Obituaries

Local Obituaries

Joan Barbara Ellen Powell

Joan Barbara Ellen Powell

May 26, 2025

Joan's funeral service will be livestreamed at 12:00 pm on Thursday, May 29th and will be available for viewing at this link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/a2505398499924

HOLDEN/WORCESTER - Joan Barbara Ellen Powell, 94, passed away peacefully on May 26, 2025, surrounded by her loving children, their spouses, and grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Arthur F. Powell, whom she married...

Mildred E. (Burkill) Scannell

Mildred E. (Burkill) Scannell

May 25, 2025

Holden - Mildred Evelyn “Millie” Scannell (Burkill) passed away peacefully at her home in Holden on May 25, 2025, surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was 102 years old. She was the daughter of Leo E. Burkill and Hazel E. Burkill (Choquette).

Born on May 17, 1923, in Athol Millie was raised in Greenfield, and was a proud graduate...

Doris A. (Dickie) Johnson

Doris A. (Dickie) Johnson

May 24, 2025

WEST BOYLSTON – Doris A. Johnson (Dickie), 90, passed peacefully on May 24, 2025. Doris was the beloved daughter of Herbert James Dickie and Edith May Dickie (Bigelow). Doris spent her childhood in Cherry Valley, where lifelong friendships and beautiful memories were made.

A graduate of Leicester High School, Doris went on to work at State Mutual Life Assurance Company, where...

Kathleen Winacoo

Kathleen Winacoo

May 22, 2025

HOLDEN - Kathleen H. Winacoo, 74, passed away on May 22, 2025, at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, surrounded by the love of her family.

Kathleen was born on September 13, 1950, in Medford, MA, to the late Ralph and Eleanor Hudson. She was a 1969 graduate of Massachusetts Hospital School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology...

James A. Brown, III.

James A. Brown, III.

May 22, 2025

HOLDEN - James A. “Jim” Brown, III, 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at UMass Memorial Medical Center - University Campus, surrounded by his loving family.

Born and raised in Worcester, Jim was the cherished son of the late James A. and Marilyn (Bird) Brown. He attended Worcester Public Schools and went on to earn his bachelor’s degree...

Daniel E. Puzo

Daniel E. Puzo

May 20, 2025

HOLDEN - Daniel Eliot Puzo (AKA Puzo) 

Daniel "Dan" Eliot Puzo, 49, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home in Holden on May 20, 2025, after a prolonged illness.

Born in Southbridge, MA, on August 29, 1975, and raised in Webster, Dan was the beloved son of the late Daniel Puzo and Dorothy B. (Tetreault) Faford. He was a 1993...

Zachary S. Paskalis

Zachary S. Paskalis

May 19, 2025

HOLDEN – Zachary S. Paskalis, Esq., age 31, passed away at home on Monday, May 19, 2025. Born in Worcester, he was the son of Steven and Pamela (Dion) Paskalis.

Zach grew up in Holden and graduated from St. John’s High School in Shrewsbury, class of 2012, where he excelled in both varsity hockey as the goalie and lacrosse. He went...

Ethel F. Taubert

Ethel F. Taubert

May 18, 2025

WORCESTER - Ethel Frances (Murphy) Taubert, age 99, peacefully left this world in her sleep on May 18th, 2025, and went to join the lord and her predeceased family in heaven.

Ethel was born on December 24, 1925, in a three-decker on Pattison Street in Worcester, to John Joseph Murphy and Mary Etta (Reynolds) Murphy. She was the beloved wife of...

William F. Barrett

William F. Barrett

May 17, 2025

HOLDEN – William F. Barrett, 95, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 17, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of service, dedication, and quiet strength.

Born on June 12, 1929, in Milford, MA, William was the son of the late Arthur and Adelaide Barrett. He grew up locally and graduated from Hopedale High School, where he proudly played baseball and basketball. He...

Karen E. (Oberg) Remi

Karen E. (Oberg) Remi

May 16, 2025

WORCESTER – Karen E. (Oberg) Remi, 72, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 16, 2025, at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. 

Born and raised in Holden, Karen was the daughter of Ralph and Mary F. (Kenney) Oberg and had made her home in Worcester for the past 49 years.

