NewburyportNews.com, Newburyport, MA

Obituaries

January 12, 2013

Leo J. Hart, 63

Rowley — Leo J. Hart passed away unexpectedly at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport. Leo was born in Chicago, Ill., the son of the late Alys Monson and Leo Hart. After graduating from high school in Piscataway, N.J., Leo served as a drill sergeant in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War era. Leo moved to Gloucester in the early 1970s and remained on the North Shore.

Leo enjoyed pursuits of all kinds. He was a woodworker, carpenter, fisherman and sailor who delivered boats up and down the East Coast, to the Caribbean and Great Britain. Leo was an exceptional artist, designer and craftsman who produced unique creations. His works include the "rocking dory" and "rocking toys" (seals, orcas dolphins), the "altar" stage backdrop for St. Peter's Fiesta in 1985, the swan boat for the movie "Flowers in the Attic" in 1987, Mail Mobiles (whales, doves, storks), furniture, memorable logos, graphic designs, business signage, upholstery and canvas products. Leo had two business workshops first on Rocky Neck in Gloucester and then on Route 1 in Rowley. Leo also enjoyed his time as a graphic design teacher at the former Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield. He loved being a soccer coach for his son's team, the Cougars, in the 1990s. Leo's favorite pursuit was to make friends, which he did easily. Leo loved to converse, joke, argue and share with everyone.

Leo was the loving husband of Jennifer Parker; father of their daughter, Tori Parker Hart; and his son with Linda (Barrows) Hart, Andrew Michael Hart. He is also survived by his brothers, James Hart and Michael Hart; and sisters, Barbara (Hart) Ward, Loretta (Hart) Bromley and Helena (Hart) Hughes, as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition, Leo is survived by his many wonderful friends.

ARRANGEMENTS: A celebration of life will be held for Leo's family and friends at the Essex Shipbuilding Museum, 66 Main St., Essex, on Saturday, Jan. 19, from 1 to 6 p.m. For more information, please email Jennifer at jplhparker@yahoo.com.

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Obituaries
  • Anthony Tassinari, 69

    Palm Bay, FL — Lt. Col. Anthony D. Tassinari, U.S. Army Retired, 69, of Palm Bay, Fla., passed away on Friday, June 14. Anthony was born in Salem, Mass., on August 4, 1943, to the late Anthony D. and Elizabeth (Burkinshaw) Tassinari.

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    Jun 19, 2013 1 Photo
  • Evelyn Donovan, 96

    Amesbury, MA — Evelyn Donovan,96, longtime Amesbury resident, passed away peacefully last Wednesday at her home with her family at her side. She was born in Newburyport, and was the daughter of the late Adolphus and Rose (Hamel) Mahair. She was the wife of the late Thomas Donovan, who passed away in 1973.

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    Jun 19, 2013 1 Photo
  • Jacqueline A. Festo, 91

    Haverhill, MA — Jacqueline A. (Grassi) Festo, 91, a lifelong resident of Haverhill, died peacefully on Monday, June 17, at the Hannah Duston Healthcare Center, after a brief illness. The daughter of the late Liberato and Lucia (Berardini) Grassi, she was born on March 29, 1922, and was educated in the Haverhill School System. A member of the Haverhill High School Class of 1941, she attended the Fasio Beauty School and was a beautician in the Haverhill area for over 40 years. Her most recent employment was with her dear friend, Mary Pauline Wyka at Andrea’s Beauty Salon in Plaistow.

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    Jun 19, 2013 1 Photo
  • Parmelia 'Pat' Stoughton Willard de Winter, 80

    Boxford — Parmelia "Pat" Stoughton Willard de Winter passed away June 15, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital after a short illness. Born in Hartford, Conn., on November 23, 1932, she was the daughter of the late Howard A. Willard and Virginia McCray Miller Willard. Pat, or Patsy as she was known then, was raised in Wethersfield and West Hartford. She was predeceased by her twin brother, Palmer Southworth Willard, her youngest brother William Leslie Willard and her older brother, John Bleveny Willard.

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    Jun 19, 2013 1 Photo
  • William 'Bill' Bothwell, 89

    Exeter, NH — William “Bill” Henry Bothwell, 89, died June 17, at Exeter Center, Exeter, N.H., after a period of failing health.

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    Jun 19, 2013
  • Benjamin A. Peabody, 83

    Georgetown — Benjamin A. Peabody, 83, of Georgetown, passed away June 13, at Hannah Duston Healthcare Center in Haverhill, Mass., after a long illness.

