Richard A. Mullen – 66, of North Reading, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2023, at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington.

Born in Winthrop, MA on July 22,1957. He was the son of the late Richard H. and Gloria E. (Sias) Mullen. He was a graduate of the Northeast Regional Metropolitan Vocational High School. He later received his Associate Degree’s both from Johnson and Wales and Northern Essex Community College. Rick has been a resident of North Reading for over forty years and was member of St. Theresa’s Church.

He was a Chef for the New England Life Insurance Company. He could talk to anybody, anywhere, about anything. He loved collecting and selling coins, Civil War Tokens and he loved cooking.

Family members include his loving wife of   41   years, Valerie J. (Sheehan); his daughter, Amanda L. Mullen his son, Scott D. Mullen and his brother, James J. Mullen and his wife Kathy, sister-in-law Maureen A. Sheehan and many nieces and nephews.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 20 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Adelaide (Iannuzzi) Branchini – 96, of Merrimack, NH, formerly of North Reading and New Haven, CT, passed away on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. She was the beloved wife of 68 years to the late Anthony Branchini.

She was born in New Haven, CT, on April 5, 1927. She was the daughter of the late Gaetano and Katherine (Buemi) Iannuzzi. Adelaide was a graduate of Hillhouse High School in New Haven, CT. She had been a resident of North Reading, MA for 60 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Adelaide worked in Sales at Filenes and was a dedicated homemaker. She was a very loving and outgoing person. She loved fashion, Hallmark movies, music, Broadway musicals, cooking, and good old fashion dancing. She loved luncheons with her friends and of course spending time with her daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Everyone thought that Grandmother Branchini was part of their own family.  She was everyone’s grandma. She never missed a game, show, performance or celebration. She was always there with stories, words of advice and lots of treats.

Family members include her loving daughters, Joyce Capaldo and her husband Bruce and Karen Ash and her husband Russell; her late brother, Sonny and her late sisters, Barbara and Babe; her 4 loving grandchildren, Christine, Michael, Brian and Laura; 6 great grandchildren, Alana, Austin, Julian, Liliana, Logan and Lucas.

Her funeral services will be private. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Richard F. Spindler, Sr. – 92, a lifelong resident of North Reading passed away Monday, October 9, 2023, after a brief illness. Known as Dad, Pa and Uncle Dick to his family and friends, his joy in living life to the fullest was contagious to all he met.

Dick’s North Reading roots run deep. He was born in North Reading, graduated from Reading High School in 1949, and spent his entire career in North Reading. It was here that he met the love of his life and wife of 69 years, Joyce C. Perkins. They were married in April 1954.

The couple built their first home in North Reading and began raising a family. When the family grew to 7 children, they built a new home in North Reading to accommodate the growing family.

Richard began his career at the North Reading Public Works in 1950 and devoted his whole working life to serving the town. He worked through numerous positions before becoming the Director of Public Works. The North Reading Public Works Garage is currently named in his honor.

While work was important to him, so was vacation time. He and Joyce vacationed with the family at Hampton Beach, the Cape, Ocean City, NJ and spent several years summering at Lake Winnipesaukee. In addition, he and Joyce traveled to many places around the country including Las Vegas, California and Hawaii with her Century 21 business.

Some of the things he loved most in addition to his family were his dog Barney who would ride shotgun with him everywhere he went, floating in the pool listening to country music, dancing, Mai Tais, sports and golf.

Richard was an avid Bruins fan, Red Sox fan and to say he was a Patriots fan would be an understatement. Nothing could interfere with game time and he could spew football facts and figures that would amaze us. Sunday dinners were suspended because he only had a limited time to eat during half time.

He took up golf as a hobby and became quite good at it. He was a member at Andover Country Club for many years.

It was golf that led him to start going to Florida during the winter months to escape from the cold and where he and Joyce eventually built a second home in Fort Myers.

He loved meeting new golfers who underestimated him as he would skillfully take their bets and flash his winnings around for everyone to see. He was the proud owner of 3 holes in one on the same hole at Colonial Country Club. It was his joy of golf that was contagious and made people drawn to him.

In addition to his wife Joyce, Richard leaves his children Sheryl Spindler of Malvern, PA, Jeanne Spindler of Tewksbury, Terri Antonio of Tewksbury, Lori Spindler Brooks and her husband Jim of Pelham NH, Mary Beth Spindler and her partner Lynn Garceau of Haverhill, and Richard Spindler Jr. and his wife Amy of North Reading. Lisa Spindler predeceased him. He also leaves nine grandchildren, Justin Antonio, Robert Harris, Jr., Stephen Harris, Lucas Johnson, Abigail Johnson, Madison and Payton Pearce, PJ and Samuel Brooks, and seven great grandchildren, Jeremy and Gianna Antonio, Charlie Harris, Kinsley Johnson, Riley and Adrienne DeMatte and Eli Brooks.

