Dorothy L. (Corbett) Hartery – 95, of North Reading and formerly of Medford, died Monday, May 23, 2022 at the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late William F. Hartery.

Born in Medford, MA on May 8, 1927. She was the daughter of the late Harry and Lillian (Masiello) Corbett. Dorothy was raised in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School.

Dorothy was a secretary for the North Reading Public Schools for 28 years. She also worked for the Army Base in South Boston from 1945 to 1946, American Art Institute in Boston from 1946 to 1948 and the F.W. Dodge Corporation in Boston from 1948 to 1950.

She was a devoted wife, a loving and caring mother, who was supportive and protective of her family. She was a part time secretary for MH Auto Service in North Reading and a cheerleader of her son’s athletic careers. She loved to read westerns and mysteries, crocheted afghans, mittens, hats and everything else. She was a damn good cook and loved the beach.

Dorothy was a resident of North Reading for over 72 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church. She was a member of the North Reading Senior Citizen Group and was a hockey cheerleading advisor in North Reading from 1973 to 1978. She also enjoyed working at the North Reading voting polls for many years.

Family members include her four loving sons, Andrew and his wife Donna, Michael, Stephen and his wife Gail and Peter and his wife Ann; sisters, Marion Almquist and Alice Duddy; 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be private at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, May 27. (*please have flowers delivered by noon, thanks.)  A graveside service will be held in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading at 11:00 AM on Saturday, May 28. A funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 10:45 AM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 133 Federal Street, Boston, MA 02110 or to the North Reading Senior Center, 157 Park Street, North Reading, MA 01864.  www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Thomas  P. Babcock – 62, of North Reading and formerly of Fitchburg, died at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Born in Fitchburg, MA on August 14, 1959. He was the son of the late Joseph and Gloria (Mazzelli) Babcock.

Tom was a graduate of Maynard High School and was a truck driver for Fed Ex Freight for the past 12 years. He has been a resident of North Reading for 35 years.

Tom was special because of his laid-back caring and loving personality. He would do anything for anyone at any time to help. He was a hard-working family man that provided for his family and loved them all unconditionally. He was a Mr. Fix it, a car mechanic, car enthusiast and a NASCAR lover.

Family members include his loving wife of 33 years, Pamela (Doucette) Babcock; his daughter Laura Boggs and her husband Jeffrey; grandson Jaden Boggs; stepfather David C. Hull; stepbrother Andy Hull; stepsisters Tyna Hull, Leslie Johnsen and Sara Hull; and sister-in-law Louise Doucette.

Calling hours will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Tuesday, May 17 from 4 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 42040, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-3000. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Jeanette (Casa) Levoy- passed away at her home surrounded by family on May 11th 2022.

Jeanette grew up in North Reading and was a long time resident, graduating North Reading High School in 1975.

She is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, Eric Levoy, son Richard Flanders, daughter Sarah Sotiropoulos, son in law Richard Sotiropoulos, brothers Melvin Casa, Michael Casa, Steven Casa and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her mother, Emma Casa and father Melvin Casa.

Services will be private.

Daniel K. O’Brien – 79, of Newton, NH and Naples, FL, and formerly of North Reading, MA, passed away peacefully amongst family on May 8, 2022. Daniel (Dan) was a loving husband for 56 years to his recently deceased wife, Kathleen with whom he lived in North Reading for 38 years and raised his 3 children Kristine, Julie and Dan.

Born in 1942, Dan attended Saint Francis de Sales Parochial School in Charlestown and graduated from Boston Technical High School in 1960. He went on to earn a degree in Aircraft Maintenance Technology from Wentworth Institute of Technology in 1962. A dedicated life-long learner, Dan earned four additional degrees from Northeastern University: Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Master of Business Administration, and Master of Electrical Engineering. In 2005, he earned his Doctorate of Engineering from University of Massachusetts at Lowell. He also served our country as an active-duty member of the Army National Guard.

