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

Anthony Italo Lucci –Passed away unexpectedly at his home on August 18, 2019, he was 37.  Born and raised in North Reading, MA.  He attended North Reading schools and the Northeast Metro Technical.

Survived by his loving daughter, Paige Lucci, his father, Anthony W. Lucci, his late mother, Ruthanne Lucci (Woods), sister, Clementina (Tina) Lucci and his brothers, Thomas and Wayne Williams.

Tony’s presence on earth was larger than life itself, there aren’t many men like him and few will merely ever come as close.  He was caring, sensitive and sweet.  His proudest moment in life was the birth of his daughter Paige, who shares his button nose and warm smile.

He was the life of the party, enjoyed being from a large family and always looked forward to gatherings with his many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Tony had a love of all things New England sports, a passion he picked up from his father.  They spent many afternoons and evenings quizzing each other on Red Sox trivia, past and present.  He will be missed by so many, he will always be remembered for being kind, loving and supportive.  His smile will never fade, it will be carried in all of our hearts, in eternity.

Funeral from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, August 23 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 Thursday, August 22 from 4 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

North Reading, Massachusetts — Marie S. Duff died peacefully Thursday the 15th of August 2019 at Winchester Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Winchester, Massachusetts.

Born in 1929 in Springport, New York, Marie graduated from Union Spring Central High School in 1947. She married Orville Lee Duff in 1953. She was a long-time employee of Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati. After her retirement, she moved to Melrose, Massachusetts and then to North Reading, Massachusetts. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Melrose and active in the Thrift Shop there.

She is survived by her brother, Cleon Salvage, and his wife, Eleanor, of Fairport, New York; her son, Scott Lee Duff and his wife Susan, of Greensboro, North Carolina; and her daughter, Shawn Duff Intorcio, and her husband, John, of North Reading. She was loved by her five grandchildren: Sarah D. Werner and her husband Jordan of Abilene, Kansas; Peterson Scott Duff of Greensboro; Kimberly Duff of St. Louis, Missouri; Joshua Intorcio of New York, New York; and Jacob Intorcio of North Reading. She is also survived by her great-grand-daughter, Leeah Marie Werner, and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Melrose at a later date to be announced. Memorial gifts may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society. The Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, has been entrusted with arrangements. www.croswellfuneralhome.com