Laurie  Ann (Crowe) Powell, 63, of Claremore, Oklahoma and formerly of North Reading, Massachusetts,  passed on February 11, 2023.

Born February 11, 1960, in Boston, MA to Richard Howard Crowe and Elaine Agnes (Brinkmann) Crowe, Laurie Ann grew up in North Reading, Massachusetts. She married Jeffrey Powell on May 25^th, 1985. They have five children: Bethany, Daniel, Rebecca, Benjamin, and Elijah.

Laurie Ann was passionate about sharing the gospel and loved music and storytelling all her life. She and Jeff wrote songs together, which are recorded in several albums. She homeschooled all of her kids through high school, surrounded by instruments and books. A shared adventurous spirit led her and Jeff to move to the West Coast then Japan before making Oklahoma home base, always looking for opportunities to bless others. From that base they travelled to Nepal, India, Croatia, Ecuador and more. Everywhere she went Laurie Ann jumped into connecting to other moms and building communities, starting homeschool groups, a gospel choir, and a healthy living business where she coached others and taught. Always ready to get in costume and put on a show, she was the author of a musical, a memoir, and countless fantastic talks.

While she is rejoicing to be with God after two years of living with cancer, she will be deeply missed by a wide circle of friends in addition to her husband and children, including her siblings Richard, William, James, Catherine, Barbara, John, nine nieces and nephews, and their extended family.

Visitation will be held on Monday, February 20 from 9:30 to 11:45 AM, followed by a Noon Funeral Service 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 her memory to younglivingfoundation.org

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Stephen J. Gill – 83, of Wakefield, formerly of Melrose and North Reading, passed away at his home on Monday, February 6, 2023.

Born in Boston, MA on June 9, 1939. He was the son of the late William H. and Mary F. (Leonard) Gill. He was raised in North Reading. He was a former resident of Melrose for 34 years and has been a resident of Wakefield for the past 13 years. He attended the Calvary Christian Church in Lynnfield.

Being the eldest of the other residents in his group home, he liked to ‘’play the role” of a father, telling what or how things are done (especially around the dinner table, lol). He also enjoyed making people laugh, especially the staff in his home.  He loved fishing, going to worship service at church and sharing holidays with his family. He enjoyed watching the New England Patriots and Boston Red Sox. Since Covid, he enjoyed “TV” Church, as well as the news. Near the end he very much enjoyed the staff reading Bible Scripture to him.

He worked part time sweeping and cleaning for Mikes Auto Body in Malden.

Family members include his loving brothers, Kevin Gill, Edward Gill, David Gill and Timothy Gill; sisters, Pat (Gill) Reynolds and Donna (Gill) Mondou; he was the brother of the late William, Robert, Richard and Ronald Gill; he is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

His Funeral will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Friday, February 17 at 6:00 PM, visitation will be held prior to the Funeral from 3:00 to 5:45 PM. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Melanie Ann DiVasta,  of Boston, and formerly of North Reading, MA, passed away unexpectedly on February 4, 2023, at the age of 47.

Melanie was born August 28, 1975, to Maureen and Paul DiVasta at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro, North Carolina, where she spent three short years before moving to North Reading, MA.  After graduating from North Reading High School in 1993, Melanie studied hospitality and hotel management at Boston University.

Finding college life to be more exciting than college studies, Melanie left BU early to start a nearly two-decade career in the hotel industry first at the Westin Copley Place then Le Meridien/Langham Boston.  Melanie later shifted gears entirely, becoming a software tester for health and medical software.  She finally seemed to find her perfect role in the last year, returning to the hotel industry with MGM Grand to become a program manager for an in-development application.

The North End of Boston has been Melanie’s home since she left BU, much to the chagrin of her parents and friends who were often enlisted to help move in or out of her various apartments, none with elevators or parking.  Her love for the Clock Tower and the lights of Christopher Columbus Park are well documented in frequent Facebook selfies, moments in time that capture the beauty of her home, the radiance of her smile and, most of the time, a large Dunkin Iced.

Melanie never married, and never had children of her own, but she loved her feline fur babies Buffy, then Phoenix, and adored her nieces and nephews.  But perhaps more than anything, Melanie loved music – from the early days of NKOTB, to more recent “meet and greets” with Keith Urban, if Melanie wasn’t working, she was listening to music or planning to listen to live music somewhere.  Her home-away-from home and perhaps the only place she would have considered leaving the North End for was Nashville, where she established herself as a regular fan of several local artists.

Melanie is predeceased by her father, Paul, and is survived by her mother Maureen, stepmother Renee, stepfather Karl, brothers Brian, Chris and Mike, sisters Christi and Laura, as well as aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends who were like family.

Her Funeral Mass will be Celebrated on Saturday, February 11, 2023 at 11:30 AM, at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street in North Reading, MA.  Visitation will be private.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her name to the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society in Salisbury, MA; alternatively, Melanie would love it if you bought a ticket to that concert you weren’t sure of, because that’s what she would do.   Arrangements are by the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Augustus S. “Gus” Lamont- a lifelong North Reading resident, passed away Wednesday, January 25, 2023. He was 81 years old.

