Maria J. Nicosia- 09/03/2019- age 70

Alice  M.  (Tarbox) Nickerson – 91, of North Reading, died Friday, September 13, 2019 at Hathorne Hill Genesis Healthcare in Danvers.

Born on September 11, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Theodore and Laura (Hamilton) Tarbox. Alice was a “true townie” and a lifelong resident of North Reading. She attended the L.D. Batchelder School and was a graduate of Reading High School, Class of 1946.

Alice worked as a Switchboard operator for New England Telephone and Transitron in Wakefield and worked in sales for the Abbott Shoe Company in North Reading for over 30 years. Alice was one of North Reading’s first telephone operators in the Conron house, when telephones came into town, her families phone number was 7.

Alice always put others before herself, she was very giving and expected nothing in return. She loved her family, all her grandchildren and great grandchildren had a unique and special bond with her. Alice was a person of strong conviction and instilled a positive work ethic in her children and grandchildren, teaching them to be kind and compassionate.

She was an avid sports fan. Her favorite players being YA Tittle and Ted Williams, also the Bruins in the 1960’s to 1980’s. Alice was very active in North Reading sports, she was the Past President of the North Reading Little League in the 60’s. She loved attending her children’s and grandchildren’s in sporting, dance and cheering. She loved traveling to Europe to watch her grandsons play hockey.

She loved to bake, especially apple pies, she won the North Reading Apple Festival Apple Pie Contest, two years in a row. She enjoyed knitting, making mittens and hats for the kids and Christmas stockings for new family members.

Family members include her loving son, Paul Jones and his wife Joanne of New York; her daughter, Leslie Ann (Jones)Rogers and her husband Carl of North Reading; brothers, Harold V. (Joe) Tarbox of Maryland, the late Theodore Tarbox, Jr. and Robert W. Tarbox; 6 grandchildren, Kurt and Eric Jones, Jenelle (Jones) Braga, Meaghan (Rogers) Misuraca, F. Carl Rogers, III and Kristen (Rogers) Legro; 9 great grandchildren, Nathaniel, Norah and Riley Jones, Preston and Kailey Braga Gabriella, Gavin and Grayson Misuraca and Colin Legro.

Her funeral will be held on Thursday, September 19 at 11:00 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 18 from 4 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the MSPCA, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844. The family would like to thank Care Dimensions and Hathorne Hill for their wonderful care.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Arthur A. Pickett, Jr. –  76, of North Reading passed away at Lahey Hospital on September 13, 2019 after a courageous battle with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. Born in Malden on April 1, 1943, he was originally from Everett, MA, the son of the late Arthur A. Pickett, Sr. and Alice F. (Finegan) Pickett.

Arthur is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Hazel (Wallace) and his children: Susan Potenza and her husband Mark of New Hampshire, Kate Mahoney and her husband Sean and Arthur Pickett and his wife Kris, all of North Reading.  He was an especially proud Gumpy to Abigail, Michael, Arthur and William. He was also loved by his sister Alice Doherty, his Brother-in-Law Richard Wallace and his wife Elsie, and several nieces and nephews.

He was a graduate of Everett High School, Class of 1961 and Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering.  Having spent his career in the heating and air conditioning industry, Arthur founded Royal Air Systems, Inc. in 1980. He enjoyed working with so many dedicated employees over the years and was especially proud that he left Royal Air in very capable hands upon retirement. Over the years, he was active in several groups including the Northeast ACCA, The North Reading Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and was a member of the Union Congregational Church of North Reading.

He enjoyed spending summers at Lake Winnipesaukee in his youth and later on Sebago Lake where he built his cottage (and a tree house) with the help of friends and family. He liked the fishing more than the catching, so he could spend more time on the boat and was always willing to drive the kids to the sandbar for a swim.   He also enjoyed the years he spent with his family horseback riding.  He was the best “Horse-Show Dad”, getting up early mornings to drive the trailer to lessons and shows.   He loved trail riding at Bradley Palmer with Richard.  He and Hazel enjoyed traveling, but above all he loved time spent with his family.

