Marguerite A. “Margie” (Rogers) Dugas – 97, of North Reading, entered into  rest on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. She was the beloved wife of the late Alfred F. Dugas.

She was born to the late Veronica (Hingston) Rogers and Edward Rogers on September 2, 1927. She was also predeceased by her 3 sisters, Helen (Rogers) Ward, Katherine (Rogers) Regan and Marion Rogers, a late brother, John J. Rogers and his late wife Elizabeth (Daignault) Rogers.

Marguerite was educated in the Charlestown Schools and attended Salem State College.

She was employed with the Great Atlantic  and Pacific Tea Co. in their Boston Office for 20 years. She also worked for Bostik in Middleton for 22 years as a Senior Accountant. Marguerite and her late husband Alfred F. Dugas, moved to North Reading in January 1960, upon her husband’s discharge  from the Marine Corps.

She was the Facilitator for St. Thereas’s “Separated, Divorced, Widow and Widowers Group” for five years in North Reading. She still counts many of these people among her friends. Among these friends was Marie Barnard. Marie became one of Marguerite’s closest friends and confidant. This friendship continued until Marie’s death in 2008. During her and Marie’s lifetime, they were very active members of the North Shore Music Theatre for over 20 years. They travelled extensively. They did white water rafting in the Canadian Rockies, in Alaska they took helicopter rides through the Denali National Park and walked on the ice fields. They swam at Waikiki in Hawaii and saw the Arizona Memorial, etc. On their visit to the Grand Canyon Tetons they went on a Hot Air Ballon Trip. They saw the Grand Canyon by foot and in a small plane.

On their trip to Europe they visited the beautiful Isle of Capri and all the wonderful places in Rome, Pompei, Switzerland, France and England. Ireland was  two weeks of heaven. They were with a group from St. Theresa’s Church and they travelled all over this beautiful country, even kissing the Blarney Stone.

They travelled the United States on the West Coast from Washington State to Mexico on the East Coast from Canada to Florida and many points in between. They had planned to cruise when they got “old” but it wasn’t meant to be. Marguerite loved to dance, crochet and sew. For many years she made all of her own clothes. She was always an avid reader.

She kept active into her nineties working at the reception desk at the town hall, all the elections and town meetings. She always had a smile for everyone. She had many friends. One particular friend moved here from California leaving all her family on the West Coast. Cindy Elmore and Marguerite were neighbors and fast friends, they adopted each other. Cindy was the daughter Marguerite never had and Marguerite became Cindy’s East Coast mom. Cindy was always there for Marguerite. Marguerite will be missed by many. She made many friends at Central Place in North Reading, where she was known as the Mayor there.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 3 from 4 to 7 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Her funeral will be held from the funeral home on Friday, October 4 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Burial will be in Puritan Lawn in Peabody on Wednesday, October 16^th if possible (11 AM). In lieu of flowers memorial donations will be made in her memory to St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading, MA 01864 or to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

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Victor S. Santos – age 83, of North Reading, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers. He was born on January 25, 1941, in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, to the late David and Elsie (Sylvia) Santos. Victor’s early years were spent in New Bedford, Massachusetts before moving to Quincy, Massachusetts after getting married. The family then moved to North Reading, Massachusetts, where he spent the remainder of his life.  Victor graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and from MIT with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Victor dedicated many years to General Electric, working in the Aircraft Engine Group in Lynn, Massachusetts. He had a passion for drag racing that spanned over 50 years, earning the nickname “the professor”. He was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and was loved by many.

He is pre-deceased by his brother Duarte Santos, He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Judith L. (Souza) Santos; his sons, David A. Santos of North Andover and Paul V. Santos of Wilmington and granddaughter Courtney E. Santos of Exeter, New Hampshire. He is also survived by his brother’s wife Joan Santos and their children Jonathan and Gregory Santos.

His Funeral will be held on Saturday, October 5 at Noon at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street. Calling hours will be held prior to the service from 10 to 11:45 AM and on Friday evening, October 4 from 5 to 7 PM.  For more information, please visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com.

Arthur E. Bryer – 81, of North Reading and formerly of  Woburn, died Saturday, September 7, 2024, at Winchester Hospital, after a lengthy illness.  He was the husband of the late Sandra A. (Kusnerz) Bryer.

Born in Winchester, MA on June 13, 1943. He was the son of the late Arthur H. and Catherine F. (Corcoran) Bryer. Arthur was raised in Woburn and was a graduate of Woburn High School. He was a U.S. Army Veteran of the Vietnam Conflict. He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 50 years and was a member of St. Theresa’s Church.

Arthur was a Salesman for the A.J. Gonsalves, Inc. in North Reading  from 1960’s to 2001 and later worked for HobbyTyme from 2001 to 2023.

He was always giving and selfless, he was always smiling and was dedicated  to his wife, Sandy. He was a great friend and neighbor, he assisted elderly neighbors with household work. He had a great love for animals and had multiple cats and dogs over the years.

Arthur was an avid Classic Car enthusiast and loved watching any videos about restoration of cars, He especially enjoyed watching his great nephew Nathan playing sports.

Family members include his loving son Jason Bryer and his wife Lisa of  Dracut; his nephew, Kevin Wiggin and his wife Sonya; his great nephew Nathan Wiggin, all of Tewksbury; his late sister Catherine Bryer Wiggin and his late dog Isabelle.

His Funeral Mass will be held at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading on Friday, September 13 at 11:00 AM. Calling hours will held prior to the Funeral Mass from 9:00 to 10:30 AM, at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org)

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Robert M. Lorton-age 88, of North Reading, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 23, 2024, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a prolonged illness. He was born on March 27, 1936, in North Conway, NH, to the late Archie and Alice (Murray) Lorton.

Bob’s early years were spent in Maine before the family moved to Lawrence, Indiana. They later returned to Lovell, Maine, where Bob graduated from Fryeburg Academy, class of 1954. While completing the General Electric Apprenticeship Program in Lynn, MA, Bob met and married Margaret DeAngelis. The couple settled in North Reading, where they raised their family.

Bob dedicated many years of his career as a manufacturing engineer at Compugraphic Corporation in Wilmington. He had been a North Reading resident for 65 years and was a long-time member of Trinity Evangelical Church.

Known for his good humor, quick wit, and love of sharing jokes, Bob enjoyed gardening, playing the trombone in community bands, watching and attending auto races, and cheering on the Celtics.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Margaret C. (DeAngelis) Lorton; his son, Robert L. Lorton and his wife Joyce of North Reading; his daughter, Cynthia Baker and her partner Charles McCoy of Kokomo, Indiana; his sister, Mary Wilson of Cumberland, Maine; two grandchildren, Matthew Lorton and his wife Danielle Navish of Boynton Beach,Florida, and Jessie Dang and her husband Anuj Dang of Nashville, Tennessee; two great-grandchildren, Henry Lorton and Vera Dang. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Trinity Evangelical Church, 105 Haverhill Street, North Reading, on Saturday, September 21 at 2:00 PM. There will be no calling hours. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bob’s memory to Care Dimensions at caredimensions.org or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org.

Arrangements are under the direction of Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. For more information, please visit www.croswellfuneralhome.com.

Paul S. LaValle – 74, of North Reading and formerly of Malden, died Thursday, August 29, 2024 at Winchester Hospital. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, September 8^th from Noon to 2:00 PM, followed by Military Honors.