Normand “Buddy” Nelson Poirier Jr.

December 2, 1955 – January 3 , 2022

Normand ‘Buddy’ Poirier of Tewksbury, MA (formerly of North Reading, MA) passed away peacefully at his home on January 3, 2022. Buddy was born in Everett, MA, and spent most of his life in North Reading, MA. He is pre-deceased by his father, Normand N. Poirier and mother, Marilyn A. Mitchell and brother Mark Poirier. He is survived by sisters Karen Cullinane of Woburn, MA, Nannette Poirier and Tim Vedrani of Merrimack, NH, Suzanne Poirier and husband Jonathan Bryan of Fincastle, VA. and brothers David Poirier and his wife Judi of Haverhill, MA and John Mitchell and his wife Salmira also of Haverhill MA, and loving nieces and nephews Carrie, Tom, Elizabeth, Michelle, Rosie, David, Ben, Nilya and Tristyn.

Born on December 2, 1955, Buddy attended North Reading High School Class of 1973. He lived the majority of his life in North Reading and has enjoyed many lifelong friendships in and around the community. Buddy was usually of few words, but when he spoke and laughed it was mostly of his fond memories of his friendships and close family members, including siblings, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Buddy is best remembered for his generous nature, his creative and inventive mind, and his many hand-crafted creations. Whether hand sculpted wooden objects, crafted complex mechanisms, or many original creations, all were original to his mind and remarkable to all who were lucky enough to be included in his personal circle.

Funeral services will be private, and private family burial will be in Riverside Cemetery at the family plot, under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to ‘Friends of the Billerica Council on Aging’ billericacoa.org/donate. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Rita L. (Celino) McNeil – 94,of North Reading and formerly of East Boston, passed away at her home on Friday, December 31, 2021. She was the beloved wife of 66 years to the late Walter J. McNeil.

Born in  Medford, MA on February 17, 1927. She was the daughter of the late    Frank and Lucy A. (Bruno) Celino. Rita was a graduate of East Boston High School.

She was one of the first woman school bus drivers of North Reading. She also worked for the North Reading Transcript with her lifelong friend Millie Lytle. Rita has been a resident of North Reading for the past 72 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Rita was a homemaker and dedicated to her family. She always took care of everyone and all of the animals. She always enjoyed riding horse back in the day.

Family members include her loving children, Walter J. “Buster” McNeil, Jr., Christine Wiese and her husband John, Francis McNeil and Patrick McNeil and his wife Shelby Aimes and the late John McNeil and his surviving wife Eileen McNeil; 8 grandchildren, Linda, Michael, Christopher, Kyle, Danielle, Kelly, Maria and Megan; 9 great grandchildren, Christopher, Brooke, Gabe, Nicholas, Leilani, Alivia, Miles, Aidan and Kayla.

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street,  North Reading on Saturday, January 8 at 10:45 AM, followed by a Noon Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading. Calling hours will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, January 7 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.  Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the MSPCA, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844.

Albert W. Avjian, 96, of North Reading died suddenly on Sunday, December 26, 2021. He was known as Al to his friends and as Walter to his family.

Al was born in Malden, MA on August 28, 1925 in Malden, MA. He was the eldest son of the late Albert William and Mary (Hutchinson) Avjian. He was predeceased by his brothers; Ralph and James Avjian and sisters; Helen MacKnight and Addie Ruggles.

Al was a U.S. Navy veteran of WWII, he was a Navy Armed Guard, 3^rd class signalman and served from 1943 – 1945 on a tanker and two liberty ships. He was on a liberty ship offshore on Omaha Beach on D-Day.

Al graduated from Malden High School and attended Bentley College and earned his Certificate in Accounting and went on to work in the technology field. Al was the Operations Manager for Bolt, Beranek and Newman in Cambridge, MA for 30 years.

