Lester Donald Welch, 93, a lifelong resident of North Reading, passed peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on Thursday, February 19, 2026.  Born on November 18, 1932 in North Reading, MA to Lester and Alma (Eisenhaure) Welch.  He attended schools in North Reading and Reading, MA and served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict.

He was a devoted husband who was married to the love of his life, Ruthie, for 68 years before her passing in January 2023.  He was the most loving and caring Father, Brother, Uncle, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather.  His family was blessed to have him by our sides for all these years.   He was always willing to help others in any way he could and would welcome everyone into his heart and home with open arms.  His smile and laugh were infectious and will always be in our memories.

Donald was an accomplished carpenter who ran his own business for years in partnership with his brother Edward and long-time friend Bud.  He was amazing at his craft, extremely detailed oriented and a perfectionist.  He was always hard working and provided for his family ensuring stability and did it with honor.

His passions included spending time with his brother and best friend, Howard, along with his son Brad and nephew Mark at their hunting camp in West Milan, NH.  The family cottage in West Newfield, ME on Balch Lake was definitely a place of peace which brought him a tremendous amount of joy and happiness, making a lot of fantastic memories.  He loved boating and relaxing on the dock with family and friends.  Donald was constantly active, loved being outdoors and always busy with a project.

He is survived by his son, Bradford Welch and wife Cheryl of Salem, NH; daughter Sheila Welch-Miller and husband Don of Townsend, MA; and brother Howard Welch of Mont Vernon, NH; eight cherished grandchildren: Stephen, Alycia, Shane, Bradford and Andrew Welch; Nicole Welch-Guilfu and husband Benny; Arielle Welch-Williams, and Amber Eaton; six great grandchildren; Eliana, Sierra, Kip, Holly, Preston, and Malyiah; along with many loved nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife Ruthie, son Stephen, daughter Darlene, and brother Edward.

Donald leaves behind a legacy of love and kindness that will never be forgotten.  The entire family is absolutely heartbroken left with a huge whole in our lives.  His loved ones find strength knowing Donald is no longer suffering, and has been reunited with his wife Ruthie, children Stephen and Darlene along with other family members in heaven.

His funeral will be held on Friday, February 27 at 11:00 AM, at the Trinity Evangelical Church, 105 Haverhill Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 26 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Danvers, MA 01923.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Susan Ellen O’Leary- age 82, passed away unexpectedly on February 15, 2026, following complications from surgery.

Born on July 9, 1943, in Winthrop, MA, to John E. and Mary Gertrude McFarland, Susan was the eldest of seven children and was raised in North Reading, MA. A 1961 graduate of North Reading High School where she was voted “Most Popular” by her classmates.  She earned her associate degree and worked as a dental assistant before discovering her professional passion in the antiques business. Her career spanned 58 years, beginning with weekend shows in 1967 and including participation in hundreds of events and memberships in numerous antique shops. A significant highlight was hosting her successful annual “Homeworks” antique show from her home in Andover. Susan had many mentors in her Antique circles, as her success and longevity furthered, she took great pride in sharing her expertise by becoming a mentor herself to many younger dealers in the business until her retirement in October 2025.

Susan married the love of her life, Thomas J. O’Leary Jr. also from North Reading Ma, in July 1967.  At this time Thomas was a Lieutenant in the US Army stationed at Fort Meade, Maryland. Susan was named “Mrs. Lieutenant 1967 of Fort Meade” for her dedicated volunteer work in the dental clinic. Their eldest daughter, Meaghan, was born in 1969 in Silver Spring Maryland and the family moved shortly thereafter to Andover, MA, where they raised their three children: Meaghan, Ryan, and Brendan. A deeply caring and incredibly generous mother, Susan was always present for her children, supporting them in every aspect of their lives.

Family was the cornerstone of Susan’s life. One of seven siblings, she ensured her children remained close to their many cousins through countless cookouts and holiday gatherings. Susan took immense pride in the bond her children shared with her beloved nieces and nephews.

Susan and Thomas shared 58 years of marriage, with a love that grew deeper every day. Following Thomas’s retirement in 2003, the couple spent 23 years working together in the antiques business and enjoying life’s “treasure hunts.” They particularly loved “mystery rides,” exploring new roads and yard sales. This sense of adventure continued when they moved to Maine in 2021, a place Susan truly loved. Above all, Susan cherished her four grandchildren—Lucas, Olivia, Ayla, and Dylan—treasuring every moment watching them grow.

Susan is survived by her husband, Thomas; her daughter, Meaghan; her son, Brendan, daughter-in-law Melissa, and their children Ayla and Dylan of Eliot, ME; and her son, Ryan, daughter-in-law Nara, and their children Lucas and Olivia of Salisbury, MA. She is also survived by her siblings: Sandra Skulley, wife of the late William Skulley;Susan McFarland, wife of the late Jack McFarland; George McFarland and his wife Charlene; Mary Russell, wife of the late Douglas Russell; Janet and Steve MacKean; and Robert McFarland. Susan is also survived by many brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, and nephews, all of whom she loved greatly.