Arthur was quietly generous and will be remembered as fair, loyal and loving. His Funeral will be held on Wednesday, September 18 at 10 AM at the Union Congreagational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading.  Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 17 from 4 to 8 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.  Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.  Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice.  www.croswellfuneralhome.com

John  R.  Gallant – 72, of Tewksbury and formerly of Andover, died unexpectedly at his home on Monday, September 9, 2019. He was the beloved husband of the late Susan J. (O’Dea) Gallant.

Born in Lawrence, MA on April 20, 1947, he was the son of the late John Roland Gallant and Claire (Porter) Gallant. John was a graduate of Andover High School, Class of 1965. He has been a resident of Tewksbury for the past 47 years and a member of the Tewksbury Senior Center.

John was the owner of Mac’s Diary Farm in Tewksbury for 37 years. He was a prior restaurant owner of Gallant’s Galley in Tyngsboro. He formerly worked at Kitty’s in North Reading, where he met his wife Susan.

He was a hard working man and worked 7 days a week for the past 37 years. John was a kind, loving, generous father and grandfather. He had a huge heart and cared about everybody. He was very practical and smart, everyone looked up to him as a leader and father figure. He was a very honest straight forward person. John loved Mohegan Sun, old cars, his truck and BMW, work and his girlfriend Jan.

Family members include his loving son, John “OG” Gallant and wife Colleen, his  daughter, Susan Gallant Mathurin and significant other Roberto Velazquez; brothers, Tim Gallant and wife Kathy, Kevin Gallant and Dennis Gallant and wife Wendy, late brothers, Michael and Steven Gallant; grandchildren, Noah Mathurin, Hailey and Paige Gallant and the late Daniel Gallant; his girlfriend Janet Maguire; also many nieces and nephews and members of the O’Dea family.

His Funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Saturday, September 14 at 11:30 AM. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 11:20 AM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Elizabeth Anna (Post) Hancock – Retired from the Town of Andover after 40 years, passed away at her home on Sunday, September 8, 2019, at age 90. She was the beloved wife of the late Ronald E. Hancock, Sr.

Born in Boston, MA on January 16, 1929. She was the daughter of the late Joseph W. and Elizabeth A. (Anderson) Post Croswell. Elizabeth has been a resident of Andover for over 60 years and for a few years in her youth, she lived with her family at the Putnam House in North Reading.

She loved tap dancing, as she was shopping at the grocery store, pumping gas for her car, cooking for her family, every where, every day of her life. She smiled every day at everything and everyone. She loved flowers and wanted as many real flowers as she could get and fake if needed.

Elizabeth loved life, she loved children and loved watching them play, she always wanted to hold them in her arms. She was always trying to bestow kindness. She loved to travel and especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Elizabeth loved gardening, fruit trees, cake decorating, sewing, painting scenery, card playing mainly bridge,

She was a member of the Red Hats, a member of the St. Augustine’s Catholic Daughters of Andover, where she served as Treasurer and President and volunteered for 20 years at the Senior Center in Andover.

Family members include her loving sons, Ronald Hancock, Jr., Richard Hancock, Robert Hancock and Ralph Hancock;  daughters, Betty Ann Hancock, Helen Hagman and Susan Hancock; brothers, Richard Post, Bill Post, Thomas Croswell, Andrew Croswell and the late Buddy Post; sisters, Caroline Denise and Mary Lou Roll, the late Tina Martin and Eva Perry; 12 grandchildren, Bruce, Melanie, Christina, Ronald, III, Lisa, Joshua, Elizabeth, Stephanie, Rachael, Ralph, Jr., Tara, Shana and 16 great grandchildren.

Her Funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Thursday, September 12 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62) North Reading. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 11 from 4 to 8 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com