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

John Philip Friberg III, 65, died on July 28, 2020, after a long courageous battle with cancer.

John was born January 14, 1955 to John and Mildred (Butler) Friberg. After his father passed at a young age, John and his sister Karen were raised by Mildred in Weymouth, MA, where John excelled on the football field for Weymouth North High School and earned the nickname “Freight Train.” He graduated from Stonehill College with an accounting degree, and often returned to his alma mater to photograph basketball and football games. John worked as a financial analyst for State Street Bank and BNY Mellon.

John raised his two children, Jay and Alison, with his wife Chris in North Reading, where he enjoyed coaching many of their youth sports teams. For John, family always came first, as demonstrated by his selfless nature and boundless love for his wife and children. He put the needs and wants of others before his own, and lit up any room he walked into with his positive energy and contagious smile. John’s warm, compassionate, and light-hearted soul touched the lives of so many, including his entire family, countless friends, and the Weymouth, Stonehill, and North Reading communities.

John was a gifted sports and nature photographer. He was recently inducted into the North Reading Sports Hall of Fame for his commitment to community service, having dedicated over fifteen years to photographing Hornet student-athletes. His donated photos were featured in the North Reading Transcript and the hallways of the high school. Each year, John devoted his spare time to taking photographs at high school sporting events, proms, and graduations, and then editing and gifting them to the North Reading families in his community (Oh, those famous “discs”). Every fall, he enjoyed a New England foliage photography trip, and every summer he visited The Belgrade Lakes in Maine to fish and spend time with family and friends. John saw beauty all around him – whether it was an early morning sunrise or the joy of a graduating senior – and used his talent to capture it in photographs.

John is survived by his wife of 33 years, Chris (Testa) Friberg; his mother, Mildred Friberg; his daughter and son-in-law, Alison Friberg and Boris Bourget; his son and daughter-in-law Jay and Chelsea Friberg; his sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Warren Phillips; his niece Kristin Phillips; his nephew Jeff Phillips and family; and his mother-in-law Marilyn Testa. John will be missed dearly, but his impact on others will live on forever.

A gathering in celebration of John’s life will be held at a later date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to Multiple Myeloma Research Fund, MGH Development Office, 125 Nashua St. Suite 540, Boston MA 02114 or Caring for a Cure at www.caringforacure.org. Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Deacon Alfred O. Balestracci – 89, of North Reading and formerly of CT, died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, July 29, 2020. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 65 years, Marjorie M. (Burdick) Balestracci.

Born in New London, CT on September 10, 1930, he was the son of the late Alfred and Evelyn (Matthewson) Balestracci.

Al was a graduate of Fitch High School in Groton, CT, Class of 1948 and then joined the Navy serving 4 years. He became a Hospital Corpsman and served during the Korean War. After the Military he obtained a Registered Nursing Certificate from Mass. General and McLean Hospitals. He later earned a BSN from St. Anselm’s College in New Hampshire and then his Masters Degree in Education from Salem State College.

He helped reopen the Butler Health Center in Providence, RI. Years later he was involved in opening a facility in North Reading for special needs children ages 18 to 20. Some years later he worked for the North Reading program trying to rehabilitate first offenders out of the Boston Juvenile Court. Then later he became the Director of Medical/Nursing Services at Regina Cleri serving elderly and sick priests. He returned to the state system and became the on-site Administrator for Hogan Regional Center and North Reading Rehab working for the State of Massachusetts for 28 years. Last year, Al was inducted to his high school hall of fame for his football career.

Al had been very active at Saint Theresa’s Church in North Reading as Deacon, performing numerous baptisms, first communions, confirmations, weddings and funerals. He just celebrated his 40th year as a Deacon. He was a fourth degree Knight of Columbus serving as the Grand Knight in 1972. He was a member of the Christian Community Service, a member of the V.F.W., a Parish Council member and a member of the Financial Council at Saint Theresa’s Church.

Al played slow pitch softball in the North Reading Men’s Softball League until he was 50 years old and then became an avid golfer. He played in the Hillview Senior Golf League.

Survived by loving sons, Victor Balestracci and his wife Jane of Fredericksburg Virginia, Mark Balestracci of Sebastian, FL and his late wife Michele Balestracci and the late Alfred Balestracci (little Al); loving daughters, Sheri Rogers and husband Mark of Webster MA , Kathy Balestracci of North Reading and Lisa Kellermen and her husband Rick of Haverhill. Nine grandchildren, Jennifer Payne and husband Will, Karen Howarth and husband Jake; Colleen Heselton and significant other Jorge Solisfraire; Kristina Woods and husband Bobby; Justin Rogers and wife Rachel Stacy Rogers and fiance Kiernan O’Neill; Crystal Spaide and husband Jeff; Ryan Balestracci and Katie Kellerman; 12 great grandchildren and 8 great great grandchildren. He was predeceased by his only sister Jacquelyn Delaporta. Al jokingly told people that he was a failure because as a child he wanted to be a priest or a doctor but ended up a nurse and a Deacon. A successful full life lived well.

His Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading on Friday, August 7 at 10:30 AM. Visitation will be held at the Church Hall on Thursday, August 6 from 2 to 8 PM (enter from rear of parish hall). Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In Lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to St. Theresa’s Church and the Regina Cleri Residence, Attn: Steven Gust, 60 William Cardinal O’Connell Way,  Boston, MA 02114. Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com