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Patricia M. (McCullough) Brunner
Charlton - Patricia M. (McCullough) Brunner, 59, died Thursday, December 2, 2004, in the Hospice Residence, 10 Judith Road. She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Larry R. Brunner, Sr., her brother and sister-in-law, Donald and Elaine McCullough, of Louisiana, daughter of Henry F. and Marie R. (Broussard) McCullough. She was a long-time member of the American Shetland Sheepdog Association. She and her husband were nationally-known breeders of championship Shetland Sheepdogs under the kennel name of Prinhill Kennels in Charlton.
Funeral services will be Monday, December 6, at 11 a.m. in Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester. Burial will be in Hope Cemetery. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Sunday, December 5, from 5-8 p.m. Flowers may be sent or donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Nathan F. Sheldon
Nathan “Nate” F. Sheldon, 86, of 178 West Street, Paxton, died Saturday, December 4, 2004, in St. Vincent Hospital. He leaves his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth “Betty” (Boyd) Sheldon; a son and daughter-in-law, Orville and Carolyn Sheldon of Paxton; 2 daughters and sons-in-law, Jean B. and Larry Norris of Australia and Judy “Samm” and David Russell of Keene NH; and 4 grandsons-Jerid Krulish of Jamaica Plain, Ethan Krulish, currently serving in the US Army in Iraq, Keith Sheldon of Paxton, and Kyle Sheldon of Hawaii.
Nate was the Harley Davidson dealer of Worcester for over 40 years and owned and operated N.F. Sheldon Co. He was an avid rider all of his life. In his youth he was a champion TT Racer, winning the New England Championship in 1938. He received many awards and honors from motorcycle groups for his contributions to the sport.
Nate was born in Worcester, son of Orville T. and Gladys V. (Cheever) Sheldon and resided in Paxton for many years. He was a graduate of South High School and a WWII Navy Veteran. He was a member and former trustee of Paxton Congregational Church and had served as a Paxton Cemetery commissioner and was a member of the Greendale Retired Men’s Club. Nate was a Life Member of the American Motorcyclist Association, the Antique Motorcycle Club of America, the Yankee Chapter Antique Motorcycle Club of America, and a life member of Harley Owners Group (HOG). He was a former member of the Worcester Auxiliary Police and the Worcester Sheriff’s Department; past President and Treasurer of NEHD Dealers Assoc. and Vice Pres. of the NE Motorcycle Dealers Association. He was a 32 Degree Mason and a member of Rufus Putnam Lodge AF&AM, a member of Paxton American Legion Post, the VFW, the US Navy Memorial Foundation, and the Sampson WWII Navy Veterans Assoc. He was a member of Mass. Police Chief Assoc, the NE Police Chiefs Assoc., and the Paxton Seniors.
A Memorial Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, in the First Congregational Church of Paxton, 1 Church Street, Paxton, MA 01612. Private burial will be in Mooreland Cemetery. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to The Paxton First Responders, the Gazette Santa, or the Organ Fund of First Congregational Church of Paxton.
John S. Wierzbicki
John S. Wierzbicki, age 87, of Paxton, MA, formerly of East Hartford, CT, Dec. 4. Beloved husband of Helen E. (Balcezak) Wierzbicki, of Paxton. Father of Valerie Scheinfeldt, of Paxton, and the late Diane Santini. Brother of Emily Turner and Emma Oleksinski, both of Washington, D.C., and Erik Scheinfeldt, of Portland, ME. Uncle of many nieces and nephews.
Born in Rockville, CT, John lived most of his life in East Hartford, and graduated from East Hartford High School. A skilled machinist, he was for many years the president of Dee-Val Machine Co. in East Hartford. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to Jewish Healthcare Center, Inc., 5th floor, 629 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01619.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held Tuesday 10:00 a.m in Saint Columba Church, Richard’s Avenue, Paxton. Burial will follow in Mooreland Cemetery.
Mary J. (Parrott) Smith
Mary J. (Parrott) Smith, 97, formerly of Summerhill Ave., Worcester, died Monday, December 6, 2004, in Auburn Lifecare Center. Her husband of many years, Ralph D. Smith, Sr., died in 1985. She leaves a son, Ralph D. Smith Jr., of Paxton; 2 daughters, Carol J. Wilder of Amherst and Joyce M. Messier of Worcester; 9 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren. Two brothers and two sisters predeceased her.
Mary was born in Auburn, R.I., daughter of Frederick M and Josephine (Johanson) Parrott and resided in Worcester since 1915. She was a graduate of David Fanning High School. Mary’s life revolved around her family and friends. She was an avid Red Sox fan and loved working with ceramics. She also loved to sing.
