Lois  M. (Egan) Chochrek – 79, of North Reading and formerly of Woburn, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington. She was the beloved wife of the late Frank S. Chochrek.

Born in Arlington, MA on May 23, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Frederick Egan and Doris (Dugan) Meloon. Lois was a graduate of Arlington High School and she attended Middlesex Community College.

Lois worked for the North Reading Public Works Department as an Administrative Assistant for over 15 years. She also worked for over ten years as a Sacristan at the Church of St. Theresa in North Reading, she was a Grade Coordinator for Religious Education and she received her Master Teachers Certificate in Religious Education from the Archdiocese. Lois served on the Parish Pastoral Council for many years and also served as a Eucharistic Minister. She has been a resident of North Reading for the past 32 years.

Lois showed God’s love to everyone that was blessed to cross her path. She accepted each person completely, without judgement and  looked at and focused on the good in each situation. Lois loved reading, crocheting and especially spending time with her family.

Family members include her loving sons, Michael Chochrek and his wife Marie of Salisbury and Thomas Chochrek and his wife Donna of St. Petersburg, FL; daughters, Cheryl Chochrek and her husband Bill Schiek of Georgetown, Sandra Graham and her companion Wesley Mills of Wells, ME, Wendy Chochrek of North Reading and Lisa Chochrek and her companion Michael Ryan of Wakefield; brothers, Gary Egan and his wife Jean, Stephen Meloon;  sister, Shannon Balletto and her husband Robert, late sister, Rita Bellino and her late husband Samuel ; 10 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, December 7 at 12:45 PM, followed by at 2:00 PM Funeral Mass at the Church of St. Theresa, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, December 6 from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation may be made in Lois’s memory to: Toys for Tots or the charity of one’s choice.  www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Lillian  (Goldberg)  Grossman  – 102, of Peabody, formerly of Sarasota, FL, Newark and Livingston, NJ, died Thursday, November 29, 2018 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. She was the beloved wife of the late Bernard Grossman.

Born in Newark, New Jersey on September 28, 1916. She was the daughter of the late Hyman and Sarah Goldberg.

Lillian was a secretary for the Guidance Department at Columbia High School in Maplewood, New Jersey.

She was a very independent woman and lived independently until the age of 100. Lillian loved to travel, she enjoyed reading, opera, movies and was passionate about the theatre. She was an advanced/expert level bridge player, who was always up for a scrabble game. She has been a resident of Brooksby Village for the past 8 years.

Family members include her loving sons, Paul Grossman and his wife Jean Clark of North Reading and Dennis Grossman of Los Angeles, CA; three grandchildren, Sarah Grossman and her husband Peter Gallagher of Plaistow, NH, Emily Grossman of Amesbury and Jessie Hancock and her husband Scott of San Diego, CA and six great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be private at a later date. The family suggests memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Alexander  T.  Fairweather – 90, of North Reading and formerly of Wilmington, died unexpectedly at his home on Friday, November 30, 2018.

Born in Somerville, MA on October 31, 1928. He was the son of the late Alexander and Mary Jane (Scott) Fairweather. He was raised and educated in Wilmington and graduated from Wilmington High School, Class of 1948.

He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy, during the Korean War from 1950 to 1954, he served on the USS Howard Gilmore and he received an honorable discharge.

Alex went into the plumbing trade, he was member of the Plumbing Local 12 in Boston, 283 in Lawrence and Local 138 in Salem.

He loved his family, hunting and fishing, his boat, playing the drums and listening to classical music. Alex was also an avid Patriot fan. He has been a resident of North Reading for 55 years.

Family members include his loving wife of 56 years, Joan A. (Turner) Fairweather; his son, Lee Fairweather and his wife Evelyn; his grandson, Scott Fairweather and late grandson, Joseph Fairweather; he was the brother of the late James Fairweather, Betty Long and Mary Hollenbeck.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Dennis R.  Frasca – 69, of North Reading and formerly of Lynn, died at his home on Monday, November 26, 2018.

Born in Lynn, MA on March 4, 1949, he was the son of the late Dominic and Mary (Schiapucci) Frasca. He was raised and attended school in Lynn and was a graduate of Lynn English High School. He attended Belknap College and soon after founded his own construction company, DR Frasca Construction in North Reading, which he ran for 40 years.

