Obituaries
Local Obituaries
Stanley M. "Stan" Oldakowski
Jul 26, 2025
BARRE – Stanley M. “Stan” Oldakowski, age 67, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, July 26, 2025 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. Born in Holden, he was the son of Stanley Oldakowski and the late Catherine (Tucholski) Oldakowski.
Stan was raised in Jefferson and graduated from Wachusett Regional High School with the class of 1976. After high school,...
Nancy C. (Pirro) Schlemminger
Jul 26, 2025
PAXTON – Nancy C. (Pirro) Schlemminger, age 76, died peacefully on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Holy Trinity Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Worcester, as a result of long-term complications of Parkinson’s Disease, with her devoted husband by her side. Born in Leominster, she was the daughter of Frank and Eleanor (Occhipinti) Pirro and was a lifelong resident of Central...
Phyllis K. Bissonnette
Jul 25, 2025
Auburn - Phyllis Bissonnette (Lucey), age 85, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 25, 2025, at the Rose Monahan Hospice Home, Worcester. She was born on September 5, 1939, in Worcester to Harry F. Lucey and Josephine R. Lucey (O’Connor). She is survived by her son, David Bissonnette and his wife, Jennifer; her son, Steven Bissonnette; her grandchildren, Michael Bissonnette,...
Nicholas Halal
Jul 24, 2025
SHREWSBURY - Nicholas Halal, 78, passed away peacefully on Thursday, surrounded by the love of his family and the compassionate care of the staff at St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Worcester.
Born and raised in Worcester, Nick was the son of Nicholas and Alice (Saad) Halal. He spent the past 37 years living in Shrewsbury, where he and his...
Anne E. McShane
Jul 24, 2025
BARRE – Anne Elise (Kansanen) McShane, 63, of Barre, died peacefully at home after complications of Parkinson’s disease surrounded by the love of her family on Thursday, July 24, 2025.
Anne was born on February 3, 1962, in Turku, Finland, to Jaakko and Aino (Karvinen) Kansanen. She grew up in Northborough and was a 1980 graduate of Algonquin Regional High School....
Richard Ira Freedman
Jul 23, 2025
The Graveside Funeral Service for Richard "Rif" Freedman will be available for live streaming (and after) beginning at 11:00 AM on Sunday, July 27, 2025 via the following link: www.emanuelsinai.org/live-streams/.
BOYNTON BEACH - Richard Ira Freedman — known to most simply as “Rif” — passed away peacefully at his home in Boynton Beach, Florida on July 23, 2025, at the age...
Margaret Lavin
Jul 23, 2025
WORCESTER - Margaret (Walsh) Lavin passed away peacefully on the evening of Wednesday, July 23rd after a period of declining health. She was predeceased by her husband Richard Lavin and her parents John Walsh and Irene (Wheeler) Walsh, as well as her sister Anne Brutscher, of Rockville, Maryland.
Born in Worcester, Margaret was proud of her Shrewsbury Street heritage and remained...
Joseph Robinson
Jul 22, 2025
AUBURN - Joseph H. Robinson, 87, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. Born and raised in Holden, he was the son of the late Joseph B. and Mary (Thresher) Robinson.
Joe faithfully served his country in the United States Air Force, retiring after 20 years of dedicated service with the rank of Master Sargent. Joe...
Sherry M. Blair
Jul 21, 2025
Davenport, FL/Rutland, MA - Sherry M. (Bissonnette) Blair, 60, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, July 21, 2025. Born in Worcester and raised in Rutland, she was the daughter of Dwight and Myrtle (Harmon) Bissonnette.
She will be lovingly missed and remembered by her three daughters, Tanya Blair of Rutland, Brittney Gove and her husband, Brendan of Shrewsbury, and Morgan Blair of...
Phillip P. Shubert
Jul 21, 2025
WEST BOYLSTON – Phillip P. Shubert, 71, of West Boylston, passed away on July 21, 2025, at Massachusetts General Hospital, surrounded by the love of his family.
