Anand and Cheryl (Cherrie) Seth –37 year residents of North Reading, MA are remembered with fondness. After celebrating 50 beautiful years of marriage together, devoted husband, Anand, son of deceased father and mother, Girdhar Das and Pratima Seth of India, passed away peacefully at his home on December 17, 2021.  Just 17 days later, his beloved wife, Cherrie, daughter of deceased father and mother, Ralph and Gladys Nadeau of Maine, passed away, joining her husband on January 3, 2022.

Anand was born in Nashipur, India on October 16, 1945.  He spent his first three years in Ghazipur before moving to Varanasi.  He attended the Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology in Allahabad, India, before earning his Master’s in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Maine in Orono where he met his college sweetheart, Cherrie.

Anand was an accomplished Professional Engineer whose expertise spanned over 50 years of designing and optimizing building systems and facilities operations in world-class institutions.  After college, his impressive career began at the Harvard School of Public Health.  He then went on to become Director of Utilities and Engineering at Massachusetts General Hospital 1979-2003.  From 2003-2008 he was the Northeast Regional President for NV5.  He later became the Engineering Principal at Cannon Design 2008-2013.  From 2013-2021 he was Principal Emeritus of ICO Energy and Engineering, Inc.

Anand was the recipient of the ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award and Lifetime Service Award.  He was a mentor to many and was co-author to a series of books on laboratory environments.

In 1975, Anand honored his family’s tradition and became a Freemason.  His dedication to the Craft culminated in him being elected 1982-1983 as Worshipful Master of the North Reading Masonic Lodge where he served as Master Mason for 45 years.

Anand was an absolutely brilliant and loving gentleman who cherished his wife, Cherrie, above all else.  The two were filled with such warm kindness and shared their selfless support, guidance and encouragement with so many.

Cherrie was born in Portland, ME on August 16, 1947 and graduated from Deering High School in 1965.  She earned her Bachelor’s in Modern Languages in 1969 from the University of Maine in Orono.  She began her teaching career at Black River High School, Ludlow, VT where she taught Spanish and English from 1969-1971.  From 1971-2002, Cherrie was a dedicated North Reading Public School Teacher and held a Department of Education Teaching Certificate for French, German and Spanish.  She taught Spanish at the High School for 8 years before transferring to the Middle School where she taught Spanish, as well as inspired students with the Home Economics and International Food & Cultures classes.  She retired in 2002 after 30 years of service.

Cherrie was forever a kid at heart with a unique, fun and eccentric personality.  She was a magnificent gardener and gifted cook.  She had so much to share; her wisdom, knowledge and appreciation for the beauty that she found in the world around us.  She always tried to help those wherever she could and impacted so many with her kindness and generosity.  She was passionate and her heart was remarkable.

Anand and Cherrie were best friends throughout, rarely apart and sharing everything together.  They loved the adventure of traveling to new places and built wonderful memories at their former summer home on Peaks Island, Portland, ME.

Anand and Cherrie are survived by their daughter, Alexandra Seth; And their loving and forever grateful Niece, Kimberly McGhee and husband Matthew; Nephew, Ralph Nadeau and wife Jamie; Their adoring Grandnieces, Brianna, Chelsey, Eden & Ryan; and Grandnephews, Aiden, Owen, Hunter & Josh.  Anand’s Brother, Asit Seth of Ghazipur, India and his many loving Cousins.

Calling hours will be held at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, MA on Thursday, January 20^th from 4-7:00 pm followed with a Prayer Service.

Normand “Buddy” Nelson Poirier Jr.

December 2, 1955 – January 3 , 2022

Normand ‘Buddy’ Poirier of Tewksbury, MA (formerly of North Reading, MA) passed away peacefully at his home on January 3, 2022. Buddy was born in Everett, MA, and spent most of his life in North Reading, MA. He is pre-deceased by his father, Normand N. Poirier and mother, Marilyn A. Mitchell and brother Mark Poirier. He is survived by sisters Karen Cullinane of Woburn, MA, Nannette Poirier and Tim Vedrani of Merrimack, NH, Suzanne Poirier and husband Jonathan Bryan of Fincastle, VA. and brothers David Poirier and his wife Judi of Haverhill, MA and John Mitchell and his wife Salmira also of Haverhill MA, and loving nieces and nephews Carrie, Tom, Elizabeth, Michelle, Rosie, David, Ben, Nilya and Tristyn.

Born on December 2, 1955, Buddy attended North Reading High School Class of 1973. He lived the majority of his life in North Reading and has enjoyed many lifelong friendships in and around the community. Buddy was usually of few words, but when he spoke and laughed it was mostly of his fond memories of his friendships and close family members, including siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Buddy is best remembered for his generous nature, his creative and inventive mind, and his many hand-crafted creations. Whether hand sculpted wooden objects, crafted complex mechanisms, or many original creations, all were original to his mind and remarkable to all who were lucky enough to be included in his personal circle.

