MARGARET M. QUIRK
December 21, 1930 ~ April 17, 2020 (age 89)

WINCHENDON – Margaret M. “Peggy” Quirk, 89, of 369 Maple Street, died peacefully Friday morning, April 17, 2020 in her home, surrounded by her loving family.

A lifelong resident of Winchendon, she was born on December 21, 1930, daughter of the late Euclid and Albina (LaFalam) Smith and was a 1948 graduate of Murdock High School.

Peggy had worked for 23 ½ years as a customer service representative and purchasing secretary for New Hampshire Ball Bearings in Peterborough, NH until her retirement in 1990. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and St. Vincent de Paul Church, Baldwinville. Peggy enjoyed camping, playing cards at Ipswich Community Center and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

She leaves her husband of 50 years, Thomas M. Quirk; two sons, Wayne Patria of Winchendon and Earl “Pat” Patria of Winchendon; four grandchildren, Derek Patria and his love Sue Ritson, Brian Patria and his wife Angel, Jennifer Wilson and her husband Tim of Ashland, MA and Melissa Patria Weaver and her husband Jeff; four grandchildren, Derek Patria, Brian Patria, Jennifer Wilson and Melissa Weaver; eleven great grandchildren, Natashia, Drew, Amanda, Kailyn, Jacob, Allison, Jack, Zachary, Curtis, Xander and Gage; two nephews, Ken Smith and Jim Smith; one great niece Jen Smith and three great nephews, Benjamin Smith, Brandon Smith and Zachary Valiere Smith. She also leaves cousins and seven godchildren, Tanya, Anne, Steve, Vickie, Todd, Sue and Jim.

Private funeral services will be held in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial will be in Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon.

Memorial donations may be made to Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 52 Spruce Street, Winchendon.

AUDREY A. BATCHELDER
April 24, 1939 ~ April 20, 2020 (age 80)

WINCHENDON – Audrey A. (Dellasanta) Batchelder, 80, formerly of 46 Maple Street, died peacefully Monday, April 20, 2020.

She was born in Winchendon on April 24, 1939, daughter of the late Everesto and Eva (Diotalevi) Dellasanta and was educated in Winchendon schools.

Audrey worked for many years as an assembler at the former Ray Plastics. She was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and Winchendon Senior Center. She loved spending time with her family and cat Molly.

She leaves three children, Sally Jo Morin of Winchendon, Wade Batchelder and his wife Lise of Winchendon and Scott Batchelder of Athol; her brother and sisters, Patti Homon of Winchendon, Carol Steele of VA, Delores Elam of Claremont, NH and Raymond Dellasanta of Winchendon, as well as six grandchildren, six great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Five brothers, William Dellasanta, Ronald Dellasanta, Dennis Dellasanta, Wilson Dellasanta and Joseph Diotalevi, and a sister Sherry Florence, preceded her in death.

Private funeral services will be held in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue, 381 Baldwinville Road, Templeton, MA 01468.

ROBERTA JANE LONG
December 18, 1941 ~ April 21, 2020 (age 78)

WINCHENDON – Roberta Jane “Bobbie” Long, 78, of 106 Ipswich Drive, died peacefully Tuesday morning, April 21, 2020 at Alliance Health in Baldwinville, where she lived since August 2019. While living at Alliance Health, Bobbie made friends with each person she met. The incredible staff cared deeply for her and were her extended family.

She was born in Leominster on December 18, 1941, daughter of the late Robert and Norma (Farland) Stoll and was a 1965 graduate of Fitchburg High School. She was a resident of Templeton for 23 years and had lived in Winchendon for the past 17 years.

Her husband, Lauri B. “Benny” Long, died in 1995. Her brother Jimmy died in 1978. She leaves four children, Laurie Orcutt and her husband Roger of Gardner, Tracy Weber and her husband Tim of Chapin, SC, Michelle Long of Gardner and Michael Long and his wife Lynne of Dracut; four grandchildren; two sisters, Debra Stoll of Townsend and Victoria Stoll of Chico, California; a brother, Mark Stoll of Boston; two nieces, one nephew, as well as grandnieces and grandnephews.

