IRA JOHN CASS JR.
September 23, 1927 ~ June 8, 2022 (Age 94)

Winchendon - Ira John Cass Jr, 94, died peacefully of natural causes on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, surrounded by his loving family.

Ira was born in Athol on September 23,1927 to Ira John Sr and Blanche (Vincent) Cass. He graduated from Athol High School, class of 1945, and then served in the U.S. Army. He owned and managed Cass Garage for many years after returning. He took his dealership experience to deLongchamp Motors of Fitchburg then brought his years of automotive experience to the classroom, teaching small engines and automative skills to high school students at King Philip Vocational High School until his retirement. Not only was he an amazing mechanic and teacher, he also was a gifted carpenter who built his own home on Lake Monomonac and helped many others build theirs. He truly enjoyed being able to help family and friends with any and all repair projects.

Ira lived a full and active life. He obtained his pilot's license at 16 years old and regularly flew airplanes through the Athol Orange Aero Club well into his 80s. His life long dream to skydive was realized on his 80th birthday. He took up skiing, also, at a young age and became a black diamond skier. He skied into his 90s, earning a lifetime ski pass at Wachusett Mountain. He also enjoyed curling, tennis, golf, boating, water skiing, model airplanes, puzzles, a good martini and playing cards. He was a member of the Athol Orange Aero Club, the Shirley Ultra Light Club, The Petersham Curling Club and the Winchendon Lake Association. His vitality for life was admired by many.

He was a devoted husband to his late wife, Mary A (Fanelli) Cass, of over fifty years and a loving father. He is survived by his four children and spouses, Vincent Cass and his wife Katrina of Winchendon, Deborah Gauvin and her husband, Richard of North Orange, Linda Beugg and her husband, Michael of Los Angeles and Susan Taylor and her husband, Gregory of Westminster; nine grandchildren, Michael Cass, Tracy Roettiger, Eric Gauvin, Christopher Gauvin, Nicholas Beugg, Elizabeth Beugg, William Beugg, Stephanie Pearson, and Ethan Taylor; five great-grandchildren Micah Cass, Liana Gauvin, Felix Gauvin, Taylor Pearson and Bella Pearson, and many nieces and nephews. Ira was predeceased by his brother, David Cass.

A graveside service for the immediate family will be held on Monday, June 13, 2022 at Silver Lake Cemetery, Athol. A Celebration of Life will be held September 24, 2022, the weekend of what would have been his 95th birthday. Details will be posted on Facebook. To leave an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com.

The Fiske Murphy and Mack Funeral Home has been entrusted with his funeral services. Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor and Douglas M. Stone, funeral directors

SUSAN M. (VALOIS) HUI
October 26, 1954 ~ June 2, 2022 (Age 68)

Gardner - Susan M. (Valois) Hui, 68, of Gardner, died peacefully Thursday, June 2, 2022, in Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, with her family by her side.

Born in Leominster on October 26, 1954, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Doris (Delisle) Valois. She graduated from Leominster High School with the Class of 1972 and received her Bachelor of Arts from Southern Massachusetts University-Dartmouth and her Master's in Education from Fitchburg State College. Susan was the Grants Administrator employed by Gardner Public Schools for many years prior to her retirement in 2017. She was previously the Principal of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary School and Waterford Street School, both of Gardner.

Susan was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish/ Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Gardner. She was a member and former secretary and treasurer of the United Postmasters and Managers of America Auxiliary. Susan enjoyed going golfing, gardening, and taking trips to the casino. She was an avid fan of her Boston Red Sox and loved to cook and watch the Food Network. Susan's greatest joy came when she was with her family, which was her pride and joy, always treasuring the special moments they had together.

Susan is survived by her husband of 40-years, Richard G. Hui of Gardner; two sons, Dustin R. Hui of Centreville, VA, and Christopher D. Hui and his wife Laura of Auburn; a grandchild, Jackson Hui; four sisters, Nancy Valois of Winchendon, Patricia Spiller and her husband Larry Clark of Wells, ME, Donna Pobuk and her husband Timothy of Gardner and Michelle Valois and her wife Katherine Daube of Florence; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was predeceased by her brother, David Valois.

