The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of October 20 to October 27, 2022

Obituaries

Winston A. Wright

WINSTON A. WRIGHT
January 15, 1937 ~ October 9, 2022 (Age 85)

Our community is at a great loss with the passing of Winston A. "Win" Wright 85, a longtime community servant and friend to many, with his passing on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at the Applewood Care and Rehabilitation Center in Winchester, NH.

His parents, Ray A. and Abbie F. (Crane) Wright, welcomed their son into the world on January 15, 1937, in Keene, NH. He grew up in Keene and was a 1955 graduate of Keene High School.

Winston attended Orange Coast College receiving an Associate Degree in the Arts. He later received a Bachelor Degree in Education from Keene Teachers College and his Master's Degree in Education from Fitchburg State.

He was an educator in the middle school system in Winchendon, Mass for 33 years. His students cherished Mr. Wright as their teacher. He also served in the Winchendon middle school system as assistant principle.

Win will be remembered for his selfless dedication to his community, protecting many as a member of the Fitzwilliam Fire Department, beginning his fire service career in 1960, moving through the ranks to Sr. Captain and later as chief. He also served as a member and assistant chief of the Meadowood Fire Department.

Of the many accolades for Win, he was one of the first to obtain the level of EMT in South Western NH in the early 70s; a nationally registered EMT until 2014; a certified Firefighter 2 and hazmat deacon; an Emergency Management Director until 2014; a senior staff instructor with the NH Fire Academy; a fire warden; and member of the Fitzwilliam Emergency Preparedness.

Win was also an emergency dispatcher from 1965 until 2014 with the South Western NH Fire Mutual Aid.

As if this wasn't enough for Win in serving his community, he was also a very proud member of the Monadnock Regional School District Board.

Following Win's retirement, he and his wife, Jane, enjoyed taking over twenty cruises, creating wonderful memories together. He, Jane and the family created many wonderful memories at their seasonal camping site at Surry Mountain Dam Campground for many years.

He will be greatly missed by many, especially his son, Kenneth A. Wright and his wife, Sherry, of Fitzwilliam; two grandchildren, Kenny Wright II and his wife, Taryn, stationed at the Schofield Army Base in Hawaii, and Kyle Wright and his wife, Natasha, stationed at Ft. Drum Army Base in NY; three great-grandchildren, Brady Wright of Hawaii, Colton Wright and Kyia Wright of Ft. Drum; a sister-in-law, Sharon Wright of Keene, NH; his nephews and nieces including his niece, Debra Beach of Keene; and many other extended family members. Winston's wife of 61 years, Jane R. (Wyman) Wright died on November 9, 2019. A brother, Douglas Wright, a brother and sister-in-law, Morgan and Sandra Wright, and two sisters-in-law, Carolyn McLeod and Shirley Cheever, predeceased him.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 28, 2022 at 11:00 am in the Fitzwilliam Community Church, Route 119, Fitzwilliam. Burial in the Mountain View Cemetery, Swanzey, will be held privately by the family. Members of the Fitzwilliam Fire Department will honor Win with a final ride from the fire station to the church on the department's fire engine.

In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in Mr. Wright's memory to the Fitzwilliam Community Church, PO Box 522, Fitzwilliam, NH 03447.

The Foley Funeral Home of Keene is entrusted with Mr. Wright's services. To offer online condolences to the family or to share special memories, please visit www.foleyfuneralhome.com.

Eljeanne M. LeClair

ELJEANNE M. LECLAIR
November 27, 1942 ~ October 15, 2022 (Age 79)

Winchendon - Eljeanne M. (Bourn) LeClair 79, died Saturday, October 15, 2022 at Heywood Hospital.

She leaves her husband, Ray LeClair; two daughters, Denise Roberts and her husband Peter of Rindge, NH and Cindy LeBlanc and her husband Robert of Baldwinville; one son, James LeClair of Winchendon; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a daughter Theresa LeClair; two brothers, David Bourn and Stewart Bourn and one sister Phyllis Sherman.

Eljeanne was born in Gardner on November 27, 1942 a daughter of the late William Irving and Corrine Hazel (Everett) Bourn. She was a graduate of Narragansett High School. She worked for the former Rich’s Department Store and for Digital in the Mail Room and then in the Copy Room.

She taught Sunday school in her youth. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, drawing, crafts and making ceramics. Eljeanne also loved animals, cooking, baking and going to tractor shows with Ray.

She will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved her.

A graveside service will be held on Friday, October 20, 2022 at 1:30pm in the Pine Grove Cemetery, Templeton, MA

To leave an online condolence please visit, www.stone-ladeau.com

If you wish please consider making a memorial contribution to the Monadnock Humane Society, 101 W Swanzey Road, Swanzey, NH 03446.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor and Douglas M. Stone, funeral directors.

