Marion “Pudgie” (Cole) Hobby – 85, of North Reading passed away peacefully on October 29, 2023 with her loving family by her side. Pudgie, as she was affectionately known since childhood, was the loving wife of Harrie R. “Bobby” Hobby for 67 years.

A lifelong resident of North Reading, she could always be found in the company of her high school sweetheart, Bobby. In younger years she cheered on his softball team or could be found helping out at a Knights of Columbus function. Always together, If you saw one, you knew the other was not far off.

Pudgie loved the outdoors and was often seen on her daily walks around her home on Martin’s Pond. She loved working in her garden and taking care of any stray animal that might cross her path. She was the neighborhood mom who took all the kids on adventure walks in the woods when her children were growing up.

In recent years, Bobby and Pudgie spent winters in Bradenton, Florida. They enjoyed the warm Florida weather with friends and family visits. Pudgie loved swimming in the ocean and strolling on the beach searching for shells to add to her collection.

Pudgie was a devoted grandmother to her four grandchildren. She loved attending all of their activities and was a constant presence in their lives. Always fun, energetic and full of life, there was nothing like a sleepover at Nanny’s. She was so loved. Sadly, she never had the opportunity to know her great grandchildren, but the love that she had for her family will be passed down to them through stories and happy memories of her life.

She is survived by her daughter Debra Skerry and her husband Daniel, her sons Richard Hobby and his partner Laurie Phinney, and Andrew Hobby. She is predeceased by her daughter Linda Hobby. Loving Nanny to Alexandra Apito and her husband Bryan, Megan Skerry and her husband Vinny Valant, Ellis Hobby and Kyle Hobby. She was also the great grandmother to Elliott, Nico, Martin and Quinn.

Friends and family are welcome to visiting hours at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Sunday November 5, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  A Funeral Mass celebrating Pudgie’s life will be held at St Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street in North Reading on Monday November 6, 2023 at 10:30 am. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Association https://www.alz.org/ or Northeast Animal Shelter, Salem MA. Northeast Animal Shelter

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Paul W. Eisenhaure. -August 22, 1947 – October 19, 2023

Survived by his loving wife Katherine, of Tewksbury, his sons Thomas and Jeffrey, and two grandchildren. He was the youngest of five born to Stephen and Florence (Scott) Eisenhaure, and was predeceased by his siblings Philip, Dolly, Kenneth, and Isabelle. He died at home following a long illness.

Paul grew up in North Reading on his family’s farm on Haverhill St, which he loved and maintained a connection to throughout his life. He was a graduate of North Reading High School, 1965, where he met Katherine LaPerche; they were married in 1970. He earned B.A History and M.A Education degrees from Suffolk University, then pursued a career teaching history, math, and computers in the Boston Public Schools.

Paul had a romantic mind. He spent many happy summer days and nights with family and friends aboard a succession of sailboats that he built or enhanced throughout his life. He kept ship’s logs describing his sailing adventures in detail, frequently adding careful illustrations, hand-drawn maps, and original poems. In his later years he found joy in restoring antique cars and sharing his knowledge with others at local shows.

He is fondly remembered for his wit, humor, patience, imagination, and skill. He loved puns and wordplay, and we suspect that he enjoyed the eye rolls that he generated as much as he did the laughs. He loved to learn, and he loved to explain. He derived great satisfaction from thoughtfully crafting things of all types, whether they be another beautiful piece of furniture for his home, the newest prop for his intricate American Flyer train layout, a lesson plan for his students, a treehouse for his kids, or the perfect joke for anyone who would listen. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on November 10, 11:30 am, at 6 Westland Drive, Tewksbury.

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