Edmund I. Burke
HOLDEN - Edmund I. Burke, 81, of 32 Thayer Pond Village, Oxford, formerly of Holden and West Yarmouth, died Saturday, May 29, 2004 at the Worcester Medical Center.
He leaves his wife of 58 years, Mary P. (Plummer) Burke; four sons, Stephen J. Burke of Jefferson, Edmund F. Burke of Worcester, Paul A. Burke of Palmer, Daniel Burke of Tagu, Korea; two daughters, Laura Pearson of Douglas, Sue Ellen Gauthier of Southington, Conn; a brother, Francis Burke of Stockbridge; a sister, Katherine McClung of Falmouth; eight grandchildren; three great - grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. He was born in Somerville, son of John and Hannah (Coughlin) Burke. He served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II. He was vice president of Servo Mation Vending Corp. before retiring in 1975. He enjoyed fishing, boating and spending time at the beach.
Mr. Burke's funeral Mass was held June 2 in St. Mary's Church, Jefferson. Burial was in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden, directed arrangements.
Stanley W. Graham service
HOLDEN - A memorial service for Stanley W. Graham, 90, of DeLand, Fla., formerly of 1029 Main St., Holden, who died January 16, 2004, will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 12, at the First Congregational Church, 1180 Main St., Holden. The Rev. Margaret Stoddard will officiate. A reception will follow in the church hall.
A memorial service was held in DeLand on February 6. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Florida Lutheran Retirement Center Memorial Gift Program, 450 N. McDonald Ave., DeLand, FL 32724 - 33698 or to Hospice of Volusia/Flagler, 3800 Woodbriar Trail, Port Orange, FL 32129.
Roland Hanson
HOLDEN - Roland Hanson, 93, formerly of Holden, died Monday, May 24, 2004, in Sterling Health Care Center. His wife of 67 years, Rosamond I. (Wykes) Hanson, died in 2003.
He leaves a daughter, Joann Drown of Sterling, and two granddaughters. He was predeceased by three brothers and three sisters. He was born in Boylston, son of Andrew W. and Johanna M. (Peterson) Hanson. He was a toolmaker at the former Rex Chain Belt Co. in Auburn. Mr. Hanson was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, John Ericsson Lodge Vasa Order of America, Rufus Putnam Lodge Masons in Rutland, Scottish Rite Bodies, 32nd Degree Mason, a member of Worcester Goddard Council, Princes of Jerusalem, Lawrence Chapter of Rose Croix, Worcester Lodge of Perfection, Conn. Valley Consistory, and the Greendale Retired Men’s Club.
A graveside service was held May 27, at Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Memorial donations may be made to The Shriners Burn Institute, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114. Nordgren Memorial Chapel, 300 Lincoln St., Worcester directed arrangements.
Robert H. James
HOLDEN - Robert H. James, 82, of 456 Wachusett St., died Tuesday, May 25, 2004 in the Worcester Medical Center, St. Vincent Hospital. He leaves his wife of 24 years, Eva E. (Pepin) James; six daughters, Alison H. Bartczak of Spencer, Lisa E. Malatos of Leominster, Cynthia Robbins of Bar Harbor, Me., Betsy Hatch of Chelsea, Me., Debra Atwood of Machias, Me. and Holly Mooers of Gardiner, Me.; 2 step - sons, Edward J. Sokolowski of Bourne and Andrew R. Sokolowski of Worcester; a sister, Charlotte Holbrook of Dunedin, Fla., many grandchildren and great - grandchildren.
Mr. James was born in Leominster, a son of William H. and Helen (Howe) James. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He operated the Leominster Enterprise and later worked for the Clinton Item as head pressman. In his retirement, he worked at The Landmark newspaper in Holden. He was a member of the Wilder Lodge of Masons in Leominster, a 32nd degree Mason including the Scottish Rite Bodies of Worcester, and the Boston Consistory. He was also a member of Aleppo Shrine in Wilmington. He enjoyed polka dancing and working around the yard.
Mr. James's funeral was May 27 in Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial was private in Evergreen Cemetery, Leominster. Memorial contributions may be made to the Arthritis Foundation, Mass Chapter, 29 Crafts St., Newton, MA 02160
Marianne D. Keefe
PAXTON - Marianne D. (Eucker) Keefe, 50, of 206 Grove St., died Sunday, May 30, 2004 in the UMass Memorial Hospital, Worcester, from cancer.
She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Gary W. Keefe; her children, Kevin C. Keefe of Rutland, Scott M. Keefe and Amy B. Keefe, both of Paxton; her parents, Howard and Irene (Celularo) Eucker of Worcester; a brother, Mark Eucker Of Woodstock, Conn.; two grandchildren, Patrick and Aidan; aunts, uncles and many cousins.
Mrs. Keefe was born in Worcester and attended Venerini Academy, and graduated from St. Peter Marian High School. She also graduated from Becker College and attended Anna Maria College.
She was an administrative assistant for C.W. Mars, and also worked many years until the time of her death at Anna Maria College. Marianne was an avid reader and baseball fan, and enjoyed writing; she was happiest when spending time with her family.
She was a member of St. Columba Church. Her funeral will be held today, June 3, from The Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester, with a Mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel - St. Ann Church, 24 Mulberry St. Burial will be in Worcester County Memorial Park. Flowers may be sent or contributions made to the Derek Jeter Turn 2 Foundation, 350 E, Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo, MI 49007.
Josephine B. Landry
HOLDEN - Josephine B. (Ryngiewicz) Landry, 84, formerly of Flagler Dr., died Wednesday, May 26, 2004.