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    Jun 18, 2013
  • Sonya R. Marashlian

    Newburyport, MA — Sonya R. Marashlian (Nazarian), beloved wife of the Reverend Aram T. Marashlian, died peacefully on April 12, 2013, at the Vitas Hospice Facility in West Palm Beach, Fla. She leaves behind her daughter, Julie Preston, and her grandchildren, Rachel and Charles Preston. Her siblings include Lillian DePasquale and her husband, Michael, and Nancy Reed and her husband, Mickey and daughter, Autumn Nazarian, and Charles L. Nazarian. Sonya leaves behind aunts, cousins, nephews, nieces, and many friends.

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    Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
  • William G. Pease

    Merrimac, MA — William G. Pease, 75, longtime Merrimac resident, died Saturday evening at the Lahey Clinic Medical Center in Burlington, surrounded by his family.

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    Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
  • Joseph P. Gagne, 92

    Fort Pierce, FL — Joseph P. Gagne, 92, was the husband of the late Elizabeth Gagne. Fomerly of Kensington, N.H., he was a veteran of WW II. He built numerous homes in Seabrook, N.H. He is survived by his daughter, Judythe Eaton of Ft. Pierce; his son, John G. Buzzell Sr. of Merrimac, Mass.; two sisters, Adrienne Beaulieu and Helena Worthen, both of Amesbury, Mass.; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lorenzo and Wilfred Gagne, and one sister, Therese Garneau.

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    Jun 17, 2013 1 Photo
  • Joan Stergion, 77

    Nashua, NH — Joan Stergion (Makris), 77, of Nashua, returned home to The Lord after a prolonged illness. Joan passed away at her residence (Aynsley Place in Nashua) with her family and friends by her side.

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    Jun 15, 2013 1 Photo
  • Joanne M. Gibbons, 80

    West Newbury, MA — Joanne M. Gibbons, 80, passed away on Friday, June 14, 2013. She was born January 22, 1933, in Lowell, Mass., to Karl D. Lay and Grace C. Lay, the youngest of five children.

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    Jun 15, 2013 1 Photo
  • Martha (Hunt) Tilton

    Salisbury, MA — Martha (Hunt) Tilton, age 86, longtime Salisbury resident, died peacefully at her home Thursday afternoon while being cared for by her cousin and caretaker, Dianne Jewett.

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    Jun 15, 2013 1 Photo
  • Jeanne T. Titus, 83

    Newton, NH — Jeanne Titus passed away peacefully on Tuesday at her home in Newton with her family at her side. She was born in Amesbury, Mass., and was the daughter of the late Edward and Alice (Cayer) Lagasse. She was the wife of the late Raymond Titus Jr., who passed away in 1996.

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    Jun 14, 2013 1 Photo
  • Colleen Ann Kritz, 25

    Rowley, MA — Colleen Ann Kritz, 25, of Rowley, died suddenly at home on Monday, May 13, 2013.

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    Jun 13, 2013 1 Photo
  • Michele (Griffin) Marciszka, 44

    AMESBURY — Mrs. Michele (Griffin) Marciszka, 44, of Amesbury, formerly of Salem, wife of Joseph Marciszka Jr., died Friday, June 7, 2013, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.

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    Jun 13, 2013 1 Photo
  • Mary L. (Baldinelli) Burns

    Amesbury, MA — Mary L. (Baldinelli) Burns, 87, lifetime resident of Amesbury, died Sunday, June 9, 2013 at Dover Center for Health & Rehabilitation in Dover, N.H. She was the wife of the late Robert W. Burns, who died in 1999.

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    Jun 12, 2013
  • Diane Collette, 62

    Haverhill, Ma — Diane Elaine (Brouillard) Collette of Plum Island, Newburyport, passed away peacefully early on Wednesday morning, May 29, 2013, at the Merrimac Valley Hospice in Haverhill, Mass., after a brief illness of only three weeks. At her side at the time of her passing was her daughter, Rebecca, who helped Diane make the passage into the arms of Jesus and our heavenly father. Diane spent the last few days of her life on earth surrounded by family and loving family and friends praying and loving her.

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    Jun 11, 2013 1 Photo
  • Elizabeth A. (Sullivan) Lawlor

    Framingham, MA — Elizabeth A. (Sullivan) Lawlor, 90, longtime Amesbury resident, passed peacefully Sunday afternoon at St. Patrick’s Manor Nursing Home in Framingham, surrounded by her loving family.

