JOAN BICCHIERI
August 14, 2021 (Age 86)

Clinton - Joan V. (Leonardi) Bicchieri, 86, passed away at home on Saturday, August 14, 2021 following a period of declining health. She is survived by her beloved husband of 64 years, Rex Bicchieri; three sons and their wives, Robert J. Bicchieri & Maryann of Littleton; Paul S. Bicchieri & Deirdre of Winchendon; and Wayne S. Bicchieri & Sunita of Candia, NH; 7 grandchildren, Jacquelyn, Kevin, Melissa, Dylan, Toni, Manisha, and Cassandra; one great-grandchild, Koralee; her niece Erica, extended family and friends.

Joan was born in Boston, daughter of the late John & Adelaide (Bucozzi) Leonardi. Raised in Medford, she graduated from Medford High School, Class of 1953, and achieved her professional degree from Lawrence Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1956. A career Registered Nurse, Joan worked in maternity at Lawrence Memorial Hospital for several years before raising her own family. As a natural caregiver she later returned to nursing and was employed at the Walden Nursing Home and Maple Haven Nursing Home in Concord, before ultimately retiring from the infirmary at Brandeis University.

A community volunteer, Joan was a long-time proponent and member of the Carlisle Old Home Day Committee and organizer of the annual Cake Walk. She treasured the lifetime friendships of the Beautiful Ladies Lunch Bunch, held membership with the Red Hat Society, and volunteered for the Clinton Hospital Thrift Store. Among her many enjoyments, she loved hosting family, friends, and neighbors in her home, swimming, and caring for her cats. Above all, Joan was a proud matriarch, devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother.

Funeral services will be held privately. Arrangements are entrusted to the care of Philbin-Comeau Funeral Home, 176 Water St., Clinton. Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Joan Bicchieri to: Volunteer Humane Society, 505 Center Bridge Rd., Lancaster, MA 01523. Online condolences may be placed at www.philbincomeaufh.com.

COLLENE M. POWERS
May 8, 1961 ~ August 14, 2021 (Age 60)

Winchendon - Colleen M. Powers, 60, was stricken ill and died in her home on Saturday, August 14, 2021.

She leaves her mother, Eleanor C. Powers of Millbury; two sisters: Deborah A. Powers of Millbury and Susan L. Powers of Dover, NH; a brother, Brian L. Powers of West Chatham; and her beloved tabby cat "Lady". She was predeceased in 1998 by her father, Leo F. Powers of Millbury.

Colleen was born in Worcester on May 8, 1961, and was raised in Millbury. She later lived in Nashua, NH, Ayer, North Brookfield, Athol and Ashburnham, before moving to Winchendon in 2017. She was a 1979 graduate of Millbury Memorial High School and earned an Associate in Science degree from Becker College in Worcester in 1995. In 1998, she earned a Microsoft Windows NT Administration Certification from Boston University.

Colleen was a senior lab IT engineer at Novartis in Cambridge where she had worked for eight years.

She enjoyed photography, computer gaming, software technology, gadgets of any kind, D.I.Y. projects, and trips to Maine.

Her funeral will be Saturday, August 21, from Turgeon Funeral Home, 56 Main St., Millbury, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 A.M. in St. Brigid's Catholic Church, 59 Main St., Millbury. Burial in Central Cemetery, Millbury, will follow the Mass. Relatives and friends are invited to visit with her family from 9:00 to 10:30 A.M. in the funeral home, before the Mass.

Donations in her memory may be made to Ahimsa Haven Animal Rescue, 381R Baldwinville Rd., Templeton, MA 01468 (www.ahimsahaven.org).

PAUL F. LAPERRIERE JR.
January 29, 1944 ~ August 13, 2021 (Age 77)

WINCHENDON - Paul F. Laperriere Jr., 77, of 380 Teel Road, died peacefully Friday afternoon, August 13, 2021 in UMASS Memorial Medical Center, University Campus, Worcester with his family at his side.

He was born in Winchendon on January 29, 1944, son of the late Paul F. and Elia M. (Uguccioni) Laperriere and graduated from Murdock High School, where he played on its football and baseball teams. He later graduated from Keene State Teachers College in 1966.

Paul proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army and later served in the Army National Guard for 30 years. A resident of Derry, NH for many years, Paul was a history teacher at Alvirne High School in Hudson, NH, where he was also a varsity baseball coach. Paul was an avid sports fan of Boston area sports teams as well as the Detroit Lions.