Funeral Services will be held Friday, June 17, 2022, from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc.,110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA, with a Mass at 10:30 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA.

Calling Hours will be held Thursday, June 16, 2022, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the Ahisma Haven Animal Rescue, 381 Baldwinville Road, Templeton, MA 01468, or to the Dana Farber Cancer 450 Brookline Avenue, SW120, Boston, MA 02215, or on their website at (www.dana-farber.org). Please reference in memory of Susan M. Hui.

Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, PO Box 455, Gardner, MA 01440, is handling the arrangements.

BRUCE M. OUELLETTE
July 15, 1948 ~ June 27, 2021 (Age 72)

Jaffrey, NH - Bruce Michael Ouellette was born in Gardner, Massachusetts, to Antonio and Josephine Ouellette on July 15, 1948. His childhood years were spent living in Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where many of his relatives resided.

While in high school, Bruce worked as a stock clerk at Belletete's Super Market. At 17-years-old, Bruce joined the US Army on August 16, 1965. He was stationed in Viet Nam; Korea; Germany; Fort Dix, New Jersey; Fort Hood, Texas; and Leavenworth, Kansas during his service. He was proud to be in the military. Bruce received his honorable discharge on May 17, 1978 (Total service: 12 years, 9 months, 3 days).

After serving in the Army, Bruce worked as a Collator Operator at National Cash Register (NCR) in Peterborough, New Hampshire. He then transferred to NCR in Corbin, Kentucky, where he worked as a Material Handler.

In 1980, Bruce moved to California and took a maintenance position at Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. While at Addison-Wesley, he earned his Journeyman's Level Certificate of Completion of Apprenticeship for a Maintenance Mechanic from the State of California Department of industrial Relations Division of Apprenticeship Standards.

Over the years, he used his building maintenance skills at various places of employment and also worked as an independent contractor. Bruce had a great love for animals (cats: Bear and Be-Two; dogs: Bandit, Spotty, and Shannon). ln 1989, he enrolled in the Animal Health Technician Program at Foothill College. Having learned these new skills, Bruce volunteered and worked with veterinarians at several animal hospitals and at the Peninsula Humane Society (PHS). It was at PHS that he had his "15 seconds of fame" doing a commercial with one of the adoptable dogs as they promoted a local television channel.

Always looking for new adventures, Bruce traveled the United States in his RV with his dog Bandit. From 1993 to 1994 he was a Campground Host with the Volunteers in Park Program, Big Cypress National Preserve, Everglades, Florida. Traveling back to California at the end of 1994, he was a Campground Host at San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area, Santa Nella, California, for a few months then went back to Jaffrey, New Hampshire, where he purchased his first home. His greatest pride was his ability to purchase homes, fix them up, and then sell them. He did this eight times from 1995 to 2021 when he lived in New Hampshire, North Carolina, Arizona, and California. His last home was in Bakersfield, California.

During Bruce's life, he was married to Kim Nguyen, Wilma Helbert (daughter, Valerie Michelle Reed; son, Lee Michael Ouellette), and Denise Maraschin. He enjoyed playing his guitar, golf, and horseshoes; and taking care of his pets.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Lorraine Slagle, Constance Desmaris (Raymond), Jeannette St. George (Raymond), and Phyllis Gill. He is survived by his sisters Rachel Walsh (David) of Hanson, MA; Doreen Walsh (Hugh) of Placerville, CA; and Celeste Ouellette-Colmer of Winchendon, MA; brother Richard Ouellette (Linda) of Jaffrey, NH; his two children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Bruce's final days were at the Veterans' Hospital in Los Angeles. He was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and an inoperable ulcer and died on June 27, 2021. He was brave to the very end knowing that his days were limited, and he would no longer be able to enjoy time with family and friends.

A graveside service with Military Honors will be held on Monday, June 27, 2022, at 11:00 AM, in St. Patrick Cemetery on Hillcrest Road in Jaffrey, NH 03452.