Services will be held on Friday, February 20, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading, MA. A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church 63 Winter Street (Rt62) North Reading, MA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or the American Heart Association.

www.CroswellFuneralHome.com

James  M.  Reardon – 71, of Sebastian, Florida and formerly of North Reading, passed away unexpectedly on February 3, 2026.

Born in Malden, MA on March 25, 1954, he was the son of the late Francis H., Sr. and Roselle L. (MacDonald) Reardon. He was raised and attended school in North Reading.

Jim was a construction worker and was a local union member. He worked on many state projects. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus in North Reading. Jim was an avid Boston sports fan and especially loved the Patriots, he loved his Harley Motorcycle, he enjoyed gardening and he loved taking dance lessons with his partner Maureen.

Family members include his brother Philip Reardon and his wife Catherine and his sister Deborah Dion and her husband Paul; his partner Maureen (Fitzpatrick) Boggiato. He was predeceased by his brothers, Francis H., Jr, Robert D. and William J. Reardon and his niece Jaime Reardon; also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Friday, February 13 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. A graveside service will be held at 12:30 PM at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome

Carol A. Swanson (Johnson), age 89, a woman of deep faith and creative spirit, passed away on February 5, 2026. A longtime resident of North Reading, Carol’s life was defined by her devotion to her family, her community, and the quiet joy of a hand-stitched quilt.

Born and raised in Peabody, Carol eventually settled in North Reading, where she spent the majority of her life. She was a dedicated parishioner of St. Theresa’s Church, where her faith was a guiding light and a constant source of strength.

Carol was a gifted seamstress and quilter, and her family will always cherish the beautiful pieces she meticulously crafted. Her hands were rarely still; when she wasn’t sewing, she was often giving back to her original hometown by volunteering at the Peabody Senior Center. Carol also lived life with great energy—she was a regular at aqua aerobics and found immense joy in the theater, frequently attending plays and musicals with friends and family.

Above all, Carol loved her family deeply. She was the heart of every gathering and the steady hand her loved ones always relied on.

She is survived by her beloved husband, Clyde Swanson.

Carol also leaves behind her loving children: Susan Fitzgerald and her partner Michael Poltack; Eric Swanson and his wife Pam; and Lynne Day and her husband Michael. She was the cherished grandmother of Casey Fitzgerald, Ian Fitzgerald, and Dylan Fitzgerald and his fiancée Taylor O’Clair. She is also survived by her only great-grandchild, Reese Fitzgerald.

Arrangements are under the care of Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. At the request of the family, services and interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Carol’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (alzfdn.org). Contributions may also be made to the Peabody Senior Center or St. Theresa’s Parish in North Reading.

Fred Hitchins – 76, of Plymouth, formerly of Abington and North Reading, following a dignified battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Fred was born on March 22nd1949 in Chelsea, MA to the late Arthur and Philomena (Greico) Hitchins and grew up in North Reading. After graduating from North Reading High School in 1967, he embarked on a long and successful career in business, including ventures at Empire Clothing and Ward Brothers in Maine in the 1980s. In the later years of his career, he worked for Products Plus in partnership with his dear friend, Bruce Warneck. Even as his cognition declined, Fred maintained his professionalism and fashion sense-always seen in dress pants and a button-up.

Fred was an avid fan of stock car racing, traveling throughout New England as part of a Busch North team in the early 1990s. Fixing things and tinkering around the house were lifelong passions. Fred was rarely idle. In retirement, he’d constantly be thinking up a new project, one of his proudest being the creation of his backyard koi pond. He took pride in his landscaping and cherished spending time with his grandchildren, especially watching his granddaughter’s softball games. On summer evenings, he could often be found enjoying a Red Sox game on his back deck. He enjoyed Papa Gino’s pizza and a hot dog on Fridays and a Friendly’s hot fudge sundae any day of the week. If anyone needed a helping hand, Fred was the first to offer it.

Fred was the loving father of Michael and Sarah Hitchins of Middleborough, and Jennifer and Brandon Doherty of Norfolk; the beloved Papa of Lucy and Henry Hitchins; the cherished brother of Barbara and Anthony Zeimetz of Andover, Robert and Ellen Hitchins of Wilmington, and Kathy and Tim Gallant of North Reading. He is also survived by his former wife, Debra Hitchins of Plymouth and their loyal companion Montana, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Donald Hitchins, and dogs Nook, KC, Bandit, and Dakota.

Fred’s family is immensely grateful to the staff of Sunrise of Plymouth Beach for their compassionate care over the past year and a half.

His funeral will be held on Saturday, January 31 at 12:30 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held prior to the service from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. Interment will follow in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Fred’s honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com