All posts by Carol Croswell

Catherine M. Cataldo

Catherine “Kitty” M. (Murphy) Cataldo – 86, of Wilmington, formerly of Arlington and Cambridge, passed away at Care One in Wilmington on Friday, February 21, 2025 surrounded by her loving family. She was the wife of the late Angelo Cataldo.

Born at home in Cambridge, MA on August 16,1938. She was the daughter of the late Michael and Julia Murphy. Catherine was raised in Cambridge and was a graduate of St. Johns , Class of 1956. She married in October 1956 and moved to Arlington where she resided for 56 years. She was a member of St James Parish of Arlington, but recently she attended St. Maria Goretti’s Church in Lynnfield.

After her husband Angelo passed in 1994, Catherine decided to work outside the home being a long-term nanny for several families. She brought her expertise in raising her own 7 children to the table with these families. She was truly gifted with this.

She was outspoken, caring, and loving. She had strong values around family, cared for both her parents and instilled this value in her own children. She had a very strong personality and had a big heart for the underdog. She also spent many hours dedicated to being with her grandchildren.

Catherine  was an avid social butterfly at Windsor Place in Wilmington. She loved to socialize, play bingo and do anything that involved mingling, dancing or celebrating with others. She was always willing to help.

Family members include her loving sons, William Wahlefield and the late Richard Wahlefield, daughters, Cathy (Parris) Varney Charlotte Keefe, Julia Brachanow, Linda (Ariel) Anguiano and Joanne Torres (William Sullivan) and her sister Ellen.  Known as “Nana Kitty” to her 15 grandchildren Parris Varney Jr, Lindsey Varney, Liam Keefe, the late Julia Ciampa,  Casey McGah, Nathania Brachanow, Frankie Brachanow, Tonya Omar, Catherine Downard, Charlotte Anguiano, Kiyanna Anguiano, Denise Lawrenson, Deborah Morel, Joanna Torres, and Gabriella Torres as well as “Gigi” to her 14 great grandchildren.

Her Funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, on Thursday, March 6th  at 9:30 AM, followed by a 11:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Maia Goretti’s Church,112 Chestnut Street, Lynnfield. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, March 5th from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice.

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Rose A. Terranova

Rose A. (Arico) Terranova – 97, of North Reading and formerly of Watertown, passed away peacefully at the Winchester Nursing and Rehabilitation Center on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. She was the beloved wife of 63 years to the late Santo J. Terranova.

Born in Watertown, MA on December 29, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Angelina (Mancuso) Arico. She was raised and attended school in Watertown. Rose has been a resident of North Reading for over 55 years and was a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Rose worked as a baker and manager at Atlantic Food Market for many years in North Reading and Reading.

She devoted her life to her husband, children and grandchildren. Her family, relatives and neighbors were everything to her. She was a fantastic cook and baker, if you received a Dutch apple pie from Rose, you knew you were in good standing with her. She was a caring woman who always wished only the best for others. She loved playing bingo and taking day trips to Foxwoods. Rose was a homebody and loved working in her yard, planting flowers and making it beautiful. She was a devoted Red Sox fan, each season she’d wear her Red Sox Earrings to bring them good luck.

Family members include her loving sons, Paul Terranova and his wife Debbie of Wilmington and Robert Terranova and his wife Gigi of Salisbury; her daughter, Sandra Terranova of North Andover; her grandchildren, Keri and her husband Ryan, Andrew and his wife Ashley, Anthony and his wife Katie and Andrea and her husband Douglas; six great grandchildren; her late brothers, Sal Arico, Charlie Arico and Anthony Arico and her late sister, Josie Peltier. Also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Visitation at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Monday, February 24 at 9:00 to10:00 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass  at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers Rose’s family encourages donations in her memory to the Alzheimer’s Association. (www.alz.org)

Croswellfuneralhome.com

Katharine Griffin Barr

Katharine Griffin Barr – 85, of North Reading, formerly of New York, Bermuda, and Boston, passed away on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Hathorne Hill Rehabilitation in Danvers, after a lengthy illness.

Born in New York City, New York on May 2, 1939, she was the daughter of the late Arnold M. and Elizabeth (Bunn) Griffin. She grew up in upstate New York.

Katharine graduated in 1961 from the School of Speech and Dramatic Art at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY. She spent most of her career as a copy writer in direct marketing, working for various firms in New England and later opening her own business.

As a teenager she wanted to be a pilot and took flying lessons. When she turned 50, she resumed her lessons and got her pilot license. She was active in the Ninety-Nines, International Organization of Women Pilots. Katharine was a member of the Andover Rotary Club and a member and writer for the North Reading Senior Center. She was a member and attended St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in Marblehead. Katharine has lived in North Reading for over 35 years.

Katharine is the sister of Jan Griffin and the former wife of the late Kenneth Barr. Services will be private and she requested her ashes to be scattered in Bermuda, where she lived in the early 1960’s and visited often.

