Caroline B. (Foster) Smith – 96, of Wakefield and formerly of North Reading, passed away at her home on Tuesday, June 6, 2023. She was the beloved wife of the late Carroll O. Smith.

Born in Winchester, MA on September 28, 1926, she was the daughter of the late Harold P. and Frances M. (Merriam) Foster. A former resident of North Reading for over 85 years, she attended North Reading Schools and was a graduate of Reading High School, Class of 1943. She later earned a Certificate as a Professional Librarian from the Massachusetts Board of Public Library Commissioners in 1966.

Caroline started her career as a bookkeeper at State Street Bank in Boston. After marrying and having children, she began working part time for the North Reading Public Library. In 1973 she took a full time job with the Eastern MA Regional Library System full time and spent 18 enjoyable years traveling to small town libraries on the North Shore as a bookmobile librarian.

Caroline and her husband loved to travel and after retirement traveled all over the globe meeting new friends on those trips. They were avid gardeners featured in garden club tours. She was always willing to lend a hand to anyone needing help. For many years with their neighbors, they grew and sold plants to raise money to buy gifts for needy children in the Boston area.

Caroline was the longest active member of the Union Congregational Church in North Reading for 83 years and a member of its Faith Circle. She found friendship and faith from her participation in  its church services and activities. Kind and generous is how Caroline was described by all who knew her. She loved the challenge of playing all types of games from cribbage to bridge.  Always beautifully dressed, she enjoyed attending live theatre and dinners out with friends and family. She adored her family and provided encouragement and support in all their undertaking.

She is survived by her son, Alan Smith and his wife Barbara of Reading and her daughter, Brenda Smith of Belfast, Maine; brothers, Thomas Foster of Littleton, CO and Frank Foster of Dover, DE; two grandchildren, Alyssa Labrecque and Meryl Sullivan and 5 great grandchildren.

Her memorial service will be held on Tuesday, June 20 at 10:00 AM at the Union Congregational Church, 148 Haverhill Street in North Reading. Visitation will be held on Monday, June 19 from 3:00 to 6:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in her memory to: The Friends of North Reading Parks/Ipswich River Park, 235 North St. N.Reading 01864 or to the charity of one’s choice.       www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Sigrid  H. (Epple) Perkins – 86, of Stoneham and formerly of Illinois and North Reading, passed away at her home on Monday, June 5, 2023.

Sigrid was born in Saginaw, MI in 1936. After high school, she moved to Chicago, where she met the love of her life, James R. Perkins. They started their married life in Fox River Grove, IL, where James served as mayor, and they had four beautiful daughters. In 1973, they moved the family to Massachusetts, where they bought a business in Lawrence and settled in North Reading, where they resided for 48 years.

Once in Massachusetts, Sigrid was very active in community theater, performing in many plays with Quannapowitt Players and others. She was also a member of the Colonial Chorus in Reading. She enjoyed singing in the church choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Andover, where she was church secretary for over 30 years.

She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, James R. Perkins, her brother Carl Herbert Epple and his wife Nancy; her daughters, Christine Perkins, Julie Phillips and her husband Chip Phillips, Anne Contini and her husband Mark Contini and Melissa Umano; two granddaughters, Dr. Allison Zec and Emma Zec, as well as many nieces and nephews. Do not grieve for every breath you take, I am within.

Her Memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 24 at Noon at the Faith Lutheran Church, 360 South Main Street in Andover. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 23 from 4 to 8 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the charity of one’s choice. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Sandra (Flowers) Wolfe – 80, of Woburn, formerly of Salem and Beverly, passed away at her home on Thursday, June 8, 2023.

Born in Salem, MA on August 31, 1942. She was the daughter of the late Walter and Claire (Malionek) Flowers. She was a graduate of Salem High School, Class of 1960 and she later attended Salem Business School.

Sandra was a retired Office Administrator, she worked for BayBank for 10 years, Bank of America for 6 years and Tufts Health Care for 5 years.   

