Howard M. Ash, Jr. –  94, of North Reading, formerly of Lynnfield and Somerville,  died at his home on Sunday, November 21, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Judith M. (Anderson) Ash.

Born in Cambridge, MA on June 5, 1927. He was the son of the late Howard M., Sr. and Lilly (Payne) Ash. He was raised and attended school in Lynnfield. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of World War II.

Howard worked for General Electric after serving in the U.S. Navy. He later worked for American Architectural Iron Company (Local No. 7 Ironworkers) for over 30 years.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, cars and car repairing. His favorite sport was auto racing. He was very talented in that he could fix or build anything. If something was broken, you could always count on him to repair it. He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 62 years. Howard was a member of the Granite State Wheelmen Bicycle Club, East Coast Sidebanders Radio Club and the Lowell Sportsmen’s Club.

Family members include his loving son, Russell Ash and his wife Karen; daughters, Carolyn Ash and Martha Hartery and her husband Owen; 4 grandchildren Brian, Laura, Shannon and Colleen; 4 great grandchildren, Alana, Austin, Julian and Liliana. He was the brother of the late Hedley Ash and Dorothy Hopkins.

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 his memory to the North Reading Food Pantry, 150 Haverhill Street, North Reading, MA 01864.

Lisa Ramsay Burke – 54, of North Reading, passed away on Sunday, November 7, 2021. She was born on July 10,1967 in Malden, Massachusetts. She was a pure and gentle soul who despite many adversities, always had an infectious smile and was a happy and loving girl. She grew up in North Reading on Swan Pond Road, where as a young child she relished riding her bike and being part of the neighborhood gang. To know Lisa was to love and adore her, and there was no greater feeling than when she would tell you “you’re nice”!

She attended Crotched Mountain School in New Hampshire from age 10 until her 21sth birthday, coming home every weekend for cherished family time.  After school, she spent the next 30 years residing in a group home in Medford with her best friend Kathy, with things coming full circle in 2017 when she moved to a new group home in North Reading.

You could often find Lisa doing puzzles and crafts while listening to her favorite artist, Michael Crawford. She was enamored with all things Disney! From trips to the park with endless rides on It’s a Small World, to the many movies she watched under her favorite photo blankets, Mickey and Minnie were always a favorite. And, she rooted exuberantly for all “her” Boston Sports teams, especially TB 12.

Most of all, Lisa loved being with her mom and dad and family. She appreciated a good party and thoroughly enjoyed the holidays. She loved getting dressed up and spending time with her nieces and nephews, from watching them swim in the pool to flying kites at Lynch Park and Salem Willows enjoying a lobster roll to the many trips to her favorite restaurant McDonalds to family game nights around the table – Lisa would laugh the entire time with sheer joy.

Always surrounded by lots of love, she leaves behind a devoted family – including her mother Linda (Ramsay) Burke, late father David Burke, her sister Kristin and her husband Tim of Westford and her 3 nieces, Brittany, Briana, and Brooke, her sister Dina and her husband Luke of Andover and her 3 nephews Aidan, Ryan, and Liam whom she affectionately referred to as “her boys” and “her girls”, her uncle Eddie Brackett and late wife Janice Brackett and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.

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 Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading ,MA 01864 or to the Shriners Hospital for Children. www.Shrinerschildrens.org

Helen F. (Towne) Mullins – 99, passed away at her home in North Reading, MA on October 12, 2021. She was comforted by her son John P. Mullins, daughter Jean Mullins, grandson Joseph Moubhij and his partner Jessica Prince, and Aidi Moubhij.

Helen and her husband John J. Mullins (deceased) raised their family in Reading, MA. She grew up in Kennebunk, Maine where most of her family still resides including Robert Towne, his wife Geraldine (Green), son Ryan Towne, and daughter Amy Martel, her husband Tim, and her children Mathew, Jacob, and Heather.