He leaves two daughters, Andrea Schroeder and her husband Todd of Strafford, NH and Amy Pepin and her husband Paul of Londonderry, NH; four grandchildren, Nathaniel, Nicholas, Rachel and Erica; two brothers, Ronald J. Laperriere of Millville, NJ and Ricky P. Laperriere and his wife Tina of Winchendon; a sister, Cynthia A. Piascik and her husband Jim of Gardner and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 23, 2021 at 10 A.M. in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon. People are asked to wear attire of their favorite sports team or school. Funeral services will be streamed and may be viewed on the funeral home website.

Burial, with military honors, will follow in Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery.

Calling hours in the funeral home are Sunday, August 22, 2021 from 4 to 6 P.M.

Memorial donations may be made to the National World War Two Museum, 945 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130 or to Keene State College.

DOROTHY D. (MAKELA) VALLEY
August 3, 2021 (Age 71)

Hubbardston - Dorothy D. Valley (Makela), "Dot", 71, of 205 Gardner Rd. Hubbardston, MA passed away at Henry Heywood Hospital on August 3, 2021, surrounded by family after an extended illness. She is survived by her brother Richard Makela of Winchendon, three sons: Jay (56) and his partner Kolleen Smith of Leominster MA, Todd (51) and his wife Barbara (Brouillet) of Phillipston MA, and Eric (50) of Hubbardston MA, four grandchildren, James, Alex, Tanya, and Erin, four great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her husband Paul L. Valley, mother Pauline (Allard) Makela, father Kauno (Wally) Makela, and brother David Makela.

Dorothy graduated from Athol High School and worked in the semiconductor industry for Sprague Electric Company, later Allegro Microsystems, in Worcester MA, retiring with over 30 years of service. She held the position of Engineering Technician overseeing multiple fabrication lines during her time there.

Dorothy enjoyed sewing, knitting, and making her own clothes in her younger years. She enjoyed making her sons' Halloween costumes for them coming up with many creative ideas. She enjoyed sharing football Sunday with her husband Paul, family and friends. Dorothy also played the piano, displaying her talents at many Christmas celebrations. She also played in a recreational softball league on the "Paul's Angels" team in Hubbardston. In her later years, Dorothy enjoyed making monthly trips to the casino with her husband, Paul.

One of Dorothy's favorite pastimes was going to Hampton Beach every summer with her friends and sons. There were so many great times had by all and memories always to be cherished. She cared deeply for people and donated a lot of her time working on benefits and helping others in need. Dorothy will be greatly missed by countless friends and family. No services are scheduled at this time. A Celebration of Life will be scheduled in the future. Donations in her memory can be made to the First Parish Unitarian Church in Hubbardston.

FRANCIS EDWARD PICARD
January 31, 1924 ~ August 7, 2021 (Age 97)

Francis Edward Picard, age 97, of Rutherfordton, North Carolina, formerly of Winchendon and Rindge, passed away Saturday August 7, 2021 at his residence.

Francis was born January 31, 1924 in Jaffrey New Hampshire to the late Arthur Picard and Alma Lambert Picard. He served his country honorably in the Army/Air Force and was of the Catholic Faith. Francis worked as a Union Carpenter most of his life before retirement. He was a master carpenter and could fix or build almost anything. Francis was constantly working around the house and was a dedicated gardener. He relished in sharing his bountiful harvest with his neighbors and friends.

Francis lived a long and interesting life. He enjoyed taking road trips and fishing in Florida. Four wheeling, fishing and going to hunting camp in Colorado with "Mr. Adventure" -- his son Michael. Visiting dairy country in Wisconsin with his daughter Nancy and family. He also enjoyed exploring many national parks and gambling in Las Vegas and Central City, Colorado. He loved going to Niagara Falls and Disneyworld with his family. Francis will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Robert F. Picard and daughter, Suzan Marie Senter; sister, Irene Fontaine and Beatrice Draper and brothers Arthur, George and Robert Picard.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife of seventy-six years Grace Burnham Picard, son, Michael P. Picard (Judy) of Austin, Colorado; daughter, Nancy Ann Roberts of Rice Lake Wisconsin, sister Betty Carter of Vero Beach, Florida; ten grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

No formal services will be conducted.