Barbara A. Ponton – 79, of Beverly, formerly of West Peabody, Maine and Florida, died Saturday, January 28, 2017, at Beverly Hospital.

Born on April 8, 1937, she was the daughter of the late Warren and Ann E. (Pender) Ponton. She was raised and attended school in Lexington and was a graduate of Lexington High School.

Barbara worked as a waitress and hostess for Jimmy’s Harborside in Boston for over thirty years.

She was a good friend, who knew no strangers. Barbara was a wonderful mother and grandmother, who was always funny, sassy and a good listener. She was a talented artist, who liked to roller skate and gamble.

Family members include her loving daughter, Debra Cerqua and her husband Stephen; her companion of 40 years, Ronald Schmidt; sisters, Susan (Mann) Goddu, formerly of North Reading and her husband Norman and the late Doris Smith;  brothers, William Mann and his wife Susan and the late Frank Ponton; three grandchildren, Ramzi, Tarik and Renna El Shrafi.

Her funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, February 3, at 10:00 AM. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, February 2 from 4 to 7 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Lorna G. (MacDonald) Smolinsky – 96, of Malden, died Friday, January 27, 2017 at Woodbriar of Wilmington. She was the beloved wife of the late Henry Smolinsky.

Born in Harmony Junction, Prince Edward Island, Canada on May 10,1920. Lorna was the daughter of the late George and Mary (Mitchell) MacDonald. She was educated in Souris, Prince Edward Island, Canada. She was a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force, during World War II, she served from 1942 to 1945.

Lorna worked at Jordan Marsh in Boston, later worked in Malden and retired in 1983 from Macy’s at Assembly Square in Somerville.

She was always strong and independent. The most important thing to her was her family. Lorna was an avid hockey, Red Sox and Patriot fan. She loved to bowl, play cards and bingo.

Family members include her loving daughters, Mary Staples and her husband Douglas of North Reading, Patricia Fielding of North Andover and Joan Holland of Saugus; her son, James Smolinsky and his wife Gerri of Port St. Lucie, FL; she was predeceased by brothers, Mitchell, Addison, Byron, Cyril, Clarence, Jack and Foch MacDonald and her late sister, Marion McMullin; grandchildren, Melissa Staples, Kelli Keck and her husband James, Ryan Staples and his wife Andrea, Julie and Tracey Fielding, James Smolinsky and his wife Carol and Amanda Dunlap and her husband Chris; great grandchildren, Jonathan and Kaylei Staples, James and Sara Keck; and many loving nieces and nephews.

Her funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Tuesday, January 31 at 4:00 PM. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to: American Lung Association, 1661 Worcester Rd., No. 301, Framingham, MA 01701 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Dana E. Brandt – 70 , of Stoneham and formerly of North Reading, died Wednesday, January 25, 2017, at Winchester Hospital.

Born in Malden, MA on January 22, 1947, he was the son of the late Arthur E. and Lena “Blanche” (Karlsen) Brandt. He was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate of North Reading High School, Class of 1967.

Dana was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam Era, he served from 1967 to 1969. He was a SP4 (T) and was a member of the Company C, 2^nd Battalion, 64^th Armor 7^th Tank Division, serving in Europe NATO Forces. Dana later worked as a Security Guard and has been retired for several years.

Dana was always soft spoken and honest, he was known for his directness. He was an avid sports fan, he especially loved playing hockey and watching sporting events. Dana loved his nieces and nephews.

Family members include his loving sister, Diana (Brandt) Freeland and her husband Robert of Tewksbury, brothers, Ronald E. Brandt and his wife Margaret of York, ME, David A. Brandt and his wife Martha of Beverly, Russell A. Brandt and his wife Mary of Reading and Richard A. Brandt of Haverhill.

His Funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Wednesday, February 1 at 11 AM. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 9:30 to 11 AM. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to: American Heart Association /American Stroke Association, Founders Affiliate, P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241-7005. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Gordon  F.  Brooks – 63, of Lawrence and formerly of North Reading, died Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at Lawrence General Hospital.

Born in Melrose, MA on October 23,1953, he was the son of the late Robert E. and Barbara L. (Allen) Brooks. He was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate of North Reading High School. He served in the U.S. Army.

Gordon worked as a supervisor for many years for the Haverhill Housing Authority. He has been a resident of Lawrence for the past 21 years. He was a member of the Cedardale Health and Fitness in Haverhill.

He loved his family, he was very generous and was a man of integrity.  Gordon had a wonderful sense of humor, he was always caring and thoughtful. He loved nature, motorcycle riding, he enjoyed the mountains, beach, working out, swimming and reading. He was an avid Boston sports fan and loved cooking (loved to feed everyone). One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren.

Family members include his loving wife Janey A. (Culbert) Brooks; loving sons, Barry Brooks and his wife Jennifer, Nathan Brooks and his wife Leida and Philip Theberge; daughters, Heidi Jabour and her husband Salvatore, Kersten Theberge, Courtney Moffat and her husband John;  brothers, Robert Brooks and his wife Kristi Brooks and Barry Brooks and his wife Nevine; sisters, Bonnie Moorcroft and her husband Julian and Julie Newell and her husband Donald; ten grandchildren, Mia, Ethan, Hailey, Olivia, Jacob, Julian, Sonny, Brian, Brady and Jayden.

His funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Monday, January 30 at 10 AM. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, January 29 from 1 to 4 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to Autism Awareness or to MSPCA at Nevins Farm in Methuen.

Carolyn L. (Edwards) Minardi– 77, of Westernville, NY formerly of Chelsea, MA, died at Oneida Extended Care Facility in Oneida, NY on Thursday, January 19, 2017.

Born in Greensboro, NC on Nov 18, 1939.  She was the daughter of the late Livia M. Edwards, formerly of North Reading.

 She was a graduate of Chelsea High School and a well known resident of Chelsea. She retired and moved to Upstate, NY in 2005 to enjoy a quiet rural life.

Carolyn was well known for her stage acting as a member of the Chelsea Community Theater. She managed the B&D general store on Broadway for many years before taking employment for Cross Country Motor Club in Medford, as a dispatcher. She also worked as a school crossing guard.

Carolyn enjoyed fishing, reading, gardening and had a passion for making crochet afghans.

She is survived by daughters, Tammy of Fall River, Therese Lee of Chelsea and Denise Sullivan of Westernville, NY and sons, Tony Minardi a resident of Sweden and Jon Minardi, her caretaker of Rome, NY. She is also survived by 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.  She was predeceased by her son, Joseph Minardi in 2004.

Funeral services will be held at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, NORTH READING on  Thursday, January 26, at 11 AM.  A private viewing for immediate family members will be held at 9 AM. Calling hours will be from 10 to 11 AM.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.  Memorial donations, to help offset funeral costs, may be made in her name to Croswell Funeral Home, 19  Bow St., North Reading, MA 01864.