 She leaves behind her loving husband of 48 years, Ralph A. Remi;...

Kenneth Melnikoff

Kenneth Melnikoff

May 12, 2025

WORCESTER – Kenneth Melnikoff, 86, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 12, 2025, at UMASS Medical Center, surrounded by the loving presence of his family and friends. A lifelong resident of Worcester, Ken was born to Nathan and Minnie (Jenkins) Melnikoff and was the youngest of eleven siblings.

After graduating from Commerce High School, Ken’s career spanned many years as a...

Jeffrey D. Helle

Jeffrey D. Helle

May 12, 2025

NEWTON, NH – Jeffrey D. Helle, 33, died peacefully on May 12, 2025, surrounded by family, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston after a courageous year-long battle with cancer, Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs).

Jeff was born on December 9, 1991, in Worcester to Jay R. and Kristine C. (Beach) Helle. He grew up in Rutland, MA and graduated from Wachusett Regional...

Sharon Sullivan

Sharon Sullivan

May 12, 2025

PRINCETON - Sharon L. (White) Sullivan, 81, of Princeton, passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025. She is the daughter of the late Lewis and Marjorie (Baker) White.

Born in Keene, New Hampshire, Sharon spent most of her life in Sterling and Princeton, MA. She worked for over 30 years for JJ Package Store and the Lanpher Market with her family....

Janet R. (Carlberg) Swenson

Janet R. (Carlberg) Swenson

May 10, 2025

JEFFERSON - Janet R. (Carlberg) Swenson, age 82, passed away peacefully in the comfort of her home on May 10, 2025. She is now reunited with her beloved husband of 40 years, David F. Swenson who predeceased her in 2015.

Born and raised in Worcester, Janet was the cherished daughter of the late Rudolph and Ethel (Olson) Carlberg. She attended Worcester...

Cynthia Williamson

Cynthia Williamson

May 10, 2025

WEST BOYLSTON - Cynthia Toto Williamson, 77, passed away peacefully on May 10, 2025. She is the daughter of the late John and Anne (Iannuzzelli) Toto.

She leaves behind her sister Debra T. Sherblom and her husband Gregory of The Villages, FL, two nephews, one niece, and 8 grandnieces and nephews.

She spent her career as a social worker in the public...

Edward N. "Nick" Chase

Edward N. "Nick" Chase

May 9, 2025

WORCESTER - Edward N. “Nick” Chase, age 85, a longtime resident of Worcester, MA, passed away peacefully at UMASS Memorial Medical Center on Friday, May 9, 2025, after a brief hospitalization. He was the husband of the late Roberta S. Chase who died in October 2023. Born in Concord, MA on March 22, 1940, Nick was the son of the...

Edward Layton

Edward Layton

May 7, 2025

HOLDEN - Edward L. Layton, 71, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, surrounded by the love of his family. Born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, Edward was the cherished son of the late John F. and Lillian E. (Kalbach) Layton.

He graduated from Louis E. Dieruff High School and went on to serve his country with pride in the...

Shawn M. Schnare

Shawn M. Schnare

May 5, 2025

WORCESTER - Shawn M. Schnare, 36, passed away suddenly on Sunday May 4th, 2025, in his hometown of Worcester, MA. He leaves his wife Caitlyn Schnare; his beautiful sons Shawn, Jr. and Roman of Worcester and his beloved pup, Buddy; his brother Dino Schnare and wife Melissa of Holden, MA and his brother Dominic Schnare and his companion Courtney of...

Elizabeth Pape

Elizabeth Pape

May 5, 2025

STERLING - Elizabeth "Liz" Pape, 74, of Sterling, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on May 5, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Born in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, to Frank and Celeste Ribeiro, Liz was the eldest of five children. She led a full and meaningful life as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, CEO, volunteer, and, most cherished of all, grandmother.

A proud...

Ian J. Carson

Ian J. Carson

May 3, 2025

WORCESTER – Ian J. Carson, 79, of Worcester, passed away peacefully on May 3, 2025, at the Odd Fellows Home.

Ian was born on October 13, 1945, in Gardner, MA, to the late Stuart and Esther Carson. He was a proud graduate of Oxford High School, Class of 1963, and went on to join the Army and served in the Vietnam...