William F. Colbert- Age 90, William “Bill” Colbert died Thursday, September 8, 2022 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington. He was the beloved husband of Patricia Colbert, with whom he resided in North Reading for most of their 67-year marriage.

Born in Illinois, Bill was the son of the late Harley and Edna Colbert. After graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and proudly served in the Korean War, receiving many commendations, including the Bronze Star with ”V”. Bill later earned his college degree and received drafting education while working evenings at the Cities Service station in Boston, whose location is now marked by the historic Citgo sign. He went on to work for MIT Lincoln Laboratories for 37 years.

Bill was an avid sports fan and never missed a chance to espouse the trials and tribulations of his beloved New York Football Giants. He coached Little League and helped run the recreational basketball league in North Reading where he rarely missed the weekly evening pickup games.  Bill was also a talented woodworker, constructing cabinets and furniture for family. He was happiest spending relaxing time with his family and friends.

Bill is survived by his wife, Patricia, and his two daughters, Leslie Audet and her husband Andrew and Laurie Colbert and her partner Scott Daly. His grandchildren, Zachary Audet and Gabrielle Audet, will miss his sage advice and teasing sense of humor. Bill is also survived by his sister, Norma Mahaney, as well as many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his siblings, Wilma Williams, Etta Brown, Velma Colbert, John Colbert, and Robert Colbert.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill’s memory to Parks and Recreation Dept., 235 North Street (Town Hall), North Reading, MA 01864.

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Lawrence Joseph O’Keefe, Jr. – 79, of North Reading and formerly of Reading, died on Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.

Born in Boston, MA, on July 14,1943. He was the son of the late Lawrence J., Sr. and Mary (Hall) O’Keefe. Lawrence was a graduate of Reading Memorial High School, Class of 1961. He later completed a Constructional Engineering course in 1963 from Texas A. & M.

Lawrence worked as a Crane Operator for many years for the Baldwin Steel Company, he started in 1964 and retired in 2005. He has been a resident of North Reading for over 20 years.

He was loving, loyal and supportive to all his friends and family. He cherished time with them. He checked on the ones he loved and was there for them in good times and bad. Lawrence was a loving Dad, Pa, partner, sibling and son. He loved and cared about his partner Pam’s family, and enjoyed times spent with them. He was a hard worker and took pride in being one of the best crane operators in Boston for years.

Riding his motorcycle was definitely something he loved to do, some of his favorite rides were through the Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire and rides through Vermont. He and his partner Pam were members and made many friends whom they considered family at the North Reading Moose, No.1511. There were lots of family events held there and great memories were made.

Family members include his loving son Lawrence George O’Keefe; daughter Tracey O’Keefe Dagesse; brother John O’Keefe; sister Cathy O’Keefe Gromyko; 3 grandchildren, Dakota, Savannah and Shiane; and his loving partner Pam Winkler.

Visitation will be held on Monday, September 12 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the American Lung Association, www.lung.org

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Charles Lowell Spicer, 84, died on Sunday, August 28, 2022.

Born in Wakefield on July 28, 1938, Lowell was the son of Ralph K. and Dorothy T. (Patterson) Spicer.  He was raised in North Reading on the family farm, Meadowview Dairy on Park St. He was graduate of the L. D. Batchelder School, Reading High School, and Wentworth Institute with a degree in industrial Electronics.

Lowell, affectionately known as Brother by his family and friends, was a family man, hardworking and loving, always ready to share an encouraging word and sound advice.  He was a longtime member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church of North Reading and Christ Church United UCC in Lowell.

Lowell loved sports.  He was an avid fan of New England teams and was a league bowler and softball player.  Lowell was a little league coach. He especially loved cheering on his children and grandchildren at their events.

Lowell and his wife Jane were enthusiastic campers and travelers.  Some of their favorite trips were to Ireland, China, and British Columbia. Everything they did, they did with joy and enthusiasm for life and its many experiences.