Helen graduated from Kennebunk High School in 1941 and attended McInstosh College in Dover, New Hampshire. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Boston, MA to find work as a secretary. On New Year’s Eve 1952 she was set up on a blind date with her future husband John at the Somerville Elks and they were married the following July. Helen continued to work while they lived in Cambridge and then in Reading until they started a family in 1959. Helen was unfailingly empathetic, especially toward those who were struggling or in pain. She was naturally kind and compassionate and loved her family and friends unconditionally.

Helen was also predeceased by her brothers William Towne and his wife Sally, Hugh Towne, and Fred Towne; her late sisters Catherine Hanson and husband Rodney, Elizabeth Boston Cashen and husbands Roy Boston and Eddie Cashen, Madeline Sargent and husband Willard; late nephews Thomas Boston, William Boston, David Sargent, and Peter Sargent; and late nieces Martha (Towne) Riley and Elizabeth (Sargent) Gendron.

She will be lovingly remembered by her family who currently live or have lived in Kennebunk: Donald Gendron, Teresa Gendron, Sandra Gendron, Angela Gendron, Chelsea Burnell, Meghan Emerson, William Towne, Patricia (Towne) Graffam, Michael Towne and his wife Betty, John Towne and his wife Marilyn, Maureen Towne, Mary Hyland and her husband John, Linda Fecteau, and Susan Sargent. She will also be dearly missed by the Moubhij family, her sisters-in-law Phyllis Mullins and Mary Mullins, and her many nieces and nephews in the Mullins family.

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Saturday, October 23 at 10 AM, followed by a Noon Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held prior to the funeral from 10 to 11:20 AM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to: Hospice & Palliative Care Federation of Massachusetts, 20 Commercial Drive, Suite 1, Wrentham, MA, 02093 (https://www.hospicefed.org/donations).  www.croswellfuneralhome.com

James J. Tellier – 60, of North Reading and formerly of Andover, died unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, September 26, 2021. 

Born in Methuen, MA on June 21, 1961. He was the loving son of Ellen M. (Dollar) LaCasse of Washington, NH and the late Allen D. Tellier. James was a graduate of North Reading High School, Class of 1979. He has been a resident of North Reading for over 45 years. 

James worked for many years as a surveyor and also as a handyman. He had a heart of gold and was right there any time for anyone, all you had to do was ask. He was a happy person who loved life and people. He had a great sense  of humor. His son James was his pride. He always relished time with family and friends. He was very creative with art projects. He liked working with tools and cars. 

Besides his mother he is survived by his sons, James J. Tellier-Atwood of Raymond, NH and Joseph Tellier of Lowell; his daughter, Jessica Tellier of Lowell; brothers, Thomas Tellier of Washington, NH and the late Michael Tellier; sisters, Cindy Goodwin of Stoneham and Cathleen Day of North Andover.  

Visitation will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, October 8 from 6 to 8 PM.  

www.croswellfuneralhome.com 

Aris (Kourbetsos) O’Callaghan – 65, of Stoneham and formerly of North Reading, died unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, September 21, 2021.

Born in Stoneham, MA on February 13, 1956. She was the daughter of the late  John A. and Mary (Curuby) Kourbetsos.  She was a graduate of North Reading High School, Class of 1974.

Aris spent many years serving the public at Christopher’s Restaurant in Wakefield and later at the Christopher’s location in Reading. She worked for over 20 years in the insurance business, most recently with Physicians Insurance Agency. She has been a resident of Stoneham for the past 14 years.

Aris was a beloved mother, wife, sister, aunt, daughter and friend. She was always there for her children who she adored more than anything. She was married to the love of her life Mark, who she considered one of her best friends as well.

She was an artist that passed this skill along to her youngest daughter Hayley. She shared a love of cars with her son Andrew. Aris also enjoyed watching and gossiping/discussing shows she and her oldest Deandra would watch.

Family members include her loving husband of 34 years, Mark O’Callaghan; her son, Andrew O’Callaghan of Stoneham; her daughters, Deandra O’Callaghan of Winchester and Hayley O’Callaghan of Stoneham; sisters, Collette Carbone of Wilmington and Margie Braccio of Medway.

Visitation will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, September 24 from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. A brief service will start at 4:50 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com