While working at the telephone company as a young engineer, Dan was tasked with designing an emergency call response system. His design entitled “EMERGENCY SERVICE 911 ARRANGED FOR #1XBAR AND PANEL C.O.” is known today as “911.” The design was widely deployed, and although it has been updated over the years with changing technologies, Dan’s original design helped countless people in need of emergency help. He moved on to engineering management positions within the telephone company (New England Telephone, NYNEX, AT&T) and retired after 30 years. Dan found another passion in his second career, teaching electrical engineering and mathematics at Merrimack College in North Andover for well over a decade.

He was happiest in life when surrounded by his adoring family. He enjoyed golfing, playing his guitars, reading engineering text books, and watching the ocean sunsets with his beloved wife, Kathy.

Dan will be dearly missed by his children: Kristine (O’Brien) Davis and her husband Joe Davis of North Reading, Julie (O’Brien) Fennell and her husband David Fennell of Auckland, New Zealand, and Daniel O’Brien and his wife Alicia (Moore) O’Brien of Dedham. He will always be remembered as a loving Grampy to his six grandchildren: Patrick and Erin Davis; Shaun Fennell; and Raelyn, Maeve, and Mila O’Brien.

Dan is also survived by his sisters Beverly Rogers of Gloucester, and Marion Connolly of Duxbury, and his brother Edward O’Brien of Naples, FL.

He was predeceased by his parents James and Mary O’Brien, his brother James O’Brien, and his sister Patricia (O’Brien) Whitlock, all formerly of Charlestown

Visiting hours will be held between 1pm to 3pm on Sunday, May 15 at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. A funeral mass will be celebrated at Saint Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading on Monday, May 16 at 10:30am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Daniel O’Brien to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 (www.stjude.org). www.Croswellfuneralhome.com

Ralph J. Sweetland, Jr. –Retired North Reading Deputy Chief, Ralph J. Sweetland, Jr. of North Reading and Naples, ME, died on Saturday, April 9, 2022. He was 89.

Ralph, known as Jack to his family and friends, was born to the late Madeline (Esty) and Ralph J. Sweetland, Sr. in a house on Main Street and lived in town for over65 years. Mr. Sweetland attended the Batchelder Elementary School; later graduating from Reading High School in 1952. He attended Franklin Technical Institute while working at his family’s business, D & S Service Station and as a part-time Call Firefighter.

During the Korean conflict, Jack enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and after serving for 3 years returned home to continue his 40 year career with the NRFD, serving as Acting Chief and retiring as Deputy Chief.

Jack married Priscilla (Burleigh) on Valentine’s Day 1959, raised 4 children together and celebrated 63 years of marriage. Throughout his life Jack was active playing tennis, gardening, skiing and home improvement projects. He is also well known for being there when needed. If the neighbors had bats in their living space, he showed up with tennis racket in hand. When the snow storms hit, he was plowing out the neighborhood. And when the river behind his house froze, he made sure it was safe for the neighborhood children to skate.

In his retirement, Jack could be found on the slopes of Shawnee Peak most mornings and in the summer months he enjoyed exchanging stories with other old-timers at the local bait shop in Naples.  Jack loved gardening, but despised woodchucks.  He spent over 50 years boating on Sebago Lake where he had taught many how to waterski.

Jack had a wit and sense of humor that came out at unexpected times and had a devilish way about him. At times he was known as Bad Jack, but he was truly a gentleman, was genuine, and will be missed by those who knew him well.

Jack is survived by his wife Priscilla, son Karl B. and his wife Kim of Tyngsborough, daughter Kristine P. and daughter-in-law Karen of North Reading, grandchildren Gabrielle, Joshua, and Tristan, several nieces, nephews, and is pre-deceased by his son Brian E., daughter Lissa R. and brother Gerald.

Mr. Sweetland’s funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Tuesday, May 17 at 11 am. Visitation will be held on Monday, May 16 from 4 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the North Reading Fire Department.

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Time: May 17, 2022 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

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