He was born on October 17, 1953, in Worcester to the late Paul and Marcia (Buck) Shubert. Phillip grew up locally and graduated from West Boylston High School.
He met the love of his life,...
Leila P. "Lee" (Armstrong) Beardsley
Jul 15, 2025
Oakdale/West Boylston- Leila P. "Lee" (Armstrong) Beardsley, 89, wife of the late Nathan L. Beardsley, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, July 15, 2025. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada on August 20, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Donald and Mabel (Eckel) Armstrong.
From an early age, Lee always...
Marilyn J. (McLaughlin) Gaitane
Jul 15, 2025
WEST BOYLSTON – Marilyn J. (McLaughlin) Gaitane, 80, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester after a long battle with cancer.
Born and raised in Worcester, Marilyn was the daughter Olive (Lawrence) McLaughlin. She lived in West Boylston for the past 53 years. Her beloved husband of 52 years, Richard N. Gaitane, passed away...
Jeffrey C. Larson
Jul 14, 2025
HOLDEN - Jeffrey C. Larson, 79, of Holden, a retired teacher and coach, passed away on July 14, 2025 at the Holden Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He leaves his beloved wife of 56 years, Patricia A. (Griswold) Larson, sons, Kevin C. Larson, Esq. and his partner, Kathleen M. Mattei of Holden and...
James T. Hennessey
Jul 13, 2025
STURBRIDGE - James “Jim” T. Hennessey, 71, of Sturbridge, passed away unexpectedly on July 13, 2025. He was the beloved husband of Lauren (Miknaitis) Hennessey, with whom he shared a life of love, adventure, and partnership for over 43 years.
Born in Worcester to the late William and Isabella (Parajeckas) Hennessey, Jim was a lifelong resident of Central Massachusetts. A dedicated...
Beverly J. Merritt
Jul 13, 2025
WORCESTER - Beverly J. (Anderson) Merritt died on July 13, 2025, at the age of 98. Beverly was born on December 11, 1926, to Frances (Fager) and Earl Casteel in Des Moines, Iowa. As a child she lived in Iowa, Texas and Kansas. After her parents divorced, she moved with her mother to her grandparents’ farm in Miller, Kansas that...
Marilyn J. Alves
Jul 13, 2025
Worcester/West Boylston – Marilyn J. (Mongeon) Alves, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at the Oakdale Nursing & Skilled Nursing Center. Born and raised in Worcester, she was the daughter of the late Lyle and Aune (Aalto) Mongeon. She was pre-deceased by her sister Carol Roberts and her husband Antonio (Tony) Alves.
Marilyn...
Alan R. Cooper
Jul 13, 2025
LIGHTHOUSE POINT, FL - Alan R. Cooper, a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, brother-in-law, friend and cherished member of both the Worcester and Florida communities, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2025, in Florida, with his family by his side and Larry Byrd. He was 78 years old.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Bonnie; his children, Adam, Lisa...
Stephen T. Lanava
Jul 12, 2025
WORCESTER - Stephen T. Lanava, 73, of Chino Avenue, Worcester, passed away on July 12, 2025. He leaves behind his beloved wife, Darling, who comforted him through a courageous eight-year battle with pancreatic cancer. He was predeceased by his parents, Anthony and Lucy Lanava.
A renowned photographer for the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, Steve served the newspaper he loved for over...
Grace A. Carlson
Jul 12, 2025
WORCESTER – It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Grace Ann Carlson, 97. She died peacefully on July 12, 2025, at Knollwood Nursing Home in Worcester.
Grace was born in Pepperell, MA on May 26, 1928, the daughter of the late Margaret and Raymond Miller. She lived in Milford, then Hopedale and attended St. Mary’s High School...
Nancy O. Johnson
Jul 10, 2025
RUTLAND – Nancy O. (Ferguson) Johnson, 97, of Rutland passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025, at Holden Nursing and Rehabilitation. She was born on August 27, 1927, in Worcester to the late Charles and Olive (Stahl) Ferguson.
She attended local grade schools and is a 1945 graduate of Charlton High School. After high school, Nancy worked for Pine Croft Dairy...
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