The Winchendon Courier - Obituaries (2024)

Martin "Skip" Adelbert Parks, 86, a longtime resident of Winchendon, Massachusetts and Rindge, New Hampshire, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 12, 2022 with family by his side.

Skip was born and raised in Winchendon, the son of Karl and Florence (Foster)Parks.

He was a graduate of Murdock High School, class of 1954, then served twoyears in the United States Navy. He attended the University of Massachusetts inAmherst earning a Bachelor's degree in Business Management. He was the 6thgeneration owner and operator of M.H. Parks Company, a furniture manufacturingcompany in Winchendon, a family business that he dedicated his life to. He wasimmensely grateful for the employees, customers, vendors and family members heworked with over his decades at "the shop". He never officially retired andcontinued working part-time until he was 83. He felt honored to serve on the boardof trustees for the Robinson Broadhurst Foundation for 27 years and on theMurdock Fund in order to help those in his beloved hometown.

Skip was an avid reader, often ending his work day sitting in his easy chair with aglass of wine and the newspaper or a magazine. He was interested in the history ofWorld War II aviation. He earned his private pilot's license and enjoyed attendingair shows, the Blue Angels being his favorite. He also appreciated car and boatshows.

Living on Lake Monomonac for 53 years on what he affectionately called "BreezyPoint," he spent many summer weekends racing his Hobie Cat sailboat andconvincing friends and family to be his sailing crew. For several consecutive years hewon the "Skipper of the Year" award from the Monomonac Lake Sailing Association.He also delighted in motor boating and taking family and friends waterskiing onLake Monomonac and on Lake Winnipesaukee, ending the day with a sunset co*cktail cruise. He cherished a scenic view from a restaurant window, witnessing acolorful sunset, welcoming the migrating Canadian geese that landed on his lawn orgoing for a Sunday drive to explore and end up at a diner for breakfast andconversation.

He was a kind, friendly, humble and hard working person. He expressed that he wanted to do "something of value" and "to do the best he could with what he had to work with" and that is how he lived his life.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Shirley (Saari) Parks, his son Todd Parks andhis wife JoAnne (Whitney) Parks, his daughter Allison Parks Dugas and her husbandMark Dugas, his sisters Carol (Parks) Donnelly and Elaine Parks, his grandchildrenBradley Parks, Abigail Parks, Reid Dugas and Quinn Dugas as well as many niecesand nephews.

Calling hours will be held Thursday, November 17 from 10:00 AM-12:00 PM at Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

The funeral and burial will be held privately.

The family wishes to express their appreciation to the staff at Gardner Rehabilitationand Nursing Center as well as Trinity Hospice for the personal care and attentionthey provided Skip.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Murdock AlumniAssociation and mailed to Athol Savings Bank c/o Kim Drudi, 112 Central Street,Winchendon, MA.

To leave an online condolence, please visit www.stone-ladeau.comKevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor, and Douglas M. Stone, Funeral Directors.

Winchendon - Graham J Roberts, 80, died Thursday, October 27, 2022, at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, MA.

He was born in Birmingham, England on October 18, 1942, a son of the late Wilfred Roberts and Enid (Reeves) Roberts.

Graham attended the University of Birmingham in England where he received his bachelor's degree.

He had several jobs in the chemical research industry which included 10 years in Government research from 1969-1979. He then held several positions at the National Chemical Research Lab and Air Pollution Research, Rosing Uranium Company, Silicon Smelters, and Western Platinum, all in South Africa. He relocated to the United States and worked for Texas GUPH in Alabama; from 1989-2009 and lastly at Spectro Analytical Instruments in Mahwah, NJ. After his employment at Spectro Analytical, he did consulting work for many years.

Graham's interests included cycling, soccer, camping, reading, DIY, military history and kayaking. He was a member of the American Chemical Society and Society of Mineral Analysts.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Isabel (Rios) Roberts of Winchendon, MA; son, Nathan Reeves Roberts; step-son, Jorge Fraser of Coon Rapids, MN, and his wife LuAnn; step-son, Donald Fraser and his partner Anthony Cummins of Derbyshire England; Daughter, Laura Roberts; Step-daughter, Marisa Fraser-Moreira and her husband Morvan of Shrewsbury, MA; sister-in-law, Margaret Roberts; four grandchildren, Leighton Roberts, Olivia Roberts, Brielle Roberts, and Lauren Roberts; four step-grandchildren, Derek Fraser, Nicole Fraser, Kyle Moreira, and Brandon Moreira; two step-great-grandchildren, Charlie Fraser and Hallie Fraser; two nieces, Karen Noone and Heather Roberts.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations in Graham's memory be made to the ASPCA https://www.aspca.org/

A graveside service will be held on Friday, November 18, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. in Evergreen Cemetery, 335 Main Street, Leominster, MA 01453.

To leave an online condolence please visit, www.mackfamilyfh.com

Simard Funeral Home, 14 Walker Street, Leominster, MA 01453 has been entrusted with Graham's funeral arrangements.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor and Douglas M. Stone, funeral directors.

Rindge, NH - Judith "Judy"(Esposito) Arsenault, 84, of Rindge, NH passed peacefully on November 7, 2022. She was born in Leominster, MA on May 15, 1938 to Edward and Eunice (Jewett) Esposito. Judy leaves behind her husband of 39 years, Paul Arsenault and her devoted sister, Joyce Parmenter of Hubbardston. She also leaves her loving children, Debra Williams of West Virginia/Florida, Ronald Breault and Douglas Breault of Winchendon, Joanne Kreidler-Norris and her fiance Raymond Condrate of Petersham, and Robert Breault and his wife Rebecca of Pennsylvania. She is also survived by six grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren, 1 great great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her parents, her son-in-law Douglas Williams and her great granddaughter Makayla Williams.

