All posts by Carol Croswell

Kenneth E. Story, Jr.

 

 

Kenneth E. Story , Jr. –  83, of North Reading and formerly of Lynn, died on Saturday, November 22, 2025. He leaves his wife Amy R. (Parker) Story of 59 years and their two children, his son, Kenneth E. Story, III and his wife Kelli and his daughter, Laura (Story) DeAngelis; 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren, his brother, John Story and 4 nephews. He was predeceased by his brother Dennis Story.

Ken graduated from Northeastern University with a master’s degree in electrical engineering. He was an electrical engineer for GTE in Needham and Taunton for 35 years.

Ken won many awards for developing his own black and white pictures from the Greater Lynn Camera Club. He mostly enjoyed New England’s beautiful scenery. He was a member of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading.

His Funeral Mass will be Celebrated on Wednesday, November 26 at 10:30 AM at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Please go directly to church. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Richard W. Ham

Richard Webster Ham – 95, of North Reading, MA, husband of the late Joleen Glidden, passed away on Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at his home in North Reading, MA.

Dick was born in Winchester, Massachusetts on June 8, 1930 to Robert and Priscilla (Webster) Ham. He graduated from Reading High School in 1948. In 1952 he became a very proud graduate of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He frequently reminisced about his Bowdoin friends, fraternity brothers and faculty and enjoyed visiting the campus to see how it had changed over the years.

Dick taught foreign language at Reading Memorial High School for nearly 40 years, and continued as a substitute teacher for many years following his “retirement” in the early 90’s.  He is still fondly remembered by many of his former students. Dick was a long-time member of the Union Congregational Church in North Reading and was part of the church choir, House Committee and the Care Committee at various times. He always looked forward to the annual Christmas fair and treating his eldest daughter to a lobster roll, a tradition begun by his late wife, Joleen.

Dick loved spending his summers at Chewonki Campground in Wiscasset, ME where he and his family camped for over 50 years. Other campers and the owners looked forward to seeing Dick every year, and vice versa.

Dick was much loved and will be sorely missed by his children, Deborah Ham of Peabody, MA; David W. Ham of Merrimack, NH; and Elizabeth V. “Betsey” Driscoll and her husband Raymond of Dracut, MA. He is also survived by four grandchildren, four great-grandsons, his brother David F. Ham and his wife Barbara of North Reading, and several nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dick’s memory to the Bowdoin College Alumni Fund, Bowdoin College, 4100 College Station Brunswick, ME 04011-8432 or the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading, MA 01864.

A private family memorial service will be held at a later date.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Mary Jo Noonan

Mary Jo (Leneski) Noonan, 91, of North Reading and formerly of Malden, passed away peacefully on Friday, November 14, 2025, surrounded by the love and comfort of her family in the home she cherished for more than 60 years.

Mary was predeceased by the love of her life, Joseph Noonan, whom she had been married to for over 65 years. They loved traveling and square dancing — even taking part in the largest square dance held under the Astrodome.

In her early years, Mary worked as a switchboard operator for AT&T, but her greatest work was the life she built with Joe as a homemaker and secretary for their family business, H. Newton Marshall Painting Inc.

Anyone who ever met Mary knew how much she loved making people smile. She had a playful heart and a wonderful sense of fun — she especially loved dressing up for Halloween. One of her favorite things to say was that she “liked to aggravate people”. Mary greeted visitors with “hey, hey, hey!” and sent them off with a loving pinch on the cheeks. She brought warmth, energy, and a generous spirit to everything she touched.

Mary loved sewing, making clothes for her children and square-dancing dresses for herself. She enjoyed westerns, puzzles, and board games. Her favorite hobby was bowling, which she continued into her 70’s as part of the Tuesday Morning Bowling League at Candlewood Lanes in North Reading, where she formed many cherished friendships.

Above all, Mary was most proud of her family. She is survived by her five children: Frederick Noonan of Florida, Douglas Noonan of Massachusetts, Neal Noonan of Florida, Judithe Poirier of Massachusetts, and Caryn Noonan of New Hampshire. She leaves behind 13 beloved grandchildren and many other caring and devoted family members who will carry her memory forward with love.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, November 18, from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Mary’s memory to All Care’s Grateful Giving page (https://allcare.org/grateful/).

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Daniel John Gresek, Jr.

Daniel John Gresek, Jr. of Ipswich, 11/5/1986 – 11/6/2025.

Daniel Passed Away Peacefully early Thursday Morning, November 6 in his mother’s arms. He was a graduate of Ipswich High School.

When Daniel was younger, he could be seen around Little Neck on his rollerblades, out on his dingy and mowing lawns while wearing his rollerblades as well as running with his head down, arms straight back like he was Sonic the Hedgehog. “Gotta go fast!”

Daniel is survived by Father Daniel Gresek Sr. and his Mother Cheryl Gresek; Sisters, Ashley Gresek and Sonia Maksou; Brothers, Michael, John, and George Maksou; Sister in Law’s, Lauren and Crystal Maksou and Christina Santiago; Nephews, Michael, Jack and Justice Maksou, as well as several Aunts, Uncles and Cousins.

Daniel was born with a rare heart defect. He always had a big smile and an even bigger heart. Daniel loved spending time with his family, playing video games and talking to his friends. He loved to tell the same story over and over again, sometimes you would hear the same story twice in one day.

Daniel and his Dad were two peas in a pod, they had such a great relationship. He loved to play jokes on people, especially his sister Ashley. You never had to question where you stood with Daniel because he would let you know. He passed away too young and will be greatly missed.

His viewing will be held on Friday, November 14  from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, MA 01864.  www.croswellfuneralhome

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the American Heart Association (heart.org) or Boston’s Children Hospital (childrenshospital.org).

Josephine Marie Roberts

Josephine Marie (DeLeo) Roberts

                                                            

  1921  –  2024

   Josephine “Jo” (DeLeo) Roberts passed away peacefully in Sherman, Texas on November 20, 2024. She lived to be 103 years old. Jo was born in New York City on September 3, 1921 to Frank and Elvira DeLeo.

After the early death of her parents, she and her brother, Candoloro, moved to live with their aunt and uncle in Boston, Massachusetts, where she was raised.

             In her early twenties, Jo went to work at the Boston Navy Shipyard, where she met her future husband, William L. Roberts. She continued her work as he enlisted in the US Navy and served in World War II. When he returned they were married on July 22, 1945. After their three children were grown, she went to work as a cartographer (map maker) in Plano, Texas, soon becoming a top manager for many years. Bill and Jo spent 73 happy years together, until Bill’s passing in 2018.

Jo had a deep love for her faith, family and friends. She was an excellent cook and baker, who enjoyed preparing special meals and desserts. Christmas was her favorite time of the year. She was known to be very generous with her gift giving and was devoted to celebrating the birth of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill Roberts; her brother, Candoloro DeLeo; her first born son, James Roberts; and her granddaughter, Kaitlyn Roberts.

Jo is survived by her daughter, Linda M. Glover; her son, William L. Roberts; her daughter-in-law, Melinda Roberts; her daughter-in-law, Ann Roberts; her grandchildren, Christina Roberts Capodanno (Steve), Amanda Glover Austin (Roderick), Jamie Glover Smith (Shane); six great-grandchildren, James Paul (JP) Capodanno, Natalie Capodanno, Avery Austin, Everette Austin, Sterling Smith and Cecila Rose Smith; as well as nieces and nephews.

A service will be held on  Saturday, November 15, 2025 at 11:00 AM in the Croswell Funeral Home Chapel, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. She will be buried alongside her husband at the Riverside Cemetery in North Reading, Massachusetts.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com