Robert  J.  Smith – 85, of North Reading, died Tuesday, January 16, 2018.  He was the beloved husband of the late Faye B. (McDonald) Smith.

Born in Somerville, MA on January 19, 1932. He was the son of the late Vincent and Frances (Straughen) Smith. Bob was a graduate of Lexington High School and Northeastern University.  A Korean War veteran, Bob was a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps 1952 to 1955.

He worked as an Engineer for the Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge for over 25 years and was a resident of North Reading for 52 years.

Bob was a loving husband, father and grandfather. A parishioner at St. Theresa’s Church, Bob served as head usher at Saturday services. He was a Boy Scouts volunteer, a member of the Democratic Town Committee, both in North Reading and an ice hockey player and certified AHA referee.  As a proud Marine, he was a member of the Marine Corps League.  Bob was a passionate car enthusiast and Indy race car fan.

Family members include his loving children, Jeffrey R. Smith of North Reading, who cared for him for many years; Kevin M. Smith of Williamsburg, VA; Marianne S. Cimmino and her husband Robert of Waterford, CT and Sandra J. Mullins and her husband Charles of Shapleigh, ME; brother of the late Phillip, Richard and Thomas Smith; two grandchildren, Jennifer M. Cimmino and Jeremy D. Cimmino, both of Waterford, CT.

Despite years of fighting dementia, he was still happy every day.

His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Monday, January 22 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 21 from 1 to 4 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to: North Reading Veterans, 235 North Street (Town Hall), North Reading, MA 01864, c/o Susan Magner. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Eleanor M. (Fredella) Alcorn  – 78, of Andover, formerly of North Reading and Medford, died Saturday, January 13, 2018 at the Lawrence General Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Bruce Alcorn.

Born in Medford, MA on March 18, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Lorenzo and Jennie (Vella) Fredella. She was raised and attended school in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School. Eleanor was known for her loving kindness and compassion. She enjoyed knitting and sewing.

Eleanor worked as a secretary for Dan-Kar Corporation in Wilmington for many years. She was a former resident of North Reading for many years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Family members include her loving son, Glenn Alcorn; her daughter, Maryjo McNeill and her husband Robert; her brothers, Frank Fredella and the late Anthony Fredella; sisters, Phyllis Cain and Josephine Gagnon; grandchildren, Corey and Brian McNeill and great granddaughter, Kaileigh Harper Anastacio.

Her Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading on Thursday, January 18 at 10:30 AM. Calling hours will be at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Wednesday, January 17 from 5 to 8 PM. Interment will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to: MSPCA Nevin’s Farm , 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844  or to Animal Rescue League , 10 Chandler Street Boston, MA 02116 www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Francis “Chester” Dalton – 89, of North Reading and formerly of Chelsea, died Saturday, January 13, 2018, at the Woodbriar Health Center in Wilmington.

Born in Fort Augustus, Prince Edward Island, Canada on May 14, 1928. Chester left school at a young age to work on the farm for his mother and father. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict. He received the Army of Occupation Medal Germany and a Bronze Star Medal.

Chester was a manager for Superior Column, he retired after 44 years of service. He was a very hard worker all of his life. He helped many people building homes and doing various repair work. He provided for his five children, which he loved so much.

He loved gardening, fishing and had a great love for Prince Edward Island. He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 60 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church. He was also a member of the American Legion, Knights of Columbus and the Saugus V.F.W.

Family members include his loving wife of 63 years, Margaret “Charlotte” (Hughes) Dalton; sons, James Dalton and his wife Cheryl, Shawn Dalton and the late Wayne Dalton; daughters, Paula Sollazzo and her husband Frank and Pamela Howe and her husband Bobbie; 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren; sisters, Evelyn Gill and Thelma Woolridge and the brother of the late Arnold, Bill, Mellie, Eddy, Frank, Pauline, Rita, Lawrence, Emmett and Ivan.

His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, January 19 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, January 18 from 4 to 8 PM. 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.croswellfuneral home.com

Mary M. Timoney – 80, of Reading and formerly of Malden, died Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Winchester Hospital.

Born in Boston, MA on February 3, 1937. She was the daughter of the late Peter and Nora (Regan) Timoney. Mary was a graduate of Cathedral High School in Boston, Cardinal Cushing College in Brookline and graduate school at Northeastern University in Boston.

Mary was a retired School Teacher in the City of Boston, she was a dedicated teacher for 38 years. Mary loved her family and friends. She was passionate about education, she took post graduate courses and received her masters and PHD. Mary was a woman of faith. She was very involved in her church and served as a Eucharistic Minister and taught religious education classes.  She loved to garden, read, listen to Irish music, paint and make cards for her nieces and nephews. She loved her dogs, Jake and Jack and she loved chocolate, anything chocolate. Mary was a resident of Reading for the past 24 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Family members include her loving brother, James Timoney and his wife Patricia of North Reading; nieces, Debbie, Susan and husband Larry; nephew, Jeffrey and wife Dena; grandnieces, Ashleigh, Katherine, and Alexia and grandnephew, Robert.

Her funeral will be held at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading on Saturday, January 20 at 10:30 AM. Calling hours will be private. Burial will be in Forest Dale Cemetery in Malden.  Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

RUBENSTEIN, Ralph Sidney, 83, of North Andover, MA, and formerly of North Reading, MA, passed away peacefully December 31st at High Point House Hospice in Haverhill, MA from complications of Alzheimer’s Disease. Ralph was a native of Philadelphia, the son of Louis and Hattie (Maslovich) Rubenstein. He graduated from Temple University and the Naval Postgraduate School. He served as a Naval Supply Corps Officer for 24 years, advancing to the rank of Captain. He served on the USS Noxubee, the USS Little Rock, and the USS Oriskany, and was the Commanding Officer at DCASR, Chicago. After retirement from the Navy, Ralph was a financial planner for USPA & IRA. He was active in volunteer and social activities in North Reading and beyond. Ralph was well known for his sense of humor, generosity, and great enjoyment of travel and sharing meals of every kind of ethnic food with his family and many friends.

He is predeceased by his wife of 51 years Mary C. (Reed) Rubenstein,for whom he was a dedicated caregiver, his brothers-in-law John Suter and Donald Reed, and his sister-in-law Anne Suter. He is survived by daughters Deborah Rubenstein (Stuart Speaker) and Suzanne (Jim) Austin, son Michael Rubenstein, grandchildren Emily Cirrone, Benjamin Cirrone (their father Jim Cirrone) and Henry Speaker, his devoted companion Zena Rosenberg, brother Donald Rubenstein and sister-in-law Nadine Rubenstein, sister Barbara Rubenstein, and seven nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, 239 Woburn St, Reading, MA on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer’s Research Foundation (http://www.alzinfo.org/) or the North Reading Veterans Gift Account (North Reading Veterans Department, 235 North Street, North Reading, MA 01864).  WWW.CroswellFuneralHome.com