Judy worked many years at the service desk at Hannaford's Supermarket in Rindge, NH after returning from Pennsylvania where she owned and operated "Our Little Shop" which specialized in her handmade crafts. One of Judy's greatest pleasures was tending to her flower gardens. Judy enjoyed watching her birds and her squirrel which she affectionately named "Little Red". She loved her trips to Las Vegas and Foxwoods.

The family would like to thank Kristin Nadeau, Caseworker at Cheshire Medical Center. Judy will be sadly missed by everyone who knew her.

At the request of the deceased there are no calling hours or services. She will be laid to rest at the Massachusetts Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Winchendon, MA at a later date.

Fitchburg - Andre Wilfred Croteau, of Fitchburg MA, passed away peacefully of natural causes November 13, 2022 at the age of 92. His wife Rachel Croteau, of 70 years of marriage, passed away recently on June 7, 2022.

His is survived by all his 12 children and their spouses. They are Diane and Mike Selman of Buda TX, Gerry and Deb Croteau of Lunenburg MA, Elaine and Tom Ray of Winchendon MA, Ray and Laurie Croteau of Lunenburg MA, Bob and Karen Croteau of Leominster MA, Anne and Shawn Conroy of Fitchburg MA, Denise and Michael Pawelski of Fitchburg MA, Louise and Steve Hamel of Orange MA, Alice and Kevin Cleary of Fitchburg MA, Jim and Alicia of St. Petersburg FL, Susan and Jim Maguire of Westminster MA and Theresa and Larry Sparks of Signal Mountain TN. Remarkably he is also survived by all 29 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren. He is the son of Wilfred and Leontine Croteau, whom predeceased him.

He was a proud service member of the Army who served in Korea from April 1952 until January 1954. His life profession of an Electrician since 1963 included jobs at Weyerhaeuser, Ruel Electric, Burbank Hospital and retiring from the City of Fitchburg School Department.

He was a very spiritual man who pursued many ministries at St. Joseph's Church which included where he met his future wife in the church choir. He went on to volunteer at the annual church bazaar, was a CCD Moderator, CYC chaperon and a Catholic PMI Marriage Counselor. He later in life pursued the Catholic Deaconate ministry and after two years of classes, was ordained in June of 1979. This also led him to become the Boy Scout Troop 17 Chaplin.

His love of life and fun included motorcycle riding, where he was part of the "Red Knights" which included countless trips out of state he made with family and friends. He was a seasonal RV camper at Old Orchard Beach in Maine during the summers and a snowbird at Daytona Beach in Florida for 8 years during his retirement. He also acquired his Pilots Licenses and earned his high school diploma at night school from Fitchburg High in May of 1985. You could also find him flying model airplanes in Gardner with the AMA "Barn Stormers" which he was a member. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends, but now he is home with God and his loving wife to whom he loved very much.

Calling hours are 3-7 pm at Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg, MA on Monday, November 21. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, November 22 at Our Lady of the Lake 1400 Main St., Leominster MA at 10:30 am. A Private burial service will be held at the Winchendon Veterans Memorial Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or make a memorial donation at stjude.org.

Winchendon--Rev. Beverly Alice (Noble) Long, 81, passed away peacefully with her children by her side on Monday, November 14, 2022. She had been a resident of Winchendon for 38 years.

She leaves her children Randall Long of Tempe, AZ, Patty Brahm of Manchester, NH, Debbie Fortin of Winchendon, MA, and Deanna Wilson of Rindge, NH; her children's spouses Tanya Long, Gib Brahm, Sara Fortin, and Scott Wilson; ten grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; sister, Norma Dagen of Fall River, MA; and sister-in-law Shirley Ostrander of Glen Riddle, PA.

Beverly is predeceased by son, Scott Long; daughter-in-law, Heidi Long; brother-in-law, Raymond Dagen; and brother, Jack Ostrander.

She was born in Berwick, PA on December 29, 1940, a daughter of the late Norman G. and Alice S. (Atwell) Noble. Beverly attended Albany Medical School of Nursing and worked as a registered nurse at various medical facilities, including Open Arms Nursing Home and Broadview Nursing Home in Winchendon, MA.

Ministry was an important part of Beverly's life, growing up and serving alongside her parents in the Salvation Army. Alongside her former husband, Donald Long, she led youth ministry during the hippie movement and was a foster parent to troubled teenagers. She was a role model to many at Faith Alive Ministries in Fitchburg and Millbury and participated in the worship ministry at Higher Ground Ministries in Gardner. In later years, she served as the founding pastor of the Church of the Redeemed on Central Street in Winchendon.

It has been said of Beverly that she never met a person she didn't love. Through her welcoming compassion, she was a mother to many and a friend to all.

Her memorial service will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2022 at 2:00 pm in the United Parish of Winchendon, 39 Front Street, Winchendon, MA 01475.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, November 25, 2022 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon, MA 01475.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Beverly's name to the Salvation Army, http://www.salvationarmy.org/

To leave an online condolence please visit www.stone-ladeau.com, Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor and Douglas M. Stone, funeral directors.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Beverly A Long, please visit our flower store.

Anna, 61 of Winchendon, passed away in Hartford Hospital Wednesday afternoon. She attended Murdock High School and worked many years at a local factory. She enjoyed spending time with her grandson and doing puzzles. She always enjoyed a good crime drama, soap opera, and Chinese food.

Anna is survived by her two children, three grandchildren, and eight siblings. She will be remembered for her strong will and bold personality. Services will be held at 10am Friday November 18th at Riverside Cemetery in Winchendon Massachusetts. Anna asked that friends and family celebrate her life rather than mourn her death.