Richard Wayne Anderson “Dick” –  age 85, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 10, 2020 at the Sawtelle Hospice House.  He was born on January 28, 1935 in Medford, MA, to William E. Anderson and RoseMary (Gallagher) Anderson.  He was a 1952 graduate of Reading High School in Reading, MA. Following high school, he went on to join the US Navy and returned to Reading, MA to marry his high school sweetheart Virginia (White) Anderson in June 1957.  Dick earned his degree in Electronic Engineering from Lowell Tech (UMass Lowell) in 1960.  He had a very long career in electronics, participating in the development of the MRI, televisions, military devices, and radar systems, receiving patents and awards.  He travelled extensively internationally during his tenure as an engineer and leader of teams, with Japan being a major focus for many years.

Dick woke up every day with incredible energy and sense of purpose.  He was always ready with a smile and he lived his life to the fullest encouraging others to do the same.  He was known for his great sense of humor and for being socially outgoing.  He could easily make a friend standing in line at the bank; he was such an enthusiastic talker.   Always quick to laugh, he loved spending time with friends and family.  Dick was also an avid golfer and was a member of Bear Hill Golf Club and Thomson Country Club for many years in retirement.  Golfing was a true passion of his and he was quite proud of the hole in one he received at Bear Hill in 2006.  He really loved all sports and was a loyal fan of the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots.  One could always count on him enjoying every game with a beer in his hand.  Dick also loved to read and had a keen interest in history and philosophy as well as legal thrillers and spy stories.  Additionally, he had an affinity for music of all genres and enjoyed singing and dancing.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years Virginia “Ginny”; a brother, P. Douglas Anderson and his wife Beverly of North Reading; his son Jeffrey Anderson and his wife Joan of Andover, MA; his son Mark Anderson and his wife Linda of Reading, MA; his daughter Laura (Anderson) Scales and her husband Chad of Atlanta, GA; his daughter Nancy (Anderson) Brown and her husband Kevin of Reading, MA; and his daughter Cheri Anderson of Great Barrington, MA.  He is also survived by 8 much beloved grandchildren: Katie Anderson, Kevin Anderson, Ross Anderson, Curtis Anderson, Natalie Scales, Catherine Scales, Christopher Brown and Allison Brown; as well as many nieces, nephews, and dog friends:  Bella, Kobe, Gracie and Bergeron, and Isabelle the cat.  He was also predeceased by a brother William Anderson and sister Rosemarie Davi.

A memorial Mass will be held on Monday, September 21, 2020, 10:30 AM, at St. Theresa Parish, 63 Winter Street, North Reading, MA  01864. Due to Covid-19, all participants are required to wear a mask at all times.

In lieu of flowers, a donation is welcome to one of the following: The Myelodysplastic Syndrome Foundation: https://www.mds-foundation.org/donate/ Sawtelle Hospice House, Reading, MA: https://vnaofme.com/donate/

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Joan (Rolfe) Crawford- Of North Reading, MA, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 9, 2020, at the age of 89.  She was the daughter of the late Frederick W. Rolfe, Jr. and Ariel M. (Decker) Rolfe of Malden & Melrose and sister of the late Edwin D. Rolfe.  Joan grew up in Melrose, MA and graduated from Melrose High School, Class of 1948 and Boston University, Class of 1950.  She married her high school sweetheart, the late Charles Whitney (Whit) Crawford, in 1951. They were married 58 years until his death in 2009.  She was the devoted mother of Michael and his wife Carol of Rockport, Richard and his wife Anne of Melrose, the late Steven of North Reading, Brian and his wife Karla of Youngsville, LA, Philip and his wife Ellen of Lynnfield and Susan (Crawford) Standley of North Reading.  Joan was the loving grandmother of 12 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, with number 9 on the way.  Joan lived in a circa 1750 farmhouse since 1959 that she and Whit had restored, the site of many parties over the years, and lived in North Reading a total of 63 years.

Joan was very active in the community. She was a two-time Past President of North Reading Historical & Antiquarian Society for which she baked many pies for the Apple Festival, she was Past President of the North Reading Garden Club where she participated in garden teas, garden tours and flower shows at the Topsfield Fair and in Boston. She belonged to the Union Congregational Church where she was a Past President of the Monday Club and Chair of the Christmas Faire. She was a member of the North Reading Camp Fire Girls Council and a Cub Scout Den Mother.

Joan loved gardening (but hated weeds!). She also enjoyed rug hooking, rug braiding, repairing antique chair seats and bird watching.  She had twelve bird feeders which attracted a large variety of birds.  She enjoyed watching them and the deer, squirrels, chipmunks, groundhogs, ducks, turkeys, and rabbits that all visited her backyard.