J.F. Norman Gionet

J.F. NORMAN GIONET
July 7, 1934 ~ October 7, 2022 (Age 88)

LEOMINSTER: Joseph Francis Norman Gionet, 88, of Leominster, formerly of Shirley, Winchendon and Edgewater, Florida peacefully passed away Friday, October 7, 2022, surrounded by his family, at his home.

Norman was born in Shirley, July 7, 1934, the youngest of fourteen children born to Francis and Mary M. (Hachey) Gionet and resided in Shirley for most of his life before moving to Florida then returning to Massachusetts.

Norman leaves his wife of 68 years, Dorothy L. (Holbein) Gionet; three sons, Kenneth C. Gionet and his wife Cindy of Shirley, Kevin F. Gionet of Winchendon, Garry L. Gionet and his wife Jacqueline of Leominster; two daughters, Karen M. Green of Quincy, Lisa A. Gionet of Leominster; his sister Annette Reese of New York; eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren with one on the way.

Norman served his country for nine years in the Army National Guard. A machinist by trade, Norman worked for many years at Harvard Machine & Tool Company and later at Frequency Sources in Chelmsford before retiring in 1998. He was very proud of working with and making parts for NASA in the first Space Shuttle Program.

Norman very much enjoyed his family. His grandchildren and great grandchildren were his greatest joys and lit up his life whenever they visited. He enjoyed family cookouts, holidays as well as his visits to Hampton Beach and Florida.

Norman was always busy whether it be home improvements, building or fixing something, crafts or helping a family member. A devout Catholic, Norman was a longtime member of St. Anthony's Church in Shirley. Norman's family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Simonds-Sinon Cancer Center, Dr. G., JoAnn, Beacon Hospice, especially Jennifer, Katie and Gloria, for the kindness and compassion provided to Norman during his illness.

Norman's funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 AM Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at St. Anthony's Church, 14 Phoenix Street, Shirley. Interment will follow at the parish cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the charity of the donor's choice. The Anderson Funeral Home, 25 Fitchburg Road, Ayer is assisting the family with arrangements, for additional information or to leave an online condolence please visit their website at www.andersonfuneral.com.

Reino A. Maki

REINO A. MAKI
July 2, 1942 ~ 2022 (Age 80)

Westminster - Reino A. Maki, 80, It is with heavy hearts that the family announces his passing from this earthly life. Yet we are thankful that he has gone home to his lord.

He was born in Fitchburg on July 2,1942 to Finnish immigrants Reino W. and Gertrude (Luoma) Maki. He graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1960. After high school he entered Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY. as an electrical engineering student, he was on the dean's list and won a scholarship. He then decided electrical engineering was not what he wanted, went to UMass Amherst as an English Major. Straight out of college he taught English to juniors and seniors in Ashland Maine. He then took a job working for the University of Wisconsin as a brand new fieldworker on the newly developed, Dictionary of American Regional English (DARE) project. He was one of the three original workers on the project. Upon completion of the project computers were growing in popularity and became an interest he explored extensively . He worked his way up from systems programmer to consultant and project leader at GE in Fitchburg until his retirement.

Ren enjoyed eating out, playing his guitar, chess and cribbage, canoeing, photography, hiking with his family and traveling for work, with his wife and especially with his daughter Susan. He was a member of the former Turner Hill in Fitchburg, the Eastwood Club, a Chess Club, a member of APICs and Saima Park. His Finnish heritage was very important to him.

He leaves his wife of 61 years, Shirley I. (Starsja) Maki, whom he met in high school; two sons, Richard E. Maki and his wife Debra of Winchendon and Gary W. Maki and his wife Susan of TX; four daughters, Carina A. Martorella and her husband Michael of Winchendon, Susan Irene Maki of Royalston, Lauren E. Maki and her husband Donald Silk of Amherst, NH and Karyn L. Narvin of Merrimack, NH; fourteen grandchildren Nathan J and Caitlin A. Morand, David Lee Josselyn, Harrison (Gus) Williams Caleb, Chloe,Reagan and Ethan Maki, Mason, Emily, Matthew and Austin Silk; Myles and Kolt Narvin; two great-grandchildren, Maya Morand of CA and Zayden Joslyn of NH; one sister, Kathryn M. Gerow of Dunstable, one brother-in-law, David R. Starsja of FL., two nephews, one niece, one great nephew, cousins and special friends.

He was predeceased by a son Kenneth David Maki on January 2, 1994.

The family would like to express special thanks to the amazing staff of Nashua Crossings and Brookhaven Hospice Care for their compassionate care of Reino during his last few months, (Deepest Thanks)

His funeral services will be private with family and close friends. In keeping with his wishes there will be a sharing hour for expression memoirs and stories about him.

In Reino's memory donations may be made to The Finnish Center at Saima Park, 67 Scott Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420, or www.saima-park.org

To leave an online condolence please visit, www.mackfamiylfh.com.

The Mack Funeral Home, 105 Central Street, Gardner, MA 01440, has been entrusted with Reino's funeral arrangements.

Kevin J. Mack, Walter C. Taylor and Douglas M. Stone, funeral directors.