Bobbie faithfully attended Cornerstone Church in Winchendon, MA for over 42 years. She had a heart for missions and served her church family in various ways which included teaching Sunday School, Kids Church, Mpact Girls Club, Nursery, Women’s Ministry and various Bible Studies. Bobbie was also a volunteer counselor at Care Net Pregnancy Center. She loved helping others and if she said she would pray for you, then she most certainly did. She loved to read and if there was a book to be found Bobbie would have it. One of her most favorite things to do was have tea with her BFF of 45 years, Wendy Brouilet. There wasn’t a person Bobbie met that wasn’t her friend. She was deeply loved and loved deeply.

Bobbie taught kindergarten at Cornerstone School. She treasured these times and each of her students were special to her. She spoke often of her teaching days and the joy it brought her. Prior to teaching school she was involved in teaching Girl Scouts for many years. Bobbie loved investing in the lives of others.

In 1996, after the death of her husband Ben, Bobbie went back to school at Mount Wachusett Community College where she received her CNA and worked as a residential assistant for many years until she retired in 2008. She shared a love for the Red Sox with her daughter, Laurie; a love for shopping with her daughter, Tracy; a love for mystery novels and word search puzzles with her daughter, Michelle; and a love for video games (Mario Bros) with her son Michael. She loved spending time with her family and adored each moment with her precious grandchildren.

Private funeral services will be held in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Gardner.

Memorial donations may be made to Cornerstone Church of the Assemblies of God, 122 Gardner Road, Winchendon, MA 01475.

LOIS JOAN BELAIR
February 13, 1943 ~ April 13, 2020 (age 77)

Lois Joan Belair, 77, passed away on Monday, April 13, 2020 at the UVM Medical Center after suffering a stroke.

She was born on February 13, 1943 in Gardner, MA to the late Toivo & Elsa (Blom) Linden.

After graduating from Gardner High School Lois attended Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, MA earning a Bachelor's in Education. She began her teaching career in Winchendon, MA and then after moving to Vermont she worked in the Essex Town Schools. Lois's true passion was books & reading and left teaching to volunteer at the Brownell Library in Essex Jct. and to work at the Trinity College Book Store. She would end her love of working with books at the South Burlington Community Library, after working there for 24 years.

Some of Lois's favorite hobbies and past-times were reading, puzzles, walking in the mall and window shopping, playing Words with friends, ice cream, taking drives to look for ice cream, having dinner and playing domino's with friends, traveling to see her family, and traveling far and wide with her husband Ron and their special friends Wes and Cissy McClellan. She most of all loved spending time with her family and was working on the family's genealogy. Lois was a member of her beloved St. James Episcopal Church for 43 years and enjoyed playing in their Handbell Choir.

Lois is survived by her Husband of 53 years, her one love, Ronald. She is also survived by her Daughters: Elizabeth Hatin & her husband Jon of Winooski, Jennifer Belair of Essex Jct. Grandchildren: Adam & Jonathan Hatin and Elsa Belair. Great-grandchildren Emma & Carl Hatin. Sister: Lynne Rice of Winchendon, MA. She also leaves behind many beloved nieces, nephews and many dear friends that she cherished and considered family.

A memorial service and burial at St. James Church will be held at a later date.

If you wish to make a contribution in Lois's memory they may be made to: St. James Episcopal Church Outreach, 4 St. James Place, Essex Jct., VT 05452.

Arrangements are in care of Corbin and Palmer Funeral Home, 9 Pleasant Street, Essex Jct., VT.

ANTHONY JOSEPH KURYLO SR.
February 16, 1924 ~ April 13, 2020 (age 96)

Anthony Joseph (Tony) Kurylo, Sr., 96, of Stratham, Western Australia, passed away on April 13, 2020. He was born in Wallingford, CT, on February 16, 1924, to the late Michael and Eva Kurylo. He was the loving husband of the late Patricia J. (Strawmyre) Kurylo.