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    Jun 11, 2013
  • Priscilla J. Nolet, 90

    Seabrook, NH — Priscilla J. (Jackson) Nolet, 90, died Sunday, June 9, 2013, at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation–Brigham Manor in Newburyport.

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    Jun 11, 2013 1 Photo
  • David R. Mathews

    Merrimac, MA — David R. Mathews, longtime Merrimac resident, died peacefully Friday morning, on his 89th birthday at the Winnisquam Lodge at Riverwoods in Exeter, N.H. He was the beloved husband of 67 years of Dorothy L. (Olsen) Mathews.

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    Jun 10, 2013
  • Gregory J. Fleming, 55

    Byfield, MA — Gregory R. Fleming, 55, of Byfield, Mass., formerly of Hamilton, Mass., died Wednesday evening in his home surrounded by his family. Gregory was born in Beverly, Mass. on October 8, 1957, and was the son of Jack and Nadja (Zuk) Fleming.

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    Jun 10, 2013
  • Bruce Alan Merrill

    Merrimac, MA — Bruce Alan Merrill, 70, of Merrimac, formerly of West Newbury, died peacefully Friday morning at his home after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by his loving family.

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    Jun 8, 2013
  • Shirley Lewis, 76

    Newton, MA — Shirley Lewis, 76, passed away peacefully at her home with her loving daughter, Angela, by her side on May 5 after a courageous battle with cervical cancer.

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    Jun 8, 2013 1 Photo
  • Henry E. Pabisz, 69

    Byfield, MA — Henry E. Pabisz, 69, of Byfield, Mass., and formerly of Peabody, Mass., died early Thursday morning at his residence with his family by his side after a year long illness. He was the loving husband of Marie Patricia (Donohue) Pabisz with whom he shared eight years of marriage. He was first married to the late Patricia (Byrne) Pabisz who died in 2001. Henry was born in Peabody, Mass., on November 6, 1943, the son of the late Edward and Mary (Zastowsky) Pabisz and was raised and educated here, graduating from Peabody High School in 1961. He attended Lowell Technical School for a year before joining the General Electric Co., Lynn as a Planner for 47 years prior to his retirement 4 years ago.

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    Jun 7, 2013 1 Photo
  • Jeanette R. Chatigny, 89

    Haverhill, MA — Jeanette Ruth (Whiting) Chatigny of Newburyport, passed on June 4, 2013. She was lovingly cared for with dignity by the staff at the Wingate in Haverhill since Sept. 2009.

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    Jun 6, 2013 1 Photo
  • Marguerite (Gouin) Stewart-Horne, 78

    Foster NSW, Australia — Marguerite Gouin Stewart Horne passed away on May 31 in Foster New South Wales, Australia.

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    Jun 6, 2013 1 Photo
  • Alfred H. Clausnitzer Sr., 82

    Newburyport — Alfred H. Clausnitzer, Sr., 82, of Newburyport, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday morning, June 2. Alfred was born in Groveland, Mass., on August 18, 1930, to the late Alfred and Doris (Hardy) Clausnitzer. Alfred was a local self-employed electrician, and also was an inspector or assistant inspector in Newburyport, Salisbury, Newbury, and West Newbury. During his spare time, Alfred and his late wife, Jean, enjoyed traveling and their dogs. Alfred served his country proudly with the U.S. Navy.

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    Jun 5, 2013
  • James Michael Kennedy Sr.

    Newburyport, MA — James Michael Kennedy Sr. passed peacefully at his home on Saturday, June 1, after a seven-year battle with cancer.

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    Jun 5, 2013 1 Photo
  • John O'Keefe

    Seabrook Beach, NH — John E. O’Keefe, 94, died on June 3, 2013, at Treasure Coast Hospice in Stuart, Fla. He was born on September 9, 1918, in Lawrence, Mass., son of the late James and Alice (McGoldrick) O’Keefe. John grew up in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High School. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for the 3rd Marine Construction Division in the South Pacific during WWII.

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    Jun 5, 2013 1 Photo
  • John Woodfall, 99

    Putnam, CT — John Davis Woodfall, 99, formerly of Heritage Road, Putnam, Conn., passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 28, at Anna Jacques Hospital, Newburyport, Mass., with his family members at his side. John was born on December 16, 1913, in Rutland, Vt., to Colin Baines and Marion Davis Woodfall. He graduated from Rutland High School in 1931. John married Marian G. Woodis in 1942.

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    Jun 5, 2013 1 Photo

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