She leaves three sons, Wayne S. Landry of Long Beach, Calif.; Michael G. and Jeffrey S. Landry, both of Barre; a daughter, Elaine M. Fitzgerald of Barre; a brother, Justin F. Ryngiewicz of Lake Worth, Fla.; three sisters, Mary Priestley of Lawrence, Genevieve Superchi of Jupiter, Fla. and Mildred Corso of Tucson, Az.; two grandchildren, Brent E. Fitzgerald and William G. Landry, both of Barre, nieces and nephews. She was born and raised in Barre, the daughter of Felix and Constance (Waitkus) Ryngiewicz.
She was a pharmacy clerk at St. Vincent Hospital, retiring in 1985.
Funeral services were held yesterday, June 2, in Miles Funeral Home (www.milesfuneralhome.com), 1158 Main St., Holden. The Rev. Eric Hartlen officiated. Burial was in Gethsemane Cemetery, Athol. Memorial contributions may be made to the Heritage Bible Chapel Building Fund, P.O. Box 1096, Princeton, MA 01541.
Richard A. Slack Sr.
RUTLAND — Richard A. Slack Sr., 44, of Highland Park, died Tuesday, May 25, 2004. He leaves his wife, Lori A. (Grosse) Slack; a son Richard A. Slack Jr. at home; two daughters, Sarah A. Slack of Worcester, and Kelly A. Slack at home; his mother, Pearl (Dionne) Slack of Boylston; two brothers, Keith F. Slack and Brian J. Slack, both of Boylston; a sister, Kathryn T. Jankowski of Holden; nieces, and nephews. He was born in Worcester, the son of the late Richard L. Slack, and grew up in Boylston. He graduated from Tahanto Regional High School.
Mr. Slack was a construction worker for C & S Builders of Rutland, and previously worked for 12 years for Shaw’s Supermarkets. He was a member of Saint Patrick Church. Richard enjoyed sports with his children, including little league baseball.
Funeral services were private. Memorial donations may be made to The Lupus Foundation of America, 40 Speen St., Suite 205, Framingham, MA 01701. Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel, 370 Plantation St., Worcester, directed arrangements.
Audrey J. (LaFleur) Boudreau
PAXTON - Audrey J. (LaFleur) Boudreau, 73, of Rutland, formerly of Paxton, died Thursday, August 5, at home surrounded by her family.
Her husband, Donald E. Boudreau, died in 2002. She leaves a daughter, Darlene M. Handy of Rutland, with whom she lived; two sons, Donald W. Boudreau of Oakham and David E. Boudreau of North Brookfield; eight grandchildren; three great - grandchildren; a niece, Ethel Perry of Worcester; and a nephew, Kenneth Ogilvie of El Paso, Texas. Two brothers, William and Kenneth LaFleur, and a sister, Ethel Ogilvie, predeceased her.
She was born in Worcester, daughter of George A. and Sarah S. (Hughes) LaFleur, and lived in Paxton 35 years before moving recently to Rutland. She was a member of St. Columba Church in Paxton.
Audrey is remembered for her kindness and generosity to all.
A Mass was held in St. Columba Church, Paxton. Burial was in Worcester County Memorial Park.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham 01701.
Arnold B. Childs Sr.
HOLDEN - Arnold B. Childs, Sr., 82, of 1867 North Main St. in the Jefferson section of Holden, died at home on Sunday, August 1, 2004. His wife of 59 years, Anna M. (Merchant) Childs, died in 2001. He leaves a son, Arnold B. Childs, Jr. of Paxton; two daughters, Carol R. Crawford of Holden and Helen R. Bibeau of Northport, Fla.; a sister, Muriel M. Pinkham of Thomaston, Me.; seven grandchildren; and six great - grandchildren. A daughter, Brenda L. Childs, died in 1972, and a sister, Madelyn W. Bradley, predeceased him. He was born in Rockland, Maine, son of Charles C. and Rissie (Day) Childs, and lived in Maine, graduating from Union High School, and has lived in Holden for 49 years. He was an Army veteran of World War II serving in the European theater. Mr. Childs worked for UMass Medical Center for 20 years, retiring in 1984. Previously he worked for Wyman Gordon Company in Worcester for 20 years, and most recently as a driver for the French Bouquet Florist in Holden for 15 years. He was a member of St. Mary's Church in Jefferson and he enjoyed camping and fishing.
The funeral service for Mr. Childs was held August 5 in Miles Funeral Home (www.milesfuneralhome.com), 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial followed in Worcester County Memorial Park, Paxton. Donations may be made to the Holden Assoc. of Firefighters, P.O. Box 190, Holden, MA 01520.
Myrtle A. Erickson
RUTLAND - Myrtle A. (Viner) Erickson, 96, a longtime resident of Rutland, died Monday, August 9, 2004 in the Autumn Village Nursing Home, Worcester.
Her husband of 62 years, Russell E. Erickson, died in 1992. She leaves a daughter, Sandra J. Kett of Worcester; a brother, Morris Viner of Rutland; two granddaughters, Patricia A. Kett of Worcester and Carolyn J. Kett of England; two great - grandchildren, Arielle and Zakery Kephart of Worcester; nephews and nieces.
She was born in Rutand, daughter of Edward and Mary A. (Demond) Viner and lived there for 92 years before moving to Worcester. She was a graduate of Rutland High School class of 1926 and a member of the First Congregational Church of Rutland.
The funeral service for Mrs. Erickson was held August 11 in the Miles Funeral Home (www.milesfuneralhome.com), 1158 Main St., Holden. Burial followed in Rural Cemetery, Rutland. Memorial contributions may be made to the Rutland Fire Brigade Rescue Fund, 240 Main St., Rutland, MA 01542.
