David E. Reed, 75, of North Reading, moseyed through the pearly gates on January 4, 2025 after a long and courageous battle with Huntington’s Disease. The son of the late Floyd and Mildred (Gates) Reed, he hailed from Barre, VT, attending Spaulding High School where he excelled in academics, as well as in the dramatic arts. His numerous awards and accolades included a scholarship to Northeastern University, where he met the love of his life, Mary Morelli.

In addition to earning a B.A. in History, David obtained a M.A. in Education from Suffolk University and a M.B.A. also from Northeastern University.

David and Mary settled in North Reading to raise their family, where David became involved in youth softball, serving as a coach and board member for several years. Always active in the community, he helped build the original KidSpot playground on Chestnut Street.

He continued his love of theater, performing as Colonel Pickering in “My Fair Lady,” and as one of the Gangsters in “Kiss Me Kate,” both with North Regional Theater Workshop. His greatest performance, as he loved to tell, was as  Firefrorefiddle, the Fiend of the Fell.

As a 32nd degree Mason, David served as Worshipful Master of North Reading Lodge AF & AM, High Priest of Waverly Royal Arch Chapter, District Deputy Grand High Priest of the Seventh Capitular District, Illustrious Master of Melrose Council – Council of Royal and Select Master Masons, Commander of Metro North Commandery #20, High Priest of St. Paul’s Royal Arch Chapter, Master of the 13th Lodge of Instruction, and a member of the Degree Team for Mt. Moriah. In 2011, he was awarded the coveted Joseph Warren Medal by The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

David combined his love of public speaking with his gift of storytelling serving as a tour guide for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in Boston.

He had a quick wit, with a love of Dad jokes and puns. His competitive spirit emerged around all games, especially Monopoly and Trivial Pursuit.

In addition to his wife of 51 years, Mary, he is survived by his daughters, Meredith (Reed) Cailler and her husband Craig of Tewksbury, Jillian (Reed) String and her husband Andrew of Lynnfield, his grandchildren Ava Cailler, Neal, Noah, and Nathan String, his sisters Margaret (Reed) Newhall and her husband Douglas of Manchester, NH, Eleanor (Reed) Gaudette of Rutland, VT, his brother James Reed of Berlin, VT, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Calling hours will be held at Croswell Funeral Home 19 Bow St, North Reading on Saturday, January 18 from 10:00 AM to 1:30 with a public Masonic funeral service from 1:30 to 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Huntington’s Disease Society of America at www.hdsa.org or Huntington’s Disease Society of America 505 Eighth Avenue Suite 1402 New York, New York 10018. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Stephanie (Leonard) Spina – 82, of Wilmington and formerly of North Reading, passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at Windsor Place in Wilmington.

Born in Brighton, MA on October 8, 1942. She was the daughter of the late Joseph and Edith (Leiviska) Leonard. Stephanie was a graduate of Boston State College and later received her Master’s Degree from Salem State University.

Stephanie was a teacher for the North Reading School System, she was a Title 1 Teacher from the mid 70’s to the early 80’s. She later taught for the Methuen School System from the early 80’s to her retirement in 2005.

She was known for her dry sarcastic sense of humor and wit. She loved teaching and had a smile for everyone.

Stephanie loved to travel with her longtime friend Nancy, she enjoyed quilting and was an avid reader. She especially loved her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a resident of Wilmington for the past 3 years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading.

Family members include her loving son Anthony and his wife Kelly and their children Laura and Anthony, Jr.; Joseph and his wife Melissa Condry and their children, Samantha and her fiancé Chris; great grandchildren James and Thomas; granddaughters Julia and Sean Joly and Madison; her daughter Maria and partner Mark Berry; her brother Vincent Leonard and wife Patricia; nieces Christine Curtin and Laurie and husband Brian Page and late nephew Paul Leonard; sister-in-law Lorna Benedict and the late husband Albert; niece Sheryl and Paul Sciaudone; nephew Brian Benedict and Lisa; and her longtime childhood friend Nancy Maguire.

Her funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Thursday, December 19 at 10:00 AM. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, December 18 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, MA/NH Chapter Headquarters, 320 Nevada St., Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460 (alz.org/ MANH/).

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Penelope A. (Smith) Colburne, 96, of Reading, formerly of North Reading and East Boston, passed away on Friday, December 13, 2024 at the High Pointe House in Haverhill. She was the beloved wife of the late Ronald D. Colburne, Sr.

Born in Boston, MA, on May 3, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Robert C. and Margaret V. (Coughlin) Smith. She was a graduate of East Boston High School, Class of 1946.