Tony enlisted in the US Navy during WWII as a flight engineer aboard a PBY aircraft. He attended the University of Connecticut and graduated with a degree in forestry.

In 1952 he joined the Connecticut State Police. In 1979 he retired from the States Attorney's Office Hartford County as Chief Detective.

Upon retirement, Pat and Tony moved their family to Western Australia. Tony enjoyed 39 years of retirement in a place he loved.

Tony appreciated all of nature, had a fondness for animals, and was especially knowledgeable about trees. He also authored 2 books and was writing a political blog well into his 90's.

He is survived by his children Elizabeth and partner Greg of Eaton, WA, Anthony J Kurylo and his wife Terri of Winchendon, MA, Dean V. Kurylo of Stratham, WA, Dana H. Kurylo and his wife Suzanne of Winchendon, MA, and Katherine T. Benkesser and her husband Edward of Eaton, WA. He was the proud grandfather to Rebecca, Lane, Emily, Ryan, Sarah, Zoe, and Lexie.

Besides his wife, Tony was predeceased by his son Richard Paul Kurylo, his brother Michael Kurylo, and his sister Emma M. Shute.

Private funeral services were held on April 20, 2020 in Australia. A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

LILLIAN M. HOBBY
March 15, 1926 ~ April 18, 2020 (age 94)

WINCHENDON – Lillian M. (Keyes) Mills Tenney Vine Hobby, 94, formerly of Gardner and Winchendon, died peacefully Saturday afternoon, April 18, 2020 in Alliance Health at Baldwinville.

She was born in Springfield, MA on March 15, 1926, daughter of the late Wilbur and Roxsielena (Whittemore) Keyes and moved to Gardner at the age of five. She was later adopted by her stepfather Samuel Mills. Lillian lived in Gardner for many years and graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1944. She moved to Winchendon Springs in 1999.

Lillian worked many years ago as a cashier at Massachusetts Electric. She was a long time member of First Baptist Church in Gardner, serving on many committees and serving in many capacities. She had also been a volunteer at Heywood Hospital.

Lillian was preceded in death by three husbands, Baxter Tenney in 1982, Homer Vine in 1989 and James Hobby in 2009, as well as a sister, Irma Tenney. She leaves four children, Deborah R. Tenney of Dennis, David S. Tenney and his wife Meredith of Acworth, NH, Timothy W. Tenney of Gardner and Roxanne T. Tenney of Gardner; eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Private funeral services will be held in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial will be in Crystal Lake Cemetery, Gardner.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, 14 High Street, Gardner, MA 01440.

JAMES E. RICHARDS
February 10, 1939 ~ April 20, 2020 (age 81)

WINCHENDON – James E. Richards, 81, of 122 Ipswich Drive, died peacefully Monday evening, April 20, 2020 in Heywood Hospital, Gardner.

He was born in Winchendon on February 10, 1939, son of the late Arthur E. and Marion R. (Jelley) Richards and was a 1956 graduate of Murdock High School. Following graduation, Jim entered the Coast Guard and served in the Merchant Marines for 8 years.

Jim was a radio telegraph operator for RCA in Chatham, MA for 16 years until his retirement in 1993. In 1995, he returned to Winchendon from Chatham. Jim was an amateur radio operator with call letters KIGRM. He enjoyed target shooting and was a member of Winchendon Rod and Gun Club and Society of Wireless Pioneers.

He leaves his wife of ten years, Patricia C. (Hetu) Bailey Richards; a brother, Terry A. Richards of Cunningham, Tenn.; two sisters, Jean E. Premo of Franklin, NC and Linda E. Sewall of Seward, Alaska and several nieces and nephews. His first wife, Bernice M. (St. Laurent) Richards, died in 2007.

Private funeral services will be held in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial will be Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon.