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

Neal E. Rooney, III – 70, of North Reading and formerly of Somerville, died unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, December 18, 2021.

He was born in Somerville, MA  on January  8, 1951. He was the son of the late Neal E., II and June (Dunn) Rooney. He was raised and attended school in Somerville.

Neal was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, he was a Paratrooper and served from 1968 to 1969. He was a Corporal and received the Bronze Star Medal.

He was a mason for the MWRA for over thirty years and has been retired for the past 5 years. Neal was a resident of North Reading for the past 32 years, he was a former member of the Planning Commission and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Neal had a huge heart, he was a family man and made people laugh. He was hard working and very giving to others. He loved model cars, trains, houses, hunting and boating. Neal was a 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran.

Family members include his loving wife of 32 years, Catherine M. (Powers) Rooney; his son, Neal E. Rooney, IV; his brother, Thomas Rooney and sisters, Linda (Rooney) Belcher and Heidi Mattos.

His Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading on Friday, January 7 at 10:30 AM. Masks must be worn at all times inside of church. Visitation will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Thursday, January 6 from 4 to 7 PM.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the North Reading Veteran’s Gift Account, 235 North Street (Town Hall), North Reading, MA 01864. Attention, Susan Magner. (www.croswellfuneralhome.com)

Kathleen (Keane) O’Brien of Newton, NH and Naples, FL (and formerly North Reading, MA) passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on December 11, 2021. Kathleen (Kathy) was the loving wife of Daniel K. O’Brien with whom she had recently celebrated 56 years of devoted marriage. She was the cherished mother of Kristine (O’Brien) Davis, Julie (O’Brien) Fennell, and Daniel O’Brien. She is predeceased by her father Thomas J. Keane Sr and her mother Pauline G. Keane formerly of Malden.

Born on October 10, 1943 at Somerville Hospital, Kathy attended the Saint Clement School in Medford, Immaculate Conception School in Malden, and graduated from Malden Girls Catholic High School in 1961. She made many lifelong friendships while working at her first job at F.W. Woolworths in Medford, and then John Hancock, New England Telephone Company and Star Market in North Reading, MA.

She lived 38 wonderful years in North Reading where she was involved with many of her children’s activities including the Brownies and Girl Scouts, and often volunteered as a room mother at school.

Kathy blessed all she met with her most generous heart and wonderful sense of humor. She will be remembered by all for the smiles and joy she brought to every life she touched. Kathy was blessed with an ability to instantly connect with others and make them feel at ease. She was a gifted artist originally crafting in ceramics and floral arrangements. Later in life her talent blossomed into drawing and painting. She was full of joy when she was creating beautiful artwork and she will be remembered as a true artist.

Kathy was a lifelong Boston Bruins fan with a special fondness for Bobby Orr. She also enjoyed reading, listening to the Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, and Irish music especially The High Kings.

She loved the beach particularly at sunset both in Florida and New England. Watching the waves crash along the rocks at Salisbury Beach State Reservation was one of her favorite activities, along with foliage drives in Autumn.

She was happiest in life whenever she was surrounded by her loving family. Heaven on earth was spending the day with her husband Dan, her children, grandchildren, siblings and friends.

In addition to her husband Dan, she is survived by her 3 children Kristine (O’Brien) Davis and her husband Joseph 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, MA. She will always be lovingly remembered by her 6 grandchildren Patrick and Erin Davis, Shaun Fennell, and Raelyn, Maeve and Mila O’Brien.

Also survived by her siblings Thomas J. Keane of Billerica (formerly of North Port, FL and Stoneham, MA); Maureen McDermott and her husband Bob of Chester, NH; Christine McNeil of Malden, MA and Martin Keane and his wife Marie of Atkinson, NH, and several nieces, nephews, and friends.

Visiting hours will be between 4:00 to 8:00 PM this Friday, December 17 at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint Theresa’s Church in North Reading, 63 Winter Street, North Reading, the following day on Saturday, December 18 at 10:30 AM. Masks are encouraged but not required in the Funeral Home. At St. Theresa’s Church masks must be worn inside the church.  Thank you

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Jude’s Hospital in memory of Kathleen O’Brien. (www.croswellfuneralhome.com)