Dorothy E. (McAvoy) Costello – 102, of Reading and formerly of North Reading, died at her daughter’s home in Pelham, NH on Monday, January 25, 2021. She was the beloved wife of the late James Costello.

Born in Cambridge, MA on February 26, 1918. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Carolyn (Kidney) McAvoy. She was a graduate of Cambridge High School.

Dorothy worked at Instrumentation Laboratories for 25 years as an office manager. She later worked as a baker for 10 years for the North Reading Public Schools.

She was a former resident of Reading for 30 years. She was a member of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading and an active member of the North Reading Senior Center, where she taught an exercise program there when she was in her eighties. She was an avid baker and continued to present us with treats  well into her nineties.

Dorothy was tiny but very strong. She lived alone and took care of herself until she was 101 years old. Her strong faith in God shone in all she was, a caring loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend to all who knew her.

Family members include her loving daughter, Carolyn Pierce and her husband Donald; grandchildren, Ian McMahon, Joshua McMahon and Lanna Pierce; great grandchildren, Elyse and David McMahon; late sisters, Helen Harris, Mary Hamlin, Veronica Barrett and Margaret Hatten.

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Saturday, January 30 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St. (Rt. 62), North Reading. Visitation on Friday, January 29 from 5 to 7 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Eleanor (Billharz) Fritsch – 92, of North Reading and formerly of Seaford, Long Island, NY, died Saturday, January 23, 2021. She was the beloved wife of 64 years to the late John G. Fritsch.

Born in New York, New York on June 14, 1928. She was the daughter of the late Henry and Martha (Curley) Billharz. She was a graduate of Astoria High School in New York. Eleanor has been a resident of North Reading for the past 55 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Eleanor loved travelling, playing bridge and entertaining her many friends.

Family members include her loving son, Michael E. Fritsch and his partner Laura McLaughlin of North Reading;  late son, John H. Fritsch and late daughter, Martha E. Fritsch; her brother, Robert Billharz and his wife Joanne of Naples, FL  and sister, Jeannette Atkins of Phoenixville, PA; daughter-in-law, Eileen Fritsch of Milford, NH; grandchildren, Dana Fritsch and his wife Lindsay and their daughter Haylie of Las Vegas, NV, Mikayla Fritsch of Somerville and Madison Fritsch of North Reading; step grandchildren, Sean O’ Brien and his daughter Emma and Robyn Smith and her husband Bob; In-laws, the late Margaret and William Chabina of Syosset, NY and Helen Layng and her late husband William of Smyra, GA .

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, January 29 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 28 from 5 to 7 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed (sttheresanreading.org). Social distancing and mask wearing protocols will be followed. Memorial donations may be made in her name to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Irene F. (Atkinson) Ivester – 103, of Tuftonboro, NH, formerly of Sarasota, Florida and North Reading, died at her home on Sunday, January 17, 2021. She  was the beloved wife of the late Kenneth R. Ivester.

Born in Cambridge, MA on August 12, 1917. She was the daughter of the late Samuel and Hilda T. (Thomas) Atkinson. Irene attended North Reading Grammar Schools and was a graduate of Reading High School. After High School she worked at the front desk of the New England Sanatorium in North Reading (a Tuberculosis Hospital). After her children were grown, she worked for her husband, Kenneth R. Ivester Insurance Agency in North Reading.

After the death of her husband, she lived in Sarasota, Florida for 23 years and had fun in the sun, playing golf, swimming and then she moved  to an apartment, with her daughter, JoAnn for 13 years. Irene was an American Red Cross Volunteer for 30 years.

Family members include her loving daughters, JoAnn Andrews and her husband Chad of Center Tuftonboro, NH and Diane Bumford of Lebanon, Maine; 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Kenneth R. Ivester, Jr. Also survived by her sister-in-law, Jeanne Ivester of Salem, NH and her daughters-in-law, Cecilia Lawton and Susan Ivester.

Funeral service will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North  Reading on Thursday, January 28 at 11 AM, Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 10:00 to 11:00 AM. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Lakes Region Humane Society, Ossipee, NH or to the Tuftonboro Fire Department. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Carlton L. McKenzie, Jr. – 91, of Peabody, formerly of North Reading and Weymouth, died at his home on Sunday, January 17, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Lois M. (Melville) McKenzie, who died this past April.

Born in Weymouth, MA on March 25, 1929. He was the son of the late Carlton L., Sr. and Hazel (Curtis) McKenzie. Carlton was a graduate of Weymouth High School and Wentworth Institute, where he received his Associate Degree in Drafting. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of World War II.

Carlton worked in Finance for General Electric in Lynn for over forty years.

He loved relaxing with family and friends. He was a great listener. Carlton’s motto was not whether you get into trouble but how you get out of trouble that matters. He loved to walk the Cape Cod Canal with his best friend Lois. They are now together again.

He loved playing bridge, traveling, camping, the Red Sox and he loved iced tea. He was an active member of the Union Congregational Church in North Reading for many years and served as treasurer for 37 years.

Family members include his Loving son, Steven McKenzie of Dracut; daughters, Susan Bowden of Tyngsboro, Linda Mason of Carbondale, CO and Gail Kosmel of Bratislava, Slovalcia; 9 grandchildren; he was the brother is late Eleanor O’Bryan.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Jimmy Fund or to the local charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

God called Jelane Olga Bragen, 80, of St. Charles home on December 30, 2020 from NHC Nursing Care Facility of St. Charles. She was born in Enfield, ME. on March 22, 1940 to the late Opal and Mervin Dinsmore. Jelane graduated from Lynn Public School in 1957. She worked in the health care field as an in-home care taker. Jelane married her late husband, Barry (Barch) on September 29, 1962 in Lynn, MA. They made their home in North Reading, MA. where Jelane lived until 2017. Jelane enjoyed visiting with her family in Maine and her wonderful friends. Ms. Bragen is survived by her children, Kimberley Bain and Eric Bragen and her 7 grandchildren. www.croswellfuneralhome.com