Sandra was a sociable person who also enjoyed quiet moments reading or working out search-a-word puzzles. She enjoyed reading fiction about people living during WWII. She really enjoyed traveling. Her favorite memories focused on traveling, from her days spending time in Europe and Texas with her family to trips with her mother to Aruba and Hawaii.

Sandra instilled in her sons a love for reading and for experiencing unfamiliar places. Often, she would violate the rule of not talking to strangers for in her heart everyone had a story to tell. “People watching” was her passion. Sandra would enjoy sitting with her son, Michael, and her brothers, Paul, and Walter, to talk about who was doing what and the people she met. Even when her health placed restrictions on her movements, Sandra always found the energy to get out of the house and head to where the people are.

She had the spirit of a teenager. Much like a teenager, Sandra would stubbornly stick to odd eating habits such as enjoying a bowl of Lucky Charms, pizza, or a can of Coke (had to be Coke Cola, no Pepsi) as healthy meals. We will miss the Sandra “Global Command Centre” with its lounge chair, cups of pens and pencils, letters, various cards, notes, itineraries, and the phone with an always full message box.

Family members include her Loving sons, Michael D. Wolfe and his wife Nancy A. Wolfe of North Reading and the late Timothy A. Wolfe; brothers, Robert, Paul, Walter, James Flowers and the late Chet Flowers; longtime companion Thomas Russo.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 27 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street in North Reading. Interment will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Salem. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (http://www.komen.org    www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Rosario  Giunta – 88, of North Andover and formerly of Everett, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.

Born in Sainte Catherina, Sicily, Italy on July 25, 1934. He was the son of the late Rosario G. and Nunzia (Lio) Giunta.

Rosario was a Presser at Anthony’s Sports Wear in Boston, he was the owner of Cindrellas Cleaners in Lynn and was also a Crossing Guard for the City of Everett.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, godfather and friend to many. He was the heart of the family, that spanned generations and continents.  He enjoyed gardening and bowling.

Family members include his loving wife Mary Ann (McDonough) Giunta; his sons, Roy Giunta and Michael Giunta and his wife Deborah; brothers, Joseph and Peter Giunta, Peter Lio, the late Filippo and Anthony Giunta and his late sister, Grace LaMonica; Grandchildren, Joshua, Benjamin and Aidan, also many nieces and nephews.

His funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading on Tuesday, June 13 from 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 Monday, June 12 from 4:00 to 7:00PM. Interment will be in West Parish Garden Cemetery in Andover. Memorial donations may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alz.org

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Anthony  J. “Desi” DeSimone – 81, of North Reading and formerly of East Boston, passed away on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at Winchester Hospital.

Born in Winthrop, MA on April 26, 1942. He was the son of the late Fiore and Concetta (Presutti) DeSimone. He was raised and attended school in East Boston and was a graduate of East Boston High School. He later attended Wentworth Institute.

Desi worked as a Ground Agent for Massport for many years and was a member of Local 25. He has been a resident of North Reading for the past 56 years. He was a member of St. Theresa’s Church and the Knights of Columbus, Council No. 4544 for many years.

He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He had a great sense of humor and had a love for horror movies. He had a great love for his family, he had a kind nature and always had a positive attitude. He loved to dance, loved animals, woodworking, food and his greatest pleasure was cooking for his family. He attended many Karate Tournaments with his daughter Kristen. He was a mentor to his grandson, enjoying fishing and sports tournaments.

Family members include his loving wife of 56 years, Cecelia (DiPasquale) DeSimone; his daughter, Kristen Juliano; his grandson, Anthony Juliano; and many loving nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews; he was the brother of the late Elizabeth Mazzarini and her late husband Louis Mazzarini.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, June 10 from 9:30 to 10:30 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, followed by an 11:00 AM Funeral Mass at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter 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 the American Lung Association (www.lung.org) or to St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter Street, North Reading, MA 01864. www.croswellfuneralhome.com