Penelope grew up in East Boston with her late sisters, Helen M. Potter and Natalie V. McCarthy. She vacationed in North Reading, where she met the love of her life, Ron. They were happily married and lived on Martins Pond for just shy of 50 years.  She was a school bus driver for C&W Transportation for 12 years and retired from Compugraphic in 1994, where she worked for 17 years.

Her home was always open to all, whether it was someone who needed a place to stay or just a meal. She baked for everyone and was well known for her spaghetti dinners and famous for her brownies.

She will be missed by her loving family, who have many happy memories of summers spent at their beloved Lanes End on Lake Winnipesaukee. She had been a resident of Reading for the past 15 years and was a member of St. Theresa’s Church in North Reading.

Family members include her loving son, Ronald D. Colburne, Jr. and his wife, Susan, of North Reading; her daughters, Pennianne Mullarky and her husband, Dana, of Methuen; Pamela Colburne and her husband, Mark Bossard, of Bradenton, FL; and Priscilla Colburne and her fiancé, Patrick Messer, of Pineview, GA; three grandchildren, Ryan Mullarky, Courtney DelMonico, and Ross Colburne; two great-grandchildren, Tyler LeBaron and Baylee DelMonico; and two very special nieces, Peggy Donaher and Betsy McCarthy.

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, on Wednesday, December 18, beginning at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday, December 17, from 4 to 8 PM. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231.

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Christopher Joseph “Wheat” Gleason – 75, of Wakefield MA, sadly left us on December 6, 2024, after a 20 year battle with heart disease. Christopher died at Tufts Medical Center in Boston, and will fondly be remembered and greatly missed by his large family and circle of friends from North Reading, Wakefield and beyond.

Beloved brother of Therese Park-Hyde of NY, MaryAnn O’Donnell of CA, James Gleason of FL, Margaret Bailey of Tewksbury MA, Julie Gleason of Arlington MA, Charles “Chuck” Gleason of Sandown NH, Anthony Gleason of Ashby MA, Ann Gleason Schnier of North Andover MA and Chris “Parker” Park. He is also survived by former wife Diane Smith.

Christopher was predeceased by parents Charlotte (Avery) Gleason and John W. Gleason and siblings Joan Cautela, John A. Gleason, Elizabeth “Betsy” Gleason, Joseph J. Gleason and the Love of his Life, JoAnne Fantuccio.

Christopher was born in Boston, MA on October 23,1949 and moved with his family to North Reading where he attended the local schools, graduating from NRHS in 1967. Shortly after high school Christopher enlisted in the US Army and served in Southeast Asia for 18 months, receiving an Honorable discharge in 1970.

Christopher worked various jobs in and around Boston after the military and attended Fisher College. For many years he was the day shift Parking Garage Manager at 60 State Street near Fanuel Hall which was his most challenging and favorite job. He moved to Wakefield in 1986 where he enjoyed sitting in the sun in the backyard while listening to the Red Sox, doing a crossword puzzle or working in his Garden Shed. Chris enjoyed thought provoking movies and watching hockey, baseball and football on TV and was an avid reader spending a lot of time in the local library. He was a kind intelligent man and could hold a conversation easily if he was in the right frame of mind, but enjoyed his privacy to a great degree. He would seldom answer the telephone and would sit for hours on his private 2nd floor porch reading. Chris was a colorful character in and around Wakefield and made friends with many local people due to his love of dogs and his uncanny memory for the names of people and their pets.

Friends and family will be notified of the details of a planned memorial service. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Alice B. (Hoyt) Sweeney – 89, of Lincoln Plantation, Maine passed away on Monday, November 25, 2024 at Coos County Nursing Hospital in West Stewartstown, NH. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul L. Sweeney, Sr.

Born in Stoneham, MA on August 29, 1935. She was the daughter of the late Alfred G. Hoyt, Sr. and Anna (Jaworski) Hoyt. She was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate of Reading Memorial High School.

Alice was a retired Assistant Treasurer and worked for fifty years for the Mass Bank for Savings in Reading. She has been a resident of Lincoln Plantation,   Maine for the past seven years.

One of Alice’s favorite time of the year was the Christmas Holidays and spending time cross country skiing with her siblings, nieces and nephews.

Family members include her loving son, Paul L. Sweeney, Jr. of Lincoln Plantation, Maine; her brothers, Herbert Hoyt of Foxboro and Jason Hoyt of New Hampshire; her sister Ruth Ross of North Andover; she was predeceased by her brothers, Alfred G. Hoyt, Jr., Richard E. “Dick” Hoyt, Sr. and Phillip Hoyt and predeceased by sisters, Arline Lumb-Garrington, Barbara Enos and Kathy Cartwright.

There will be no calling hours and services will be private for family only. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, MANH Chapter Headquarters, 320 Nevada St., Suite 201, Newton, MA 02460 (alz.org/MANH). Arrangements are under direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com