Visiting hours will be held on Sunday, October 15 from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. His Funeral will be held from the Funeral Home on Monday, October 16 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in his memory to MSPCA at Nevins Farm located at 400 Broadway, Methuen MA 01844. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

In Loving Memory of Helen (Mentus) Bigham, November 1, 1929 – September 21, 2023

Helen was born in Peabody, MA on November 1, 1929 and went home to be with Jesus surrounded by her loving family on September 21, 2023. Helen’s unconditional love and spirit of faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love, will be in our hearts always.

Helen grew up in North Reading on the Mentus Farm which was owned and operated by her late parents, William and Pazia (Zawinska) Mentus. Helen loved the farm and as a child would push her favorite goat around in a baby carriage.

Helen graduated from Reading High in 1947 and shortly after, met Carl A. Bigham Jr. at the Union Congregational Church in North Reading where they both sang in the choir. Helen and Carl were married in 1949 and in 1950 moved into their custom-built home at 181 Elm Street, built by Carl Sr., where Helen lived for 73 years.

During 1949-1960’s, family and friends were active in “The Jubilaires”, sharing their singing and acting talents in minstrel shows in town. After Carl passed away in 1987, Helen “Nana” devoted her love and time to her family, church and community. Being a wonderful cook and baker she always had something to offer when family and friends dropped in for a visit. She cherished her grandchildren and would make their favorite foods, they’d watch as many movies and video games as they could to fit into their visit. Helen shared her faith and continued her love of singing as a soprano soloist in the Union Congregational choir, where she was a member for over 70 years and attended for over 80 years. She was also a member of Faith Circle at the church, Friendship Group, O.E.S., and sang and performed with the North Reading Community Choral and The Senior Echoes.

Helen had a talent to take a bunch of yarn, fabric or twigs and pinecones and make them into something beautiful. She sewed and knitted doll clothes and crocheted Afghans for her family and her church fair. Helen learned to create stained-glass ornaments with her sister and nieces. She later volunteered and taught a stained-glass class at her church with many participants. Helen’s created crafts were among many sold every year at “Frosty’s Fair” at the Union Congregational Church in North Reading.

Helen spent every Spring and Fall at her church Rummage Sale where she had the patience of an angel and spent time mending items and repairing toys that would otherwise be thrown away. Many a child went home happy with a working toy.

Helen was the beloved wife of the late Carl A. Bigham, Jr., beloved mother of her late son Wayne C. Bigham and late granddaughter, Wayne’s daughter, Sara Phyllides. Preceded by death were Helen’s siblings, Michael Mentus, John Mentus and Anne Garland and her childhood friend Gertie. She is survived by her children Ronald of Merrimac, Craig of Methuen, Carl of Haverhill and Cheryl (Bigham) Rocca of Andover, 12 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren along with many nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am on October 7, 2023 at the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading, MA 01864. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Faith Circle, c/o Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street, North Reading, MA 01864 or to the North Reading Food Pantry Donate (nrfoodpantry.org), Ways to Help (nrfoodpantry.org)

Arrangements are under the direction of Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading. www.Croswellfuneralhome.com

William B. Birkmaier, Jr. – 79, of Wayland and formerly of Lebanon, NH and North Reading, passed away at his home on Saturday, September 16, 2023.

Bill was born on April 13, 1944. He was the son of the late William B. and Catherine (Witham) Birkmaier. He was raised in North Reading and was a graduate of North Reading High School and the U.S. Naval Academy.  He received his master’s degree in Computer Systems Management from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Bill retired as a U.S. Navy Captain, while in the role of Chief of the NATO Headquarters Situation Center in Brussels, Belgium.  He served his country for 30 years, and was a Vietnam Veteran.

Bill enjoyed life to the fullest.  Throughout his life, he sought out new experiences and adventures, whether through travel, restaurants, music or art. He instilled in his children an appreciation for other cultures and encouraged them to try new foods, listen to new music and learn new languages.  His navy career allowed Bill, his wife and his children to travel all over the world, and to experience life in places such as Hawaii, Washington State, Germany and Belgium. He valued education and insisted his children learn as much as possible, experience many things, and find joy everywhere. He was well known for his sense of humor.  He especially loved a good “dad joke”.

He had a unique ability to care deeply about others.  He was a proxy dad to many others, and could always be relied upon to provide thoughtful and wise advice.  He had a tremendous capacity for remembering facts. Before the internet existed, one could ask him any question about science, politics or history, and he would know the answer.  He was the best and most loving father, husband and grandfather to his wife, his three children, and his 5 grandchildren.

Bill is survived by his beloved and beautiful wife of 53 years, Laura (Lebron-Lopez) Birkmaier; his son, William Birkmaier; daughters, Sherry Calderon and Cristina Birkmaier; sisters, Lori O’Rourke and Lynne Heywood; grandchildren, Skyler, Liam, Oliver, Nicolas, and Luca; daughter and son-in-law, Christelle Birkmaier and Harold Calderon; many nieces and nephews. Loving brother to Karl and Mark Birkmaier.

A public graveside service is being held at the veteran’s section of Riverside Cemetery, 171 Elm Street in North Reading, at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 30^th.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in WA.  Link: plantatree.fs.usda.gov/tree-donation www.croswellfuneralhome.com