Category Archives: obituary

Virginia Lee Wilen

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Virginia Lee (Cleveland) Wilen of North Andover on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at the age of 84 years.

She will be lovingly remembered by her children: Jim and Sandi Wilen of Nashville, TN and Jon and Amy Wilen of Andover, MA; grandchildren: Brooke, Hannah, James and his wife Kristin, Sean, Matt, and Aiden; brothers, Al and Richard Cleveland; sisters, Beverly, Judy, Betty, Darlene, Diane and Donna; as well as numerous relatives and friends.   Ginger was fortunate to have such amazing friends throughout her life.  She spoke of them often and they all came from different facets of her journey, but lasted forever.

She was predeceased by her loving husband of 36 years,  James George Wilen; brothers, Ronnie and  Jimmy Cleveland, and her parents: Al and  Inez Cleveland

Ginger was born in Chicago on May 7, 1940, her and her family moved to Phoenix, AZ where many of them have remained.  Ginger was in high school when she first was introduced to the Lord.   She spent her life faithfully serving and spreading love to everyone she crossed.  Ginger and Jim moved their family to the Andover area in 1977, just before the famous 1978 blizzard.   While in Andover, they were actively involved in NEBC (New England Bible Church).  Ginger loved her music and spending time with friends.  Ginger kept an immaculate home – from her very specific furnishings to every last detail, her home was welcoming and beautiful.  While not entirely certain if ironing could be considered a hobby but, if so, Ginger excelled at her hobby. Ginger also loved playing solitaire and completing puzzles.  Gingers smile was a warm welcome to all who crossed it and her laugh was contagious.   Nothing made her happier than being together with family reminiscing about the past and sharing funny stories.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 17th from 4-7 PM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, MA 01864.    Funeral services will be held the following day, October 18th, at 11 AM at the New England Bible Church,  60 Chandler Rd, Andover, MA 01810. Interment will be in Spring Grove Cemetery in Andover. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to the New England Bible Church.

CroswellFuneralHome.com

Constance E. Chepulis

Constance E. (Peterson) Chepulis – 96, of North Reading and formerly of Reading, died on Thursday, October 3, 2024 at the Lahey Hospital and Medical Center in Burlington. She was the beloved wife of the late Paul Peter John Chepulis.

Born in Reading, MA on October 20, 1927, she was the daughter of the late Evart E. and Persis Helen Gertrude (Ainsley) Peterson. She was raised and attended school in Reading.

Constance was a homemaker, she was a dedicated mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great great grandmother. She liked to knit, sew and make crafts, she was an avid reader and enjoyed gardening. She had a porcelain doll collection, she loved the holidays and gnomes. She especially loved her dogs. Constance was known as the neighborhood mother to many. She has been a resident of North Reading for the past 73 years.

Family members include her loving sons, Edward Chepulis, David Chepulis and Christopher Chepulis; daughters, Dianna Clarke and Laura Anderson and her husband David; 10 grandchildren, Michael Clarke, Heather Myette, Jennifer LeMasurier, Stephen Anderson, Alex Chepulis, Amy Brown, Jason Chepulis, Tracy Chepulis, Samantha Knox and Paul Chepulis; 25 great grandchildren, Cameron, Charles, Ashley, Jenna, Katelyn, Tyler, Gregory, Jeffrey, Bradley, Katie, Alyssa, Kailey, Addisyn, John, Lucas, Hannah, Matthew, Luke, Lorelai, Ashlyn, Blythe, Owen, Colin, Aliana and Haiden; a great great grandson, Noah and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by brothers, Charles Peterson, Spencer and Raymond Henderson and sisters, Ruth Kenson, Edith, Doris, Laverne, Phyllis and Louise Peterson and June Nickerson.

Her Funeral will be held on Saturday, October 12 at 11:00 AM at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Calling hours will be held on Friday, October 11 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memorial Processing, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Marguerite A. Dugas

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 16th 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

 

 

www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Victor S. Santos

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

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)

www.croswellfuneralhome.com