Funeral services will be private, and private family burial will be in Riverside Cemetery at the family plot, under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to ‘Friends of the Billerica Council on Aging’ billericacoa.org/donate. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Rita L. (Celino) McNeil – 94,of North Reading and formerly of East Boston, passed away at her home on Friday, December 31, 2021. She was the beloved wife of 66 years to the late Walter J. McNeil.

Born in  Medford, MA on February 17, 1927. She was the daughter of the late    Frank and Lucy A. (Bruno) Celino. Rita was a graduate of East Boston High School.

She was one of the first woman school bus drivers of North Reading. She also worked for the North Reading Transcript with her lifelong friend Millie Lytle. Rita has been a resident of North Reading for the past 72 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Rita was a homemaker and dedicated to her family. She always took care of everyone and all of the animals. She always enjoyed riding horse back in the day.

Family members include her loving children, Walter J. “Buster” McNeil, Jr., Christine Wiese and her husband John, Francis McNeil and Patrick McNeil and his wife Shelby Aimes and the late John McNeil and his surviving wife Eileen McNeil; 8 grandchildren, Linda, Michael, Christopher, Kyle, Danielle, Kelly, Maria and Megan; 9 great grandchildren, Christopher, Brooke, Gabe, Nicholas, Leilani, Alivia, Miles, Aidan and Kayla.

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street,  North Reading on Saturday, January 8 at 10:45 AM, followed by a Noon Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, January 7 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.  Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the MSPCA, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.

Albert W. Avjian, 96, of North Reading died suddenly on Sunday, December 26, 2021. He was known as Al to his friends and as Walter to his family.

Al was born in Malden, MA on August 28, 1925 in Malden, MA. He was the eldest son of the late Albert William and Mary (Hutchinson) Avjian. He was predeceased by his brothers; Ralph and James Avjian and sisters; Helen MacKnight and Addie Ruggles.

Al was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, he was a Navy Armed Guard, 3^rd class signalman and served from 1943 – 1945 on a tanker and two liberty ships. He was on a liberty ship offshore on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Al graduated from Malden High School and attended Bentley College and earned his Certificate in Accounting and went on to work in the technology field. Al was the Operations Manager for Bolt, Beranek and Newman in Cambridge, MA for 30 years.

Al loved his family, growing vegetables in his garden, hiking in Harold Parker State Forest, and watching TV westerns. He volunteered for the Mystic Valley Railroad Society (MVRS) and enjoyed going on many MVRS trips with his wife Sally.

Al was predeceased by his loving wife Sally (Holt) Avjian, married for 54 years. Al was the loving father of Robert Avjian and his wife Susan; Marlene and her husband David Johnson; Andrea and her husband Joseph Ridgley; Karen and her husband Jeffrey Demers. Grandfather of Dara, Eryn, Sean, Thomas, Valerie and Roy. Great-grandfather of Hannah.

Visitation will be on Monday, January 3, from 4-7 PM at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading. Funeral service on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 10 AM at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 235 Park St., North Reading, and private family burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Al Avjian Funeral Service
Tue, Jan 4, 2022 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM (EST)

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In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Al’s name to the Disabled American Veteran (DAV) www.cst.dav.org

William P. “Bill” Leyden – 85, of North Reading and formerly of Somerville, died unexpectedly at his home on December 27, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Ruth (Bjork) Leyden.

Born in Somerville, MA on September 4, 1936. He was the son of the late Thomas and Catherine (Cullen) Leyden. He attended St. Joseph School in Somerville and was a graduate of Don Bosco High School in East Boston. He later attended Newbury College.

Bill was a proud U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of the Korean War. He was a Corporal and served from 1953 to 1956.  He later worked as a Heating Supervisor for the Boston Housing Authority and ABM at Logan Airport.

He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 36 years and was a member of St. Theresa’s Church. He was a life member of the Mass. Beach Buggy  Association, he loved drive and fish the beaches of Cape Cod, Bill enjoyed fly and saltwater fishing. He was a longtime member of the Malden Anglers Fly Fishing Club and a member of the American Legion.

He was the loving father of Deborah Leyden of Amesbury and William M. Leyden and his wife Joan of North Andover;  stepchildren, Sandy and William Boulanger of Chichester, NH, William and Julie Kennedy of Derry, NH; grandfather of Kelly and Megan Leyden of North Andover, Sean and Emily Kennedy of Lee’s Summit, MO and Laura Pezone  and her husband Mike of Sunapee, NH; great grandfather of  Levon Pezone and Onyx Kennedy; he was the dear brother of the late Mary Travaglia, Francis Tassinari, Catherine Orlando, Alice Lynch,  Helen DiFraia; Lorraine Bennett, Robert and Thomas Leyden.

Funeral services will be private and are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to U.S. Marine Toys for Tots, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association. www.croswellfuneralhome.com