Mrs. Smith was a member of Bethany Congregational Church and the Harmony Circle of the church.
Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9,in Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street, Worcester. A calling hour will be held from 9:30-11:00 a.m. before the service. Burial will be in Mount Vernon Cemetery, West Boylston.
Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to the Life Care of Auburn Activity Fund, 14 Masonic Circle, Auburn, MA 01501.
Russell J. Carroll
Worcester - Russell J. Carroll, 75, died Wednesday, December 8, 2004, in St. Vincent Hospital. He leaves his wife of 51 years, Lillian (Cederlund) Carroll; his children, Cathryn Clapp and her husband, Roger, their children Caitlin, Roger, and Lauren, of Paxton; Patrick Carroll, his wife, Sarah, their children Patrick, James, and Andrew of Slingerlands, NY; Jean Houskeeper and her husband, Marshall, their children, Katie and Susan of Upton; Joanne Pescatore and her husband, Joseph, their children, Dale, Madeline, and Christopher of Bernardsville, NJ; and Russell Carroll and his wife, Ana, and their children Alexandra and Nicholas of Weston. He also leaves many nephews and nieces. A sister, Margaret McNamara, a brother, Harry Carroll, 2 children, and 4 grandchildren predeceased him.
He was born in Worcester, son of P. Harry and Mildred (Sullivan) Carroll. Mr. Carroll received his Bachelor in Education in 1951 and his Master of Education in 1955 from Worcester State College. He was a teacher for the Worcester Public School Dept. at the Adams Street and Bloomingdale Schools from 1951 – 1964. He then served as school principal at Middlesex Avenue, Adams Street, Thorndyke Road, and Heard Street Elementary Schools from 1964 until his retirement in 1992. During his career he actively participated in many programs and had memberships in many associations: National Science Foundation Program at UMass Amherst, July 1974; Commonwealth Leadership Academy Program, 1987-88 and Institute on the Principal and School Improvement, July 1988, both at Harvard University; facilitator for Worcester Elementary School Principals’ Group, 1987-1992; former president of Worcester School Administrators’ Association; life member of National Education Association, Massachusetts Teachers Association, and the Educational Association of Worcester. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 11, in Our Lady of the Rosary. Private burial will be in St. John’s Cemetery. There are no calling hours. Please omit flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Rosary, 25 Fales Street, Worcester, MA 01606.
Thirza A. Bergdahl
Worcester -- Thirza A. Bergdahl, 87, of 101 Randolph Road, formerly of 5 Lyford Street died Saturday, December 11, 2004, in Dodge Park Manor Rest Home. She leaves a brother, Donald Bergdahl, of Worcester and several nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Thirza was born in Worcester, daughter of John B. and Thirza M. (Martin) Bergdahl and resided in Worcester all her life. She was a graduate of Commerce High and worked for Norton Company/Warner Swasey for many years.
Thirza was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and its Lydia Circle, the Norton Retirees and the Alumnae Club of Norton Co. She was an avid traveler and line dancer. She also belonged to bowling and golf leagues.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 15, at 12 noon in Christ Chapel of Trinity Lutheran Church, 73 Lancaster Street. Burial will be in All Faiths Cemetery. Calling hours will be Tuesday from 3-7 p.m. at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street. Contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to The Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund, 73 Lancaster Street, Worcester, MA 01609.
Frank E. Graham
Worcester - Frank E. Graham, 60, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 14, 2004, at Saint Vincent Hospital. Frank was born in Clover, SC, on February 11, 1944 to the late John Frank and Mamie Lee (Berry) Graham. He leaves his sons, Jermaine L. Johnson of Worcester and Maurice Graham of Santa Monica, CA; a brother, John D. Graham of Springfield; 2 sisters, Peggy Ann Graham of Richmond, VA and Alta Lee Wilkerson of Providence, RI; several aunts, uncles, cousins, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, John A. Graham, and a sister, Mamie S. Graham.
Mr. Graham attended Commerce High School. He was a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1971. Mr. Graham was a long-time fan of all N. Carolina sports teams. He loved watching football and basketball and enjoyed his Dunkin Donuts coffee.
The funeral service will be held Saturday, December 18, at 10:00 a.m. at the Second Baptist Church, 14 Hammond Street. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Calling hours will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, at Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln Street. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Central Mass Shelter for Homeless Veterans Inc, 69 Grove St., Worcester, MA 01605.
