E. Lorraine (Surette) Vatcher – 96, of Reading and formerly of Greenwood, passed away peacefully at the Sawtelle Family Hospice House in Reading on Saturday, June 24, 2023. She was the loving wife of the late James L. Vatcher.

Born in Stoneham, MA on June 10,1927, she was the daughter of the late Rene M. and Leonice Emma (Pothier) Surette. She was raised in Reading and was a graduate of Reading Memorial High School. Lorraine was a resident of Reading for 68 years and was a member St. Athanasius Parish.

Lorraine was a very kindhearted and loving lady. She had many special friendships and was always available to listen. She loved her family dearly, especially her grandchildren, but most recently she adored her 6 great grandchildren, who always kept her young at heart.

Lorraine enjoyed knitting and reading. She enjoyed knitting “prayer shawls” for St. Athanasius Parish.

Family members include her daughters, Pam McKenna and Karen DiTrapano; her sister, Anne McAvenia; 4 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Her Funeral Mass will be Celebrated at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading on Saturday, July 1 at 11:00 AM. Calling hours will be held prior to the Funeral Mass from 9:00 to 10:15 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Interment will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, cancer.org

Veronica (Twomey) Lee – 95, of North Reading and formerly of Centerville, passed  away peacefully at her home on Saturday, June 24, 2023, with her family by her side. She was the loving wife of the late Patrick Lee.

Born in County Kerry, Ireland on October 14,1927. She was the daughter of the late Patrick and Kathleen (O’Sullivan) Twomey.  Veronica was a retired owner of the Horseshoe Grille in North Reading for many years. She was a member of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading, the Guild at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville and the North Reading Athletic Boosters. She has been a resident of North Reading for over 30 years and a former resident of Centerville for 32 years.

Veronica enjoyed her family, knitting, Phase 10, “The Holy Hour”, the final day of the PGA Golf Tournaments and the Jimmy Fund. She was selfless and would always think of others before herself. She was giving, generous and had a strong work ethic. Veronica was loving, had a deep faith, she was proud of her Irish Heritage and was very community orientated.

Family members include her loving sons, Patrick and his wife Kathi, Kevin and his fiancé Nanette and Brian and his wife Wendy; her daughter, Kathleen; ten grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.

Her Funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Thursday, June 29 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 28 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to Mill Hill Fathers, 222 W. Hartsdale Ave., Hartsdale, NY 10530 or to St. Theresa’s Church. 63 Winter Street, North Reading, MA 01864. www.croswellfuneral home.com

Margaret L. Lang – 76, of North Reading, formerly of Quincy and Newton, passed away on Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at the Royal Meadow View Center in North Reading. Born in Newton on March 21, 1947 she was the daughter of the late John J. and Catherine (Schultz) Lang. Family members include her brother Robert C. Lang, last known of Lynn, her sister the late Barbara Lang and her brother the late John J. Lang.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Caroline B. (Foster) Smith – 96, of Wakefield and formerly of North Reading, passed away at her home on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. She was the beloved wife of the late Carroll O. Smith.

Born in Winchester, MA on September 28, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Harold P. and Frances M. (Merriam) Foster. A former resident of North Reading for over 85 years, she attended North Reading Schools and was a graduate of Reading High School, Class of 1943. She later earned a Certificate as a Professional Librarian from the Massachusetts Board of Public Library Commissioners in 1966.

Caroline started her career as a bookkeeper at State Street Bank in Boston. After marrying and having children, she began working part time for the North Reading Public Library. In 1973 she took a full time job with the Eastern MA Regional Library System full time and spent 18 enjoyable years traveling to small town libraries on the North Shore as a bookmobile librarian.

Caroline and her husband loved to travel and after retirement traveled all over the globe meeting new friends on those trips. They were avid gardeners featured in garden club tours. She was always willing to lend a hand to anyone needing help. For many years with their neighbors, they grew and sold plants to raise money to buy gifts for needy children in the Boston area.

Caroline was the longest active member of the Union Congregational Church in North Reading for 83 years and a member of its Faith Circle. She found friendship and faith from her participation in  its church services and activities. Kind and generous is how Caroline was described by all who knew her. She loved the challenge of playing all types of games from cribbage to bridge.  Always beautifully dressed, she enjoyed attending live theatre and dinners out with friends and family. She adored her family and provided encouragement and support in all their undertaking.

She is survived by her son, Alan Smith and his wife Barbara of Reading and her daughter, Brenda Smith of Belfast, Maine; brothers, Thomas Foster of Littleton, CO and Frank Foster of Dover, DE; two grandchildren, Alyssa Labrecque and Meryl Sullivan and 5 great grandchildren.

Her memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 20 at 10:00 AM at the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street in North Reading. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 19 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to: The Friends of North Reading Parks/Ipswich River Park, 235 North St. N.Reading 01864 or to the charity of one’s choice.       www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Sigrid  H. (Epple) Perkins – 86, of Stoneham and formerly of Illinois and North Reading, passed away at her home on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Sigrid was born in Saginaw, MI in 1936. After high school, she moved to Chicago, where she met the love of her life, James R. Perkins. They started their married life in Fox River Grove, IL, where James served as mayor, and they had four beautiful daughters. In 1973, they moved the family to Massachusetts, where they bought a business in Lawrence and settled in North Reading, where they resided for 48 years.

Once in Massachusetts, Sigrid was very active in community theater, performing in many plays with Quannapowitt Players and others. She was also a member of the Colonial Chorus in Reading. She enjoyed singing in the church choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Andover, where she was church secretary for over 30 years.

She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, James R. Perkins, her brother Carl Herbert Epple and his wife Nancy; her daughters, Christine Perkins, Julie Phillips and her husband Chip Phillips, Anne Contini and her husband Mark Contini and Melissa Umano; two granddaughters, Dr. Allison Zec and Emma Zec, as well as many nieces and nephews. Do not grieve for every breath you take, I am within.

Her Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 24 at Noon at the Faith Lutheran Church, 360 South Main Street in Andover. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 23 from 4 to 8 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com