William  Malvern  “Bill “ Pilote – 75, a longtime resident of North Reading, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 16, 2026 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Bill retired from GE, where he worked as a quality control inspector for 40 years. He proudly served in the United States Army as a UH-1 Helicopter Repairman, including a tour in Vietnam from May 1971 to May 1972, and was honorably discharged. His service was recognized in a Letter of Commendation for the aircraft maintenance personnel of Company C, 158th Aviation Battalion, 101st Airborne Division, cited as among the best in the Republic of Vietnam. His decorations included the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal with a Bronze Service Star.

His love of the outdoors kept him busy in his yard and on daily walks with his dog, Sadie. Bill was always sure to bring extra treats along for the neighborhood dogs. An avid golfer, he also treasured his time at his cabin in Holderness, NH.

Bill leaves his beloved wife, Maureen Pilote; his stepchildren, Tracy DeGregorio and her husband Richard, and William Brackett and his wife Lesley; and five grandchildren, Alec DeGregorio, Faith DeGregorio, Nolan DeGregorio, Annabelle Brackett, and Madeline Brackett. He is also survived by his sisters, Marcia (Pilote) Colella and Marilyn Pilote; his sister-in-law, Ruth Pilote; and his nephews, Mark, Scott, Anthony, and Keith. He was predeceased by his three brothers, David Pilote, Robert Pilote, and Don Pilote.

Bill will be dearly missed by his family and his fellow soldiers. All who knew him will remember him as a fabulous host for COTD.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation T2T.org to support our military and first responders who continue to make the supreme sacrifice of life and limb for our country.

Arrangements under the care of Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, MA, (978) 664-3031. Visiting hours Wednesday, August 26, 5-7 PM and Thursday, August 27, 11AM to 11:45 AM, followed by interment at Riverside Cemetery in North Reading at Noon.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Wayne J. Williams – 75, of Danvers and formerly of North Reading for 55 years, passed away at Beverly Hospital on Tuesday, August 4, 2026.

Born in Ipswich, MA on October 4, 1950. He was the son of the late Joseph H. and Nancy K. (Innis) Williams. Wayne was retired from the Ann & Hope Department Store in Danvers, where he worked for several years.

Wayne was a quiet person who loved nature. He enjoyed walking the beach and spending time in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire. He enjoyed listening to music, reading and watching movies.

Family members include his loving sisters, Pamela Griswold and her husband Keith of North Reading and Lynne Plomondon of Acton, Maine.

Services will be private and are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Doris M. (Despres) Pandolph -86, of Topsfield and formerly of Lynn, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. She was the daughter of the late Pacific and Emerise (LeBlanc) Despres. She was raised in Lynn and was a graduate of St. Jeans Baptiste School in Lynn.

Doris worked in the Hospitality field for over forty years. She was a member of the Trinity Evangelical Church in North Reading. She loved the Lord wholeheartedly and her faith was evident in the way she lived her life.

Doris loved her family fiercely!  She was proud of being a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Doris was very creative and brought beauty to the world around her. Doris loved hosting family gatherings especially Christmas Eve, and she was well known for her beautifully wrapped gifts. Doris loved gardening and she loved to travel.

Family members include her loving husband of 38 years, Joseph Pandolph, previously married and widowed to Bernard Flaherty; sons, William Flaherty and wife Patricia, Robert Flaherty and Joseph Pandolph, Jr. and wife Carol; daughters; Kathleen Kinloch, Amy Richard and husband David and Mary Urbanek and husband Glenn; late brothers, Norman and Raymond Despres; brother-in-law, Vincent Pandolph and Charles DeSoto; sister-in-law Mary Despres, late sister-in-law, Elizabeth Pandolph; sisters, Stella Peterson and husband John and the late Jeanette DeSoto; 11 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Her funeral will be held on Wednesday, August 19 at 10:00 AM at the Trinity Evangelical Church, 105 Haverhill Street, North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, August 18 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Interment will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, 8 Haverhill Road in Topsfield. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.  www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Anne (Leyden) Bernier – 85, of Boston and formerly of North Reading, passed away on Tuesday, August 11, 2026. She was the beloved wife of the late Leon V. Bernier, with whom she shared 56 years of marriage, he died in 2018.

Born in Chelsea, MA on January 18, 1941. She was the daughter of the late Francis and Catherine (O’Rourke) Leyden. Anne was a graduate of U Mass Amherst and she received her Master’s Degree from Fitchburg State. She enjoyed a long career in education, serving as Director of Special Education at the North Reading Middle School.

Anne enjoyed playing tennis, she was a knitting club member and was a devoted Catholic. She was a former resident of North Reading for over fifty years.

Anne especially found great joy in being with her family. She cherished her six grandchildren.

Family members include her loving son, Kevin Bernier; daughters, Nanette Bernier and Cathleen Bernier-Garzon; 6 grandchildren, Jessica Fino, Anthony Fino, Nickolas Bernier-Garzon and Gabriel Bernier-Garzon, Nicole Bernier and Call Bernier; 2 great grandchildren, Julian Donald and Wrenn Fino.

At the family’s request funeral services and interment will be private. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

George E. St. Pierre – 89, of Methuen and formerly of North Reading, passed away on Thursday, July 30, 2026. He was the beloved husband of the late Virginia K. (Weeks) St. Pierre.

Born in Peabody, MA on February 17, 1937, he was the son of the late Adelard and Alice (Zelinski) St. Pierre. He was a former resident of North Reading for fifty years and was a former member of the Stoneham Elks.

He worked as a transmission specialist for Jim McLaughlin’s Transmission Center in Lynn for many years.

George was a hard worker and was very generous. He was extremely organized and fun to be around. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren to Salem Willows and fishing.

George loved bird watching and nature. He enjoyed fly fishing with his brother Bob in Errol, New Hampshire and he liked Johnny Cash. George enjoyed reading books, playing Cribbage, trivia games, Keno, scratch tickets and especially the Red Sox.

Family members include his loving son, Andrew “Chip” St. Pierre; daughters, Sandra St. Pierre Brice, Cynthia St. Pierre Kleckner and husband Burt, Wendy St. Pierre Trussell and husband Paul and Kathleen Spellman Verga Nancy Spellman Baker and the late Linda Spellman Noradki; 17 grandchildren and 15 Great grandchildren; he was the brother of the late Robert St. Pierre, Jeanne Shamp, Louise Nutter and Shirley Scribner.

His funeral will be held on Thursday, August 6 at 11:00 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, August 5, from 5 to 7 PM. Interment will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody. Memorial donations may be mad e in his memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com