Albert J. Desroche – 72, of North Reading and formerly of Salisbury and North Andover, died Tuesday, April 30 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.

Born in Andover, MA on September 21,1946, he was the son of the late Peter Emmanuel Desroche and Victoria (LaRoche) Desroche. Al was a proud U.S. Army Vietnam Veteran, he was a SP4 and served from 1965 to 1967.

He was the sole proprietor of Al Desroche and Son. He worked for over twenty years designing a remote fire alarm system for home use, which was patented. Al was a resident of North Reading for the past 11 years and he was a member of the Salisbury Rod & Gun Club, where he taught trapshooting.

He enjoyed his quiet time at home sitting watching the Chipmunks and Squirrels. Al enjoyed attending all the local Veteran’s events, He enjoyed seeing the Wall That Heals, which is a replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, D.C.

Al is survived by his son, Derek M. Desroche of North Andover.

A graveside service will be held in the Riverside Cemetery in North Reading, Veteran’s Section on Tuesday, May 7 at 11:00 AM. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: North Reading Veteran’s Gift Account, 235 North Street – Town Hall, North Reading, MA 01864. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Marie J. “Judy” (Dee) Moreira  – 87, of Andover and formerly of North Reading, died Monday, evening,  April 15, 2019, at the High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill.

Born in Providence, RI on May 22,1931, she was the daughter of the late William and Marguerite (Dwyer) Dee.  Marie was a graduate of Edward Little High School in Auburn, Maine, Class of 1950.

She worked at the Hood School Cafeteria in North Reading. She also was a Crossing Guard and Police Matron for the North Reading Police Department. She had a great love of cooking for her family and friends. Marie had a great sense of humor and love of animals. She loved her cats and enjoy feeding the birds.

Family members include her loving husband of 55 years, Donald G. Moreira of Andover; her son, Danny Lamore and his wife Melody of Newmarket, NH; daughters, Terri Ball and her husband Walter of Manchester, NH, Darlene Moreira of Ridge, NY, Kelly Fletcher and her husband Stephen of Wilmington, Dawn Robinson and her husband Chuck of Methuen; sisters, Marguerite Murtaugh of Mesa, AZ and Katherine Dee of Leesburg, FL; 11 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Her Funeral will be held on Saturday, May 4 at 11:00 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Friday, May 3 from 4 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Kathleen  L. (DeMare) Wilson – 72, of Andover, formerly of Detroit, Michigan, New Jersey and New Hampshire, passed away Wednesday, April 10, 2019, at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. She was the beloved wife of the late Alan H. Wilson.

Born in Detriot, Michigan on August 21, 1946, she was the daughter of the late Dan A. and Mary A. DeMare. Kathie was a graduate of the University of Michigan, where she received her Bachelor’s of Science Degree and Master’s Degree in Business.

Kathie currently worked in the Hardware Department at Home Depot in Reading for the past thirteen years. She Previously retired from New England Bell (AT & T) phone company as a Supervisor. She formerly owned and operated with her husband, Wilsoncraft Folk Art Studio in North Reading.

Kathie was ‘strong willed, intelligent and classy’. She loved Folk Art, Decorative Art and enjoyed painting. Kathie has been a resident of Andover for the past 40 years.

Family members include her loving daughter, Kristin M. Wilson and her husband Kevin R. Wulleman; grandchildren, Luke Alan Wulleman (age 5) and Lucy Alexandria Wulleman (age 2), all of Andover; she was the sister of the late Dan DeMare; she loved her grandchildren more than anything and she will be greatly missed by her Hardware Boys from Home Depot.

There will be no current services. Interment will be with her loving husband at the Massachusetts Veteran’s Cemetery in Agawam, MA at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33^rd St., New York, NY 100016. www.kidney.org www.croswellfuneralhome.com

William H.  Howard, Jr. – On Monday evening, April 8, 2019, William Henry Howard Jr. passed away at age 88.  He was a loving husband and father of five children.

Bill was born on September 7, 1930 in Peabody, MA to William H., Sr. and Dorothy May (Waring) Howard. He entered the U.S. Marine Corp at the age of 21 and he served overseas during the Korean War. On July 11, 1953, he married the love of his life, Shirley Ann. They raised two sons, Scot and David, and three daughters, Cynthia, Lynne and Laura. He was a godly father and was committed to leading his family to Christ just as he was lead by his mother and grandmother. He will be fondly remembered for his love for singing all the old hymns. Some of his favorites were “Amazing Grace”, “Old Rugged Cross”, “I Come to the Garden Alone”, and “Victory in Jesus”.

Bill was a graduate of Lowell Technological Institute and the Massachusetts State Police Academy. He served from 1959-1970 as an auxiliary patrolman in North Reading. He then served the Topsfield force for three years before accepting the position of Sergeant in Boxford where he served from 1973 – 1980, until he started his own landscaping business. He was known for his quiet and gentle spirit, his love for his God and family, and his kind and compassionate heart. His greatest desire is to see all his children, his grandchildren and great grandchildren come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ and find the true joy in giving God your life. 3 John 1:4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Besides his passion for his Savior, Bill also had a love for golf and got to spend many days pursuing his passion by playing as well as working a few days a week at the local golf clubs during his retirement.

Bill was preceded in death by his precious wife, Shirley Ann Howard and his two sons, William Scot and David Earnest. He is survived by his three daughters, Cynthia Eramo (Vincent) from North Reading, Lynne Valentine (Rick) from Greene, Maine and Laura  LeFort (Todd) from Fredericksburg, VA; his two sisters, Betty Carpenter of Wakefield, MA and Carol McLaughlin (Tom) from Port Charlotte, FL. He also leaves behind twelve grandchildren, W. Scot Howard (Heather), Stephen Williams (Lora), Melissa Howard-Beutler (Jason), Luke D. Howard, Niki Valentine-Stevens (TJ), Adam C. and Tyler V. Eramo, Katelyn, Grant, Luc, Lindsey and Jace LeFort;  seven great-grandchildren, Noah, Jude and Seth Howard, Malachi and Maddox Richtmyre, Victoria Williams and Madison Valentine, as well as nephews and nieces.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 13th at the First Church Congregational Boxford, 4 Georgetown Road, Boxford at 1:00 PM. Interment will follow at Boxford Village Cemetery in Boxford. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to The Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org  or to the First Congregational Church Boxford, Food Pantry, 4 Georgetown Road, Boxford, MA 01921.  Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

F. Richard Standley – 90, of North Reading, died at his home on Friday, April 5, 2019. He was the beloved husband of the late Genevieve G. (Chisholm) Standley.

Born in Melrose, MA. He was the son of the late Frederick J. and Dessie Estelle (Lamb) Standley. He was a lifelong resident of North Reading. He attended school in North Reading and the Essex Agricultural School in Middleton.

Dick was a mink rancher for the Little Meadow Fur Farm, which he owned and operated with his brother Robert,  he also owned and operated Standley Salvage, both in North Reading for many years. He was a member of Northeastern Mink Breeders Association.

He was known for being a hard worker and was dedicated to his family. He was always willing to help anyone in need. Dick belonged to Checkmates Square Dancing, he owned 3 small airplanes at the Tew-Mac Airport in Tewksbury, he always enjoyed flying with his wife every Sunday and going to breakfast every day.

Family members include his loving daughter, Marlene Standley of North Reading; sons, James E. Standley and the late Fred R. “Dickie” Standley, Jr.; his granddaughter, Jennifer Wilson; late brothers, Robert D. and Donald H. Standley.

Funeral services will be private and are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

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