In Katharine’s memory please offer your time and resources for a senior citizen in need of visits and support. Arrangements are under the direction of the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Alexander D. Rabasco

RABASCO, Alexander D. –  Age 96 of North Reading and formerly of Medford died peacefully on Saturday, February 8, 2025.
Born in Boston on August 12, 1928.  He was the son of the late Daniel and Stella (Martinello) Rabasco.  Alexander was a graduate of Medford High School, Class of 1946, and served in the United States Navy from 1950-1954.  After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he embarked on a work career as machinist and then a design draftsman at several U.S. government defense facilities before moving on to spend many years working at the MIT Fusion Energy Lab in Cambridge, MA.
Married to Hope (Mazzotti) in 1956, Alexander was a resident of North Reading for 67 years.  He was Hope’s loving loyal companion, and their personalities complemented each other during their 66 year marriage until her death in January of 2022.
Alexander was a member of St. Theresa’s Church and the North Reading Senior Center where he called Bingo for several years.
Alexander was the much-loved Dad and Grampy of the family.  He had a pleasant and warm demeanor and a good sense of humor which endeared him to his family, friends, and co-workers.  He never raised his voice and was a good listener who showed genuine interest in what others were saying.   Alexander balanced work and life well, placing an importance on hard work while also making sure he devoted large amounts of time to the family. 
Alexander was an involved father to his three sons. He coached their Little League teams, fished with them during family vacations down the Cape, built small race cars for the Cub Scout pinewood derby, made props for school plays, and went to their many band concerts. He took an active interest in his grandchildren’s sporting, dance, theater and academic events, and school related travels. During the Rabasco family’s numerous family vacations down the Cape, a particularly special time for the grandchildren was fishing with Grampy on the Sesuit Harbor jetty.
A passionate lifelong sports fan, Alexander followed the Bruins, Boston Red Sox, and New England Patriots.  He was also a Boston College Football season ticket holder for many years and enjoyed viewing college football games during the fall.
He loved nature and took pleasure in feeding the birds during the winter.  Gardening was another passion of his, and his vegetable garden produced large quantities of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, green & wax beans, squash, and strawberries that he shared with family and friends.
Alexander also enjoyed traveling, especially Las Vegas, and he took a number of trips with family to NYC, Disney World, the Grand Canyon, Italy, and London.

Although Alexander will be greatly missed, his legacy to us all will be placing the highest value on family and being content with what is really important in life – treating people kindly, respecting others, and, above all, being with family.
Loving father of 3 sons, Daniel Rabasco and his wife Peg of Norfolk, MA,  Alex Rabasco and his wife Joanne of Nashua, NH and Stephen Rabasco of North Reading; brother of the late Janet Weis, Angela Lajoie and Gloria Proos; grandfather of Ana Rabasco and husband Rui Mascarenhas, Helena Rabasco Pilande and husband Eddie Pilande, Clara Rabasco, Garrett Rabasco and partner Jane Pascual, Jorden Rabasco and Jillian Rabasco; also survived by many loving nieces and nephews, including Karen and Maryellen Carr of North Reading.
His funeral will be held on Friday, February 14 at 10:30 AM at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Calling hours and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Friends of the North Reading Council on Aging, Inc.,157 Park Street, North Reading, MA 01864. Arrangements by Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, NORTH READING.

Mary P. Beagen-Hudson

Mary P. (Cunningham) Beagen – Hudson, 91 of North Andover and formerly of North Reading passed peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, January 28, 2025.

Born in Boston, MA on November 4, 1933. She was the daughter of the late Thomas and Mary (Harnish) Cunningham. Mary was raised in Roxbury, she attended St. Patrick’s Catholic Schools. She then entered the U.S. Air Force, she was a Korean War Veteran, retiring after 3 years of honorable service.

Mary raised her family in North Reading, where she enjoyed cooking and entertaining her four children and many friends. For many, many years Mary worked tirelessly caring for her daughter Maureen who suffered from Cystic Fibrosis.

Reading was one of Mary’s passions, sometimes having two books going at the same time. She was an active fund raiser and Ambassador for Cystic Fibrosis. She was a North Reading Youth Hockey and Little League Baseball Mom and an active fund raiser for both. Mary was always there to support her children. Mary was also involved in the North Reading Theater Workshop where she took on lead rolls in Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun, Carousel and Man of La Mancha.

Mary had great Jeopardy skills, often beating the contestants with answering questions. Mary always loved large Christmas gatherings with lots of presents for everyone.

Along with her Husband Dave she enjoyed a seasonal camp site at Old Stage Campground, Madbury, NH. Together they toured the U.S. and Canada in their RV many times.

Mary will be sadly missed by family members which include her loving sons, William S. Beagen of Haverhill, Michael T. Beagen, Ted Beagen and Patty Aloisi of North Andover. Extended family members include, Donna Smith of Griswald CT, Dave and Doreen Hudson of Upton, Ray and Maria Hudson of Burlington and Ellen & Louis Cobuccio of Tewksbury; along with many nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great grandchildren and many friends. Mary was pre-deceased by loving daughter Maureen P. Beagen and her husbands, Rudolph T. Beagen and Junior Dave Hudson.

Calling hours for Mary will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading. Her funeral to be held from the Funeral Home on Friday, February 7, 2025 from 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St., North Reading. Burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery, 171 Elm St., North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude PL, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.   www.croswellfuneralhome.com