All posts by Carol Croswell

Joyce L. Doyle

Joyce L. (Wulleman) Doyle- 74, of North Reading, formerly of Allston, died unexpectedly at her home on January 17, 2022. She was the wife of the late Kenneth A. Doyle.

Born in Boston, MA on September 19, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Roger and Tanya (Alpin) Wulleman.

Joyce was raised and attended school in North Reading. She worked at the J.T. Berry Center as a cook and she also worked at Abbott Shoe. She liked to decorate cakes and was an avid collector of antiques. Joyce was a member of the Candy Collectors of America and won Miss Londonderry Fair in 1962. She ran a booth in the North Reading 4th of July festivities, which she enjoyed a lot. She was a fantastic mother and in her words this was her greatest achievement. She was a performer at heart.

Family members include her sons, Daniel Killpartrick and Bill Ellis; her daughter Sue Ellis and daughter-in-law, Kimberly Bellino; her brother Roger Wulleman; grandchildren, Ian Killpartrick, Aidan Killpartrick, Nicholas Killpartrick, Kenneth Ellis, Brianna Ellis (Ribeiro) and her great-grandchild  Hoxton Killpartrick.

Services will be private and are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. (www.croswellfuneralhome.com) In  lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.

Mildred G. Orben

Mildred G. (Deveau) Orben – 91, of Stoneham, formerly of Wakefield and North Reading died, Thursday evening, January 20, 2022 at the Life Care Center of Stoneham Assisted Living.

Born in Reading, MA on May 21, 1930. She was the daughter of the late George and Helen Minnie (Doucette) Deveau. She was raised in Wakefield and was a graduate of Wakefield High School.

Mildred worked for many years at the Evans Shoe Factory in Wakefield. She has been a resident of Stoneham for the past 4 years, Wakefield for thirty years and North Reading for many years.

Mildred loved children and loved to dance. She also enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles and bingo.
She was the loving wife of 69 years to John J. Orben. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.Services will be private and are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. (www.croswellfuneralhome.com) In lieu of flowers Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association. www.alz.org

Gail E. Strong

Gail E. (Downey) Strong – 83, of North Reading and formerly of Wakefield, died Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at the Royal Meadow View Nursing Center in North Reading.

Born in Melrose, MA on October 11, 1938. She was the daughter of the late Gordan and Grace (Powell) Downey. She was raised and attended school in Wakefield and was graduate of Wakefield High School.

She was a receptionist for Wingate Financial Services in Bedford for twenty five years and she worked for Dutchmaid Clothing as an independent contractor, while her sons were school age. Gail has been a resident of North Reading for the past 60 years.

Gail was a kind hearted woman who loved her family. She always kept the peace, rather than engaging in a conflict. She enjoyed spending time in New Brunswick with relatives in her youth and as an adult spending time with her Canadian cousins as time allowed. She was a sports fan, especially the Red Sox and she loved spending summers in Rangeley, Maine. Gail coached in the original Flower Power Softball League. She took pride in attended her children’s sporting events and raising her family in the Mount Vernon Street neighborhood.

Family members include her loving sons, Jeff Strong of North Reading, Daniel Strong and his wife Heidi of Milton, NH and Christopher Strong and his wife Christine of Hampton, NH; two granddaughters, Nicole and Amy Strong; She was predeceased by her former husband John Strong, her brother, Rae Downey and his wife Jeanne.

The family would like to thank the staff at Royal Meadow View including the Care Dimensions Hospice Service and also the Staff at The Residence at Pearl Street for taking good care of Gail in her failing health.

Visitation will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Sunday, January 23 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, prayer service will start at 3:30 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to/. the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Hope M. Rabasco

Hope  M. (Mazzotti) Rabasco – 90, of North Reading and formerly of Roxbury, died suddenly at her home surrounded by her loving family on Friday, January 14, 2022.

Born in Boston, MA on February 10, 1931. She was the daughter of the late Urbano and Louise (Monticone) Mazzotti. Hope was a graduate of Roxbury Memorial High School for Girls, Class of 1948. She later attended Harvard University Extension School.

Hope has been a resident of North Reading for the past 63 years. She was a member of St. Theresa’s Church and the North Reading Senior Center.

Hope was the much loved matriarch of the family whose warmth, love, and caring for her beloved husband, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren were central to her long, beautiful life. She was very social, forming many connections with others, and would strike up conversations with so many in the town of North Reading, where she resided for over 60 years. She also maintained unique, life-long friendships with those she grew up with in Boston. Hope showed a strong interest in people’s lives, listening to their concerns and lending sincere advice. Hope had a keen sense of humor, a wonderful sense of style, and was a fantastic host for many special occasions. Her cooking skills were beyond compare and were an expression of love for her family and friends. Hope enjoyed travelling to Las Vegas, Cape Cod, and Italy. She also loved opera and all sports. Although Hope will be greatly missed, her love and spirit will always reside with all those who knew and loved her.

Family members include her beloved husband of 65 years, Alexander D. Rabasco; her loving sons, Daniel A. Rabasco and his wife Peg, Stephen M. Rabasco and Alex D. Rabasco and his wife Joanne; six grandchildren, Ana Rabasco and her partner Rui Mascarenhas, Helena  Rabasco, and her partner Eddie Pilande, Clara Rabasco, Garrett Rabasco, Jorden Rabasco and Jillian Rabasco. Also survived by many loving nieces and nephews.  She was the sister of the late Gloria M. Carr.

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, January 22 at 12:30 PM at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in memory to: Franciscan Friars, 2613 Highway 82 East, Greenwood, MS 38930 (662-453-0623) or to Open Medicine Foundation, 29302 Laro Drive, Agoura Hills, CA 91301 (650-242-8669). Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Gloria M. Teta

Gloria M. (Angelo) Ferratusco Teta – 92, a longtime resident of North Reading passed away at her home on Tuesday, January 11, 2022, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Malden, she was the daughter of the late Mary (DeBennedetto) and Joseph Angelo, Sr. of Malden.

She was a bright and shining light, who loved entertaining her family at her home where all would gather for fabulous holiday fun and feasts giving her whole family warm, comforting memories. Everyone loved going to Gloria’s home. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

Gloria will be deeply missed by her four beloved children, Louis of North Reading, Dennis and his wife Kathy of Saugus, Dianne Goodwin and her husband Steve of Sandown, NH, Gale Costa and her husband John of Windham, NH; grandsons, Brian and his wife Wanessa of Salem, NH and Craig of Saugus; great grandson Leonardo and many, many nieces and nephews.

She is survived by siblings, Nicholas Angelo and his wife Beatrice of Malden, Joseph Angelo, Jr. and his wife Dorothy of Melrose, John Angelo and his wife Carol of North Reading, Rosemary Clausen Angelo of Methuen and Dorothy Angelo Grasso of Salem, NH; sister-in-law Marie Angelo, wife of Louis Angelo, Sr. She was predeceased by her husbands, Carmen Ferratusco and Joseph Teta, also brothers, George Angelo, Sr., Louis Angelo, Sr., Anthony Angelo and his wife Florence.

Funeral services will be private and are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be in her memory, Gloria Ferratusco Teta to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.