Joan will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in North Reading on September 14, 2020 with family in attendance.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Joan’s memory to either the North Reading Historical Society (https://nreadinghistory.org/) or the North Reading Garden Club (https://northreadinggardenclub.org/ ) . Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Barbara A. (Opacki) Moore – 81, of Reading and formerly of Melrose and North Reading, died at her home on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Henry Moore.

Born in Boston, MA on April 30, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Domenic and Sophie (Kosmaciewski) Opacki.

Barbara was raised and attended school in Saugus. She was a waitress for many years, she worked for Vallee’s and the Kernwood Restaurants. She also worked for many years at Kappy’s Liquor and for Russo’s Candie store in Saugus, until her 70’s. Barbara worked with her brothers and her dad at his business, Middlesex Cleaning Company in Cambridge for many years.

She was very loving and caring. She was adored by her 4 children, 7 grandchildren  and 6 great grandchildren. Barbara enjoyed her granddogs: Poochie and Pete Peterson (LOL).

Family members include her daughters, Debbie Moore and Richard Field of Andover, Laurie and Steve Correale of North Reading and Susan and Ronald DeLuca, formerly of Medford; her son, Buddy Moore of Florida; brothers, Richard and Barbara Opacki of Daytona Shores, FL, Steven and Mary Opacki of Ipswich and the late Paul Opacki of Cambridge; her loving sister, adored by Barbara and her daughter Dorothy and John McDonnell of Pembroke, NH; 7 grandchildren, Steven Correale, Jr. Daniel Demetri, James Correale, Jennifer Demetri, Kimberly Field, Lindsay Waitt, Michelle and Rob DeLuca; great grandchildren, Aubrey Devartain, Charles Waitt, Jr., Aria Sciarappa, twin boys Cameron and Cole Demetri; expecting in November, Baby Hailey Waitt.

Funeral services were private at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Philip R. Dunn– 71, of Dracut and formerly of Lynn and North Reading, died Wednesday, August 26th , 2020 at the Hunt Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Danvers after a lengthy illness.

Born in Lynn MA on September 12, 1948, he was the son of the late Charles M. and Myrtice G. (Robert) Dunn.

Philip worked as a maintenance supervisor for many years. He was a former employee of Transitron Electronic Corporation in Wakefield. He was known to be able to fix or repair anything.

He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Gloria A. (Pilgrim) Dunn.

Funeral services will be private an are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home 19 Bow Street, North Reading . www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Francis A. “Hecky” Heckman – 96, of North Reading, formerly of Rockville, MD and PA, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on Friday, August 7, 2020.

He was a kind, humble and loving man who was devoted to his family and to his Lord and Savior.  He was married to his beloved wife, Hisako “Saki”, for 66 years and loved her with all his heart.  He was both a man of faith and a scientist who explored the boundaries of faith and science, writing essays about these explorations and declaring his faith in God.

Born in Schuylkill Haven, PA, he graduated from high school there, and later served in the Army Air Corps (predecessor to the Air Force) until 1947 and was a veteran of World War II.  After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry at Lebanon Valley College, and his Master’s in Biology at George Washington University, he took at job in Boston.   He has lived in North Reading for the past 60 years.  He was a member of the school committee from 1963 to 1970 and served on the board of the Citizen’s Scholarship Fund.

Before retiring in 1986 from Cabot Corporation in Billerica, he was an electron microscopist and research scientist.  He was a founding member and the first president of New England Society of Electron Microscopy.

He became a member of Trinity Evangelical Church in 1969 and served in many capacities through the years.  Among them, he served as an Elder beginning in the early 80’s and in his later years was a member emeritus.  In his role as an Elder, he especially loved visiting the sick and elderly and encouraging them in their faith.  He was also the Moderator for many years.  For as long as he was able, he loved to be a greeter on Sunday mornings welcoming people with a warm smile and an encouraging word.

Besides his loving wife Hisako “Saki”, he is survived by his children, James Heckman and his wife Ann Marie, Mark Heckman and his wife Brenda, Kathryn Anderson and her husband Kenneth and Jeffrey Heckman and his wife Lisa; grandchildren, Justin, Stephanie and Austin Heckman, Tammi and Mark Heckman, Chelsea Seapy and her husband Corey and Ian Anderson, Sarah and Jacob Heckman; great grandchildren, Kayla, Kiera, Troy and Liam. He was the brother of the late Mary Heckman and son of the late Leon and Katie (Long) Heckman.

His funeral will be held on Thursday, August 13 at the Trinity Evangelical Church, 105 Haverhill Street, North Reading at 10:00 AM (the service will be live streamed). Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, August 12, from 5 to 7 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the American Kidney Fund. https://www.kidneyfund.org/about-us/#  www.croswellfuneralhome.com