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.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

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

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Rufina “Ruby” (Bautista) Batchelder – 94, of North Reading, passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded by her family on Friday, August 12, 2022. She was the beloved wife of the late Donald Batchelder.

Born in Pasay City, Philippines on February 28, 1928. She was the daughter of the late Aurelio and Corazon (Salvador) Bautista.

Ruby worked as a seamstress and a dress maker for many years. She was a dedicated and loving mother of seven children.

Rufina ”Ruby” Batchelder will always be remembered as a feisty, tenacious, strong woman about the  town. Raising 5 sons and 2 daughters in the Philippines and uprooting them to the US was no easy feat. A talented dressmaker Ruby quickly became the “go-to” person if you needed a wedding gown, prom gown, Sunday dress made or just an alteration.

Managing and feeding 9 people was a daily challenge. However, Ruby always welcomed anyone who needed a meal or a place to live .

Ruby loved parties and dressing up. Using any excuse to celebrate on Riverside Drive sometimes inviting as many as 100 people. She was an amazing cook. She is responsible for introducing flipino cuisine to many and is known for her “Pansit.”

Ruby also loved traveling. She proudly displayed her US and world map of her many travels such as; her memorable trip to Cuba with her late husband, her many trips to East Asia and annual winter drives by herself to Las Vegas.

Ruby could never keep still. She would often take trips to Boston just to take an aerobics class with her daughter Jacqueline . Travel to many dance performances by her daughter Claire. Watch her 3 older sons play in a band.  Cheer on her two younger sons at sporting events. She always made time to visit all her grandchildren wherever they may be.  Ruby never missed Sunday Mass and get togethers at the senior community center with her friends.

If you ask anybody to describe Ruby in one word, it would be “tough!” Ruby is the O.G. Warrior! We should all live life like Ruby.

Family members include her seven loving children, Geoffrey, Christopher, Stephen, Claire, Lothar, Jacqueline and Daniel; 20 grandchildren, Sean, Corey, Ian, Julie, David, Sophia, Jevon, Patricia, Donald, Christopher, Gabriel, Lothan, Isaac, Dylan, Calieh, Isabella, Selena, Marcella, Roman and Graciela and 15 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 16 from 4 to 7 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Followed by a brief service at 6:50 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923, www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Daniel “Farmbo”  Leach – 64, of West Palm Beach, Florida and formerly of North Reading, died on June 21, 2022.

Born in Lynn, MA on February 9, 1958. He was the son of the late Frank H. and Margaret D. Leach. He was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate North Reading High School, Class of 1976.

Dan was a mechanic and a Drummer. He has been a resident of Florida for the past 31 years. He was a member of the Treasure Coast Blues Alliance.

He was a talented Blues drummer, who played for the Back Alley Band, Delta Rockers, Lois Lane and Matt Murray, throughout New England. He then played in Florida for House Shakers, Shaun Rounds, and Low Down 13. His highlight was a U.S. tour with Blues greats Lucky Peterson and Ernie Lancaster.

Dan owned and liked Harley Davidsons. He played hockey and was a member of the 1972 Red Sox Pony League Champs.

Family members include his loving son, Joseph Leach; his brother, James Leach of Jupiter, Florida; sisters, Debra DeFranzo and Diane Green; he was the brother of the late Nancy Brooking and Rick Leach.

Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading on Wednesday, September 21 at 11:30 AM. Following a funeral Mass for his mother at 10:30 AM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfunerarlhome.com

Sabatino (Dino) Fusco –  65, of North Reading, formerly of Prezza, Italy and Medford died at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs, MA on Saturday, August 6, 2022.

Born in Prezza, Abruzzo (Province of L’Aquila), Italy on February 16, 1957. He was the son of the late Antonio and Concetta (Navarroli) Fusco. He was raised in Medford and was a graduate of Medford Vocational High School – Electrical Program. Dino worked previously at MITRE Corporation, Teradyne, Inc., Brandeis University and currently as an Electrician for MIT Lincoln Laboratory for 20 years. He was known to his co-workers at MIT as the “Daddy of Electricians” and was extremely proud of his profession. Dino’s world centered around his wife and three children. He went above and beyond for his family, friends, neighbors and co-workers and was always there to lend a helping hand. Dino enjoyed his cups of coffee with his wife every morning as well as nightly Espresso and also enjoyed reading and relaxing in the sun whenever he could.

Dino was the king of making his famous pizza, calzones, homemade pasta and pies and happily shared with all. Dino was passionate about making homemade red wine every Fall; it was his favorite holiday tradition to give the finished product to his family and friends.

Family members include his loving wife of 38 years, Ernestine (Corea) Fusco; his son, Alexandro (Alex) Fusco and his wife Kristi of Kennebunk, ME; daughters, Ariana Fusco of Malden and Kristina Fusco of Hermosa, Beach, CA; his brother, Peter Fusco of San Diego, CA and his sister, Claire Penta of Medford, MA; one grandson, Leonardo (Leo) Fusco and many nieces and nephews.    

His Funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Monday, August 15 at 8:45 AM, followed by a 10:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 14 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215. www.croswellfuneralhome.com