Born in Boston on July 25, 1941, he was the son of the late Augustus and Concetta (Rizza) Lamont. He moved to North Reading when he was 7 years old and lived his entire life in North Reading.

Gus attended the Batchelder School in North Reading and graduated from North Reading High School class of 1959 where he was Class President. He was a US Navy veteran, received his Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern Univeristy and his Master’s of Science in Criminal Justice from Anna Maria College.

Gus was a retired North Reading Police Sergeant where he spent 32 years on the department. He joined the police department in 1967 and was promoted to Sergeant the following year. At that time, he was the youngest police officer in the state of MA to become Sergeant.   As part of his police career, he also served as the Prosecutor for the Town of North Reading. After retiring from the police department in 1999 he pursued several hobbies but found his passion in beekeeping. He built and maintained several beehives and sold his honey locally. He also was active within the Essex County Bee Association. In addition to his beekeeping, he enjoyed spending winters in Florida, fishing, spending time in Maine, attending all of his grandchildren’s sporting events, and his daily morning coffee with his buddies at Dunkin Donuts.

Gus is survived by his beloved wife Loretta Solimini Lamont and his cherished dog Guido. His loving children Cheri Lamont of North Reading, Scott Lamont of Pasadena, CA and Keith and his wife Kristin Lamont of North Reading. He also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren Keanna, Makenna, Tiara and Logan Lamont, all of North Reading.

He leaves step-children Annette Oliver and her husband David, Stephen Bonfiglioli and his wife Maria, and Loretta Bonfiglioli. Step-grandchildren Tom and Matthew Oliver, Shelby Valiyev, Olivia and Brooke Bonfiglioli, Miranda Barry, Sophia, Cecilia, Craig Jr, and Lilyanna Boutin. Step-great grandchildren Greyson and Lennon Oliver, Fatima Valiyev, Isla Barry, and Eleanor Oliver. His sister Esther Marano of Revere and his late sister Mary Izzo of Farmington, NH. Many cousins, nieces and nephews. He also leaves his lifelong best friend Richie Barron of FL and his cousins Angelo and Larry LaMonica and the late Sonny LaMonica.

His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Thursday, February 2 at 9:15 AM, followed by a 10:30 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 1 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions in memory of Gus may be sent to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center Gift Processing, Office of Philanthropy, 330 Brookline Ave (OV), Boston, MA 02215. Checks should be made out to Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, with “ Gus Lamont, Cancer Center” on the memo line. You may also give online at giving.lahey.org and direct your gift to Cancer Center. CroswellFuneralHome.com

John (Jack) S. Tobin– 82, of North Reading, MA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on January 26, 2023.

Jack was born in Lowell, MA, on December 5, 1940, to Thomas and Mary (McGlynn) Tobin.  He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Kathy, whom he married on August 28, 1965, as well as his four loving children and their spouses- Matthew Tobin (and his wife Kendra), Meg Sacchetti (and her husband Tony), Maura DeLeo (and her husband Richard), and Bridget Davis (and her husband Chris). He has 8 adoring grandchildren across Wisconsin, New Jersey and Massachusetts – Liam, Anthony, Isabella, Merrick, Morgan, Ashley, Samantha and Halle.

He is also survived by his brothers Thomas, Brendan and Kevin and his sister Miriam as well as many nieces and nephews.

Jack graduated Keith Academy High School in Lowell and then proudly served in the Marines Corps.  He went on to graduate from St. Anselm College and obtained his master’s degree from Northeastern University.  Jack worked for over 40 years in Probation, both in Lowell and  Boston.  He retired in 2009 after serving nearly 30 years  as  Chief Probation Officer of the Boston Municipal Court.  Jack had the privilege of working with wonderful friends and colleagues and mentored hundreds of probation officers over his career.  He was a lifelong learner, an avid reader of books of all kinds. Jack never wavered in his quest both to learn and share knowledge with others – whether it was sharing his wisdom with his grandchildren or teaching courses on criminal justice to students at Anna Maria college. Jack loved to travel across the US and Europe. He had a passion for the outdoors, enjoying hiking, camping, bike riding, and skiing.

Jack was known for his selflessness and kindness to others. Friends and family relied on him for advice and assistance in the face of challenges. He was trustworthy and humble, never sharing details of these acts of kindness he performed. He led his team in the same manner that he parented, with high expectations but always providing guidance and the comfort of a safety net. His quick wit was evident until his last days, his wry humor breaking tension as it always had.

His love of Kathy was clear to anyone who met them. This love created both an unbreakable foundation for the entire family, as well as a model that his children aspire to emulate.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 2nd from 4 to 7 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading.  His funeral will be held on Friday, February 3rd at 10:30 at St. Agnes Church, 186 Woburn St., Reading. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to:  Notre Dame Cristo Rey High School Development Office,   203 Lawrence Street  Methuen, MA 01844. www.Croswellfuneralhome.com