddaughter, Stacy Tripp.
A funeral Mass will be on Thursday, June 14, at 10 a.m., at St. Rose of Lima Church, 244 West Main St., Northborough.
Burial with military honors will follow in Howard Street Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main St. (Rte. 20), Northborough.
Marjorie Ann (King) Brown
FRAMINGHAM Marjorie Ann (King) Brown, 76, of Framingham, formerly of Newton, died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007.
She was the wife of the late Ronald J. Brown.
Born in Newton, she graduated from St. Bernard's High School in West Newton and had worked as a bookkeeper at E.C. Hilliard Co. in West Newton, T.J. Maxx and Newton public schools.
Mrs. Brown enjoyed bingo, baking, reading and her grandchildren.
She leaves her children, Susan A. Richard and her husband, Edward C. III of Bassett, Va., Cathy M. LeChance of Shrewsbury, Sandra R. Brown of Marlborough, and Robert G. Brown of Framingham; her brothers, Robert King of West Newton and Donald King of Auburndale; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A funeral will take place Thursday, Jan. 25, at 9:30 a.m., from the Blackington, Conroy and Hayes Funeral Home, 1479 Washington St. (Rte. 16), West Newton, followed by a funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Bernard Church in West Newton.
Memorial donations may be made to American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 02701.
Barbara L. Fortes
SHERBORN Barbara Louise (Willey) Fortes, 78, died unexpectedly Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, at her home in Sherborn.
A lifelong resident of Sherborn, Mrs. Fortes was born in Natick, a daughter of the late John H. & Esther L. (Sanderson) Willey.
Prior to her retirement, she had been employed by Bes-Pak in Natick, Dennison Manufacturing in Framingham and at Dowse Farm Stand in Sherborn, where she was affectionally known as ``The Dowse Lady.''
She leaves two children, Joseph Fortes of Templeton and Esther Fortes of Ithaca, N.Y.; two sisters, Dorothy Lampila of Maynard and Betty Dyce of Shrewsbury; and two grandchildren, Jesse and Cameron Fortes.
A private graveside service will take place in Dell Park Cemetery in Natick.
Arrangements are under the direction of John Everett and Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St., at Natick Common.
Instead of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1131.
Frank E. Wylie Jr.
HOPKINTON Frank E. Wylie Jr., 69, died at his home Friday, Jan. 26, 2007.
He was the husband of Lillian (McNally) Wylie for 48 years.
Born in Medford, he was the son of the late Frank and Helena (Merrigan) Wylie Sr.
He was a resident of Hopkinton for more than 46 years and an employee of the Hopkinton Water and Sewer Department. He was a member of the Woodville and Southborough Rod and Gun clubs.
Besides his wife, he leaves his sons, Frank E. Wylie III of Hopedale, Andrew Wylie of Rhode Island and Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Wylie of Kansas; his daughters, Margaret Everitt of Shrewsbury and Patricia Drawe of Hopkinton; and nine grandchildren.
Memorial visiting hours were on Wednesday, Jan. 31, from 3 to 6 p.m., at the Callanan-Cronin Funeral Home, 34 Church St., Hopkinton.
A collation followed at the Woodville Rod and Gun Club, 252 Wood St. (Rte. 135), Hopkinton.
Donations in his memory may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
Mary E. Barnes
FRAMINGHAM Mary E. (Robertson) Barnes, 79, of Framingham, died Wednesday, March 21, 2007, at her home in Framingham.
She was the wife of George Ray Barnes of Framingham.
Born in Cambridge, she was the daughter of the late J. Barry and Margaret (McLean) Robertson.
Besides her husband, she leaves her children, Ronald A. Barnes of Framingham and Janet Bardash and her husband, Paul, of Shrewsbury; three grandchildren, Alexis, Julia and Zachary Bardash, all of Shrewsbury; and her sister, Helen Foley of Boston.
She was the sister of the late Margaret Macero of Revere.
A funeral was on Monday, March 26, at 10 a.m., from the Norton Funeral Home, 53 Beech St. (corner of Union Avenue), Framingham, followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. in St. Bridget Church, Rte. 9, at Framingham Centre.
Burial was at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701, or Partners Hospice, Development Office, 281 Winter St., Suite 200, Waltham, MA 02451.