Al loved his family, growing vegetables in his garden, hiking in Harold Parker State Forest, and watching TV westerns. He volunteered for the Mystic Valley Railroad Society (MVRS) and enjoyed going on many MVRS trips with his wife Sally.

Al was predeceased by his loving wife Sally (Holt) Avjian, married for 54 years. Al was the loving father of Robert Avjian and his wife Susan; Marlene and her husband David Johnson; Andrea and her husband Joseph Ridgley; Karen and her husband Jeffrey Demers. Grandfather of Dara, Eryn, Sean, Thomas, Valerie and Roy. Great-grandfather of Hannah.

Visitation will be on Monday, January 3, from 4-7 PM at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading. Funeral service on Tuesday, Jan. 4, at 10 AM at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 235 Park St., North Reading, and private family burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

Al Avjian Funeral Service
Tue, Jan 4, 2022 10:00 AM – 11:45 AM (EST)

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In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Al’s name to the Disabled American Veteran (DAV) www.cst.dav.org

William P. “Bill” Leyden – 85, of North Reading and formerly of Somerville, died unexpectedly at his home on December 27, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Ruth (Bjork) Leyden.

Born in Somerville, MA on September 4, 1936. He was the son of the late Thomas and Catherine (Cullen) Leyden. He attended St. Joseph School in Somerville and was a graduate of Don Bosco High School in East Boston. He later attended Newbury College.

Bill was a proud U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of the Korean War. He was a Corporal and served from 1953 to 1956.  He later worked as a Heating Supervisor for the Boston Housing Authority and ABM at Logan Airport.

He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 36 years and was a member of St. Theresa’s Church. He was a life member of the Mass. Beach Buggy  Association, he loved drive and fish the beaches of Cape Cod, Bill enjoyed fly and saltwater fishing. He was a longtime member of the Malden Anglers Fly Fishing Club and a member of the American Legion.

He was the loving father of Deborah Leyden of Amesbury and William M. Leyden and his wife Joan of North Andover;  stepchildren, Sandy and William Boulanger of Chichester, NH, William and Julie Kennedy of Derry, NH; grandfather of Kelly and Megan Leyden of North Andover, Sean and Emily Kennedy of Lee’s Summit, MO and Laura Pezone  and her husband Mike of Sunapee, NH; great grandfather of  Levon Pezone and Onyx Kennedy; he was the dear brother of the late Mary Travaglia, Francis Tassinari, Catherine Orlando, Alice Lynch,  Helen DiFraia; Lorraine Bennett, Robert and Thomas Leyden.

Funeral 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 U.S. Marine Toys for Tots, American Diabetes Association and American Heart Association. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Neal E. Rooney, III – 70, of North Reading and formerly of Somerville, died unexpectedly at his home on Saturday, December 18, 2021.

He was born in Somerville, MA  on January  8, 1951. He was the son of the late Neal E., II and June (Dunn) Rooney. He was raised and attended school in Somerville.

Neal was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam War, he was a Paratrooper and served from 1968 to 1969. He was a Corporal and received the Bronze Star Medal.

He was a mason for the MWRA for over thirty years and has been retired for the past 5 years. Neal was a resident of North Reading for the past 32 years, he was a former member of the Planning Commission and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Neal had a huge heart, he was a family man and made people laugh. He was hard working and very giving to others. He loved model cars, trains, houses, hunting and boating. Neal was a 100% disabled Vietnam Veteran.

Family members include his loving wife of 32 years, Catherine M. (Powers) Rooney; his son, Neal E. Rooney, IV; his brother, Thomas Rooney and sisters, Linda (Rooney) Belcher and Heidi Mattos.

His Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street (Rt. 62), North Reading on Friday, January 7 at 10:30 AM. Masks must be worn at all times inside of church. Visitation will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Thursday, January 6 from 4 to 7 PM.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the North Reading Veteran’s Gift Account, 235 North Street (Town Hall), North Reading, MA 01864. Attention, Susan Magner. (www.croswellfuneralhome.com)