Dennis (Daddy, Denny, DTD) Frasca was one of a kind. He loved life – his black labs, Porsches, boating, Sugarloaf and most importantly being with his family.

He is loved and missed by his wife of 36 years, Janet (Schaefer) Frasca; daughters, Carey A. Frasca and Samantha M. Watson and her husband Charlie; his brother, Michael “Mickey” Frasca, he was the brother of the late Dominic and Daniel Frasca, Joanna Williams and Barbara Hopkins. He will also missed by his loving dog Ellie.

Funeral service will be held on Friday, November 30 at 10 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Calling hours on Thursday, November 29 from 5 to 8 PM. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mass General Hospital in memory of Dennis Frasca at: https://because.massgeneral.org/theDRfrasca   

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

William (Bill) Lawrence Roberts passed away peacefully in Plano, Texas on Saturday, November 10, 2018.  Born in Charlestown, Massachusetts on January 20, 1924, Bill was best known for his love of family, his brilliant mind, and the mischievous twinkle in his Irish eyes.  Educated as engineer and attorney, he was a curious and tireless student and loved to be challenged.  He embraced everyone he met with an open heart, willing to give the shirt off his back to anyone in need.

During World Way II, Bill served on a destroyer escort, the U.S.S. Bracket, with the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet under Senator Edward Muskie and was awarded three bronze stars for valor and courage before being honorably discharged.  His Navy experience helped launch an early career with Radio Corporation of America (RCA).  There he led the study of the down range communication requirements of the Atlantic Missile Range at Cape Canaveral, researched nuclear effects on electronic components in space, and worked with Strategic Air Command General Curtis LeMay to develop the concept and design for the U.S. Air Force World Wide Communication System.  Bill then joined Ramo-Wooldridge where he served as liaison to the U.S. intelligence community, helping to create the Air Force Missile Command Program, more commonly known as “Spy in the Sky.”  Ever eager for the next adventure, Bill then joined Litton Industries, where he authored a study in Computerized Fingerprint Analysis for the Federal Bureau of Investigation and led the team that designed, developed, and manufactured the Map of the Lunar Surface for use by NASA in its training of astronauts.  To round out his engineering career, Bill joined Collins Radio Company to direct the development and marketing of its Computer Communication Switching System to the U.S. intelligence community.

Even in what was supposed to be his retirement, Bill continued to seek out new challenges.  He became fascinated with real estate and served as Vice-President of Paula Stringer Realtors. He then launched his own real estate practice, Burchett& Roberts Appraisers, during which time he also taught residential real estate and appraisal courses at Brookhaven Community College, The Realtor’s Institute, the Institute of Real Estate Appraisers, and the Appraisal Institute. In his later years, as he slowed his work in real estate, he took up the additional challenge of writing adventure novels under the nom de plume Doc Roberts.

Bill undertook so many challenges because he loved the thrill of mastering a new skill.  Despite the lack of formal training, he could play any instrument handed to him, a talent he unfortunately failed to pass on to his children. He grew beautiful orchids, took breathtaking pictures, and led his family on many a boating adventure, including once running the boat aground. He even once adopted a monkey as a family pet.  He loved our country and served in many civic positions including appointment as upstate Co-Chair of Robert Kennedy’s New York Senatorial campaign.

Bill was deeply loved by his friends and family.  He was preceded in death by his father and mother, James and Mary Galvin Roberts of North Reading; his sister, Elizabeth Bussey; and his first-born son, James Roberts of Longwood, Florida.  He leaves behind his very forgiving wife, Josephine DeLeo Roberts, who put up with him and his shenanigans for over 73 years.  He is also survived by his daughter, Linda M. Glover; his son, William L. Roberts; his daughter-in-law, Melinda Roberts; his daughter-in-law, Rebecca Ann Roberts; his grandchildren, Christina Capodanno, Amanda Glover Austin, Jamie Glover Smith, and Kaitlyn Roberts; and three great-grandchildren – Sterling Smith, Avery Austin, and Everett Austin – who were the delight of his later years; as well as nieces, nephews, and cousins galore in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts and Waterford, Ireland.

Local arrangements by Croswell Funeral Home.  A private burial service will be held at the Riverside Cemetery in North Reading, Massachusetts.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com