All posts by Carol Croswell

Shelby P. Aims

Shelby P. Aims, 59, of North Andover and formerly of North Reading, passed away at her home on November 21, 2025, after a lengthy illness.

Born in Stoneham, MA on July 29, 1966. She was the daughter of the late Bayard P. and Margaret A. (Scott) Aims.  She was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate of North Reading High School, Class of 1984. She has been a resident of North Andover for the past 5 years.

Shelby worked as a server and waitress for assisted living. She dedicated herself to helping others in need. She was always there to listen to others for who ever needed a helping hand. She was a care giver to all.

Family members include her loving companion 33 years, Patrick McNeil, she was his best friend and right arm; sisters, Sandra Rychwa, Jacqueline Hood and the late Nancy Boucher; brothers, Scott Aims and the late Buddy Aims; also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Her visitation will be held on Saturday, December 6 from 10 AM to Noon at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Sylvia McDonald

Sylvia (Brennan) McDonald – 79, of Wilmington, MA, formerly of North Reading, MA, passed peacefully at The Sawtelle House on November 22, 2025. Born at Winchester Hospital, Sylvia lived a full and devoted life centered around her family, her work, and the places she loved most.

Sylvia is survived by her beloved husband, Robert J. McDonald; her daughter, Stacey Goodwin, of Wilmington MA;  her Son, Robert E. McDonald of Auckland, NZ;  her Son-in-Law Patrick; her Daughter-in-Law Penny and her Grandchildren, Sean, Zachary and Chloe.  She was a beloved aunt and great-aunt to many nieces and nephews.

Sylvia worked throughout her life, most notably at Duracell as a research technician, where she made a strong and lasting impression on all who knew her. Hardworking and dedicated, she carried her warmth and determination into everything she did.

She had a deep love for the water and spent much of her free time at the family’s lake home in Center Ossipee, NH. Whether boating, enjoying water sports, or simply sitting quietly and taking in the peaceful view, the lake was her happy place.

Sylvia will be remembered for her warm, generous, caring, and loving spirit—balanced with a straightforward honesty and a bit of stubbornness that made her uniquely her.  She was the kind of person who would tell it to you like it was, but always had an open ear and a willing shoulder for anyone who needed it.   She touched many lives and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, November 29 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Thursday, December 4 at 10:00 AM, followed by interment in Riverside Cemetery. The family request that donations be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Kenneth E. Story, Jr.

 

 

Kenneth E. Story , Jr. –  83, of North Reading and formerly of Lynn, died on Saturday, November 22, 2025. He leaves his wife Amy R. (Parker) Story of 59 years and their two children, his son, Kenneth E. Story, III and his wife Kelli and his daughter, Laura (Story) DeAngelis; 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, his brother, John Story and 4 nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Dennis Story.

Ken graduated from Northeastern University with a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He was an electrical engineer for GTE in Needham and Taunton for 35 years.

Ken won many awards for developing his own black and white pictures from the Greater Lynn Camera Club. He mostly enjoyed New England’s beautiful scenery. He was a member of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading.

His Funeral Mass will be Celebrated on Wednesday, November 26 at 10:30 AM at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Please go directly to church. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Richard W. Ham

Richard Webster Ham – 95, of North Reading, MA, husband of the late Joleen Glidden, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at his home in North Reading, MA.

Dick was born in Winchester, Massachusetts on June 8, 1930 to Robert and Priscilla (Webster) Ham. He graduated from Reading High School in 1948. In 1952 he became a very proud graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He frequently reminisced about his Bowdoin friends, fraternity brothers and faculty and enjoyed visiting the campus to see how it had changed over the years.

Dick taught foreign language at Reading Memorial High School for nearly 40 years, and continued as a substitute teacher for many years following his “retirement” in the early 90’s.  He is still fondly remembered by many of his former students. Dick was a long-time member of the Union Congregational Church in North Reading and was part of the church choir, House Committee and the Care Committee at various times. He always looked forward to the annual Christmas fair and treating his eldest daughter to a lobster roll, a tradition begun by his late wife, Joleen.

Dick loved spending his summers at Chewonki Campground in Wiscasset, ME where he and his family camped for over 50 years. Other campers and the owners looked forward to seeing Dick every year, and vice versa.

Dick was much loved and will be sorely missed by his children, Deborah Ham of Peabody, MA; David W. Ham of Merrimack, NH; and Elizabeth V. “Betsey” Driscoll and her husband Raymond of Dracut, MA. He is also survived by four grandchildren, four great-grandsons, his brother David F. Ham and his wife Barbara of North Reading, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dick’s memory to the Bowdoin College Alumni Fund, Bowdoin College, 4100 College Station Brunswick, ME 04011-8432 or the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading, MA 01864.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Mary Jo Noonan

Mary Jo (Leneski) Noonan, 91, of North Reading and formerly of Malden, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 14, 2025, surrounded by the love and comfort of her family in the home she cherished for more than 60 years.

Mary was predeceased by the love of her life, Joseph Noonan, whom she had been married to for over 65 years. They loved traveling and square dancing — even taking part in the largest square dance held under the Astrodome.

In her early years, Mary worked as a switchboard operator for AT&T, but her greatest work was the life she built with Joe as a homemaker and secretary for their family business, H. Newton Marshall Painting Inc.

Anyone who ever met Mary knew how much she loved making people smile. She had a playful heart and a wonderful sense of fun — she especially loved dressing up for Halloween. One of her favorite things to say was that she “liked to aggravate people”. Mary greeted visitors with “hey, hey, hey!” and sent them off with a loving pinch on the cheeks. She brought warmth, energy, and a generous spirit to everything she touched.

Mary loved sewing, making clothes for her children and square-dancing dresses for herself. She enjoyed westerns, puzzles, and board games. Her favorite hobby was bowling, which she continued into her 70’s as part of the Tuesday Morning Bowling League at Candlewood Lanes in North Reading, where she formed many cherished friendships.

Above all, Mary was most proud of her family. She is survived by her five children: Frederick Noonan of Florida, Douglas Noonan of Massachusetts, Neal Noonan of Florida, Judithe Poirier of Massachusetts, and Caryn Noonan of New Hampshire. She leaves behind 13 beloved grandchildren and many other caring and devoted family members who will carry her memory forward with love.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, November 18, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary’s memory to All Care’s Grateful Giving page (https://allcare.org/grateful/).

www.croswellfuneralhome.com