Lowell is survived by his wife of 62 years Jane E. (Manion); Children Karen (Richard Mayo), Kevin (Bonnie) of North Reading, Michael (Kim) of Danvers, and Mark (Heather) of Tewksbury, his grandchildren Michael Mayo, Eli and Noah Spicer, Heather and Hanna Morrissette, Vicki, Cristina and Josh Spicer, and Kaitlin, Jackson, and Will Spicer, Great grandchildren Charlie, Russell and Hannah Mayo; brothers R. Kenneth (Marion), Arnold (Mary), and sister Maryanne.  He was predeceased by brother Dean and sister Nancy.

His funeral will be held at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 235 Park Street, North Reading on Saturday, September 17 at 10:00 AM. Calling hours will be held on Friday, September 16 from 4:00 to 7 :00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Penacook Nursing home and All Care Hospice for their compassionate care, comfort, and support to Lowell and his family during the hardest months of his prolonged illness.  For this the family asks in lieu of flowers that you would consider donating to Dementia Society of America www.dementiasociety.org.  or All Care Hospice www.allcare.org.

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John  M. “Buddy” Walsh – 73, of Townsend, formerly of North Andover and Reading, passed away on August 31, 2022, after a lengthy illness.

Born in Winchester, MA on November 19, 1948, he was the son of the late John M. and Mary (Maguire) Walsh. He was raised and attended school in Reading.

Buddy was a retired truck driver for the Merrimack Valley Distributors and he later worked for Walden Pond as a groundskeeper.

Buddy has been a resident of Townsend for the past 31 years. He loved long motorcycle rides and fishing. He enjoyed going antiquing and getting that rare find that he could then show and talk about to anyone that would listen. When it came to small engines there wasn’t one that he couldn’t fix. Most of all Buddy loved spending time with family and especially his grandkids.

Family members include his Loving wife of 38 years, Karen (Bakas) Walsh; sons, Reid Walsh, Aaron Arsenault and his wife Christina and Alex Walsh and his wife Samantha; his daughter Sarah Jane (Walsh) Gabis and her husband Jon; 3 grandchildren, Christian Gabis, Lyla Mary Gabis and Emma Rose Gabis and many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late William Michael Walsh and Catherine Walsh.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, September 6 from 4 to 7 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org or mail to National Processing Center, Alzheimer’s Association, P.O. Box 96011, Washington, D.C. 20090-6011.

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Karin Linda (Anderson) Caproni  –  age 78, died unexpectedly at the family summer camp house in Acton, Maine on August 23,2022.  She was the beloved wife of Albert J. Caproni and they lived in North Reading, Massachusetts for all of their 58-year marriage.  Karin was a loving mother and “Grammy.” She was open-hearted, self-less, and someone who had the rare ability to see the good in others and assume their best intentions.  She had a quiet humor, good comic timing, and she loved to laugh.

Karin was born in Brockton, MA, first grew up in Randolph, and then along Route 1 in West Peabody where she loved the sound of passing traffic “lulling” her to sleep.  She was part of a large family of brothers and sisters and she cared for them all deeply.  Karin would say that her sisters were her best friends and through the years she raised her 3 children alongside them. Karin had strong moral values that embodied the best of Christian beliefs about how to treat others.  She was a hard worker and spent much of her life as a waitress in numerous restaurants in the area.  She enjoyed working together with some of her sisters and friends and was a loyal employee.

Karin is survived by her husband, Albert, and her three children, Kathleen Caproni (husband Peter del Rosario), Cheryl Kindrat, and Joseph Caproni (wife Jody Caproni). Her 4 grandchildren, Maya del Rosario, Gregory Kindrat, Casey Kindrat, and Nicholas Caproni, will miss her loving words of support and encouragement very much. Karin is also survived by her sisters, Janet Hidden, Jeannie Maxwell, Anna Igo, Rebecca King, and Suzanne Pinho, and her brothers, Jack, Fred, and Danny Peterson, as well as many nieces and nephews.  She is predeceased by many friends and relatives, including her parents, and siblings Roberta Douglass, Elsa Eckman, Lois Hebert, David Peterson, and Billy Anderson.

Though she will be so greatly missed, we know that she will be lovingly joined in the afterlife by those previously loved and lost.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 28 from 3 to 6 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Her graveside service will be held from the Funeral Home on Monday, August 29 at 9:15 AM, leaving at 10:00 AM for Puritan Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Peabody for a 10:30 AM Service. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org

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