Roberta P. (Regali) Celata – Barnes – 72, of North Reading and formerly of Everett, died Sunday, March 13, 2016, at Winchester Hospital.

Born in Tewksbury, MA on May 25, 1943. She was the daughter of the late Ralph and Anita (Demers) Regali. Roberta was a graduate of Nazareth Academy in Wakefield.

She was the owner of Bellevue Dress Shoppe in Melrose. She was a resident of North Reading for many years and a member of St. Theresa’s Church. Roberta was dedicated to her family, she was a very loving and caring person. She enjoyed cake decorating, spoon collections, stain glass and sitting at the beach.

Family members include her children, Lois Bahremand and her husband Amir, David Celata and his wife Cheryl and Mark Celata and Kim McCarthy; her brother, Joseph Dillion and sisters, Suzanne Regali, Bev Cotton, Fran Lahey, Rita Lawrence and Joanne Dillion; 4 grandchildren, Shereen Bahremand, James Celata, Ali Behremand and Matthew Celata.

Her funeral will be held from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street on Monday, March 21, at 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 Sunday, March 20 from 2 to 6 PM. Interment will be in Puritan Lawn Memorial Park in Peabody. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to: Alzheimer’s Association, 480 Pleasant St., Watertown, MA 02472.

SHEA, ANN J. (neé McCarthy)
Ann J. Shea of Newton, formerly of North Reading and Westwood, known affectionately by family and friends as “Nancy,” died peacefully in her sleep on March 13, 2016. Nancy was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Dorothy Lane and Edward Joseph McCarthy, Newton. Her brothers Lane, William, and sister Patricia predeceased her. She is survived by nieces and nephews. Nancy was the loving wife of the late Harold O’Leary. Grieving her loss is their beloved daughter, Frances Pennell (Penny) O’Leary. Nancy was the devoted wife of the late John Robert Shea, “Bob.” Nancy was a woman of elegance, intelligence and humor. She was a graduate of Emmanuel College and Boston College Law School. Her exceptional beauty, radiant smile and laughter captivated all who saw her. Nancy was a model for the former Hart Agency, Boston. She was a gracious hostess who loved to entertain. Her interests were varied ranging from golf, tennis, skiing, bridge, travel, and the seaside. Nancy had a wide and wonderful circle of friends. However, her two greatest loves were her daughter Penny and her late husband, Bob. Nancy and Bob first met on the golf course – a shared passion. After their honeymoon they set up home at 208 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston and enjoyed an enduring marriage. She worked tirelessly as a mother and wife – her love evident in all that she did. When Bob suffered a life threatening injury, Nancy was at his bedside every day for months and without fail drove him to and from his place of business for years, working beside him at T.E. Toomey, Wakefield. His happiness was paramount to her and her life changed forever following his death. She remained a steadfast and loving presence in the life of Penny. Her grace, humor, beauty and dignity will continue to inspire all who knew and loved her. Nancy and her family wish to thank those who lovingly cared for her over the last several years of her life providing for her dignity and comfort. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday March 19, 2016 at ten o’clock in the morning at St. Theresa’s Church, 63 Winter St, North Reading. Internment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Nancy’s memory in honor of her extraordinary nurse, Hilda Lonergan, R.N. to Brookhaven Hospice, 6 Beech Street, Framingham, MA 01702. For directions and online condolences call Croswell Funeral Home at 978-664-3031 or see http://www.croswellfuneralhome.com.

Ralph A. Zenoby – 70, of Danvers, formerly of Florida and North Reading, died Saturday, March 5, 2016, at Beverly Hospital.
Born in Chelsea, MA on November 17,1945. He was the son of the late Robert and Marion (Hanley) Zenoby. He was raised and attended school in North Reading and was a graduate of North Reading High School, Class of 1964. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, he served from 1965 to 1967 and was stationed on the U.S.S. WASP.
Ralph was an Electrician at Reichold Chemical in Andover, before becoming self-employed. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and Knights of Columbus. He was proud of his service in the Navy and liked participating in and supporting veteran causes. He was loved by many and will be missed greatly, most notably by his beloved significant other Joanne MacFarlane of Danvers.
He enjoyed golfing and spending time with close friends. He loved boating and snowmobiling in his younger years. Ralph especially loved animals.
Family members include his loving son, Christopher Zenoby and his wife Ann of Haverhill and loving daughter, Lisa Fagan of Woburn; his sister, Romayne Trudo and her husband Dale of Tuscon, Arizona; grandchildren, Sean, Liam and Rose Fagan and Heather Zenoby.
Calling hours will be held at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading, on Monday, March 14 from 4 to 6:45 PM, followed by a service at 7 PM. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Vietnam Veteran’s Memorial Fund, 235 South Clark Street, Suite 910, Arlington, VA 22202. www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Lester H. “Stevie” Stephenson, Jr. – 85, of North Reading, formerly of Melrose, died at his home on Tuesday, March 1, 2016.  He was the beloved husband of the late Marie E. (MacIntosh) Stephenson.

Born in Lynn, MA on May 23, 1930.  He was the son of the late Lester H. Stephenson, Sr. and Marion (Roberts) Stephenson. He was raised and attended school in Melrose and was a graduate of Melrose High School.  He also served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Lester was a Train Master for the Boston and Maine Railroad for 40 years, he worked from 1947 to 1987, he later worked for Amtrak for 8 years and was also a consultant for the MBTA for ten years. He was a resident of North Reading since 1966 and was a member of the Aldersgate United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine,  Boston Street Railway Association and Old Wheels.

He was a loving father and grandfather. He enjoyed volunteering at the Seashore Trolley Museum and meeting for lunches with his retired railroad friends at monthly Old Wheels meetings.

Family members include his loving son, Donald Stephenson and his wife Cheryl and his loving daughter, Shanna Pagliuca;  five cherished   grandchildren,  Zachary Stephenson, Stephen Pagliuca, Jr., Ray Ray Pagliuca, Jessica Stephenson and Tyler Pagliuca, all of North Reading;  his brother, Thomas Stephenson and wife Anne of Weeks Mills, ME and his sister, Priscilla Lucey and her husband Bob of Melrose.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend calling hours at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading on Saturday, March 12, from 10 to 1 PM, followed by a luncheon at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 235 Park Street, North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in his memory to: Seashore Trolley Museum, P.O. Box  A, Kennebunkport, ME 04046, attention to Car 4387 or to the Car Barn Fund.  www.croswellfuneralhome.com

Lester  H.      Stephenson,     Jr.    

1930-2016       

Lester Stephenson, Jr., 85, known to his family and friends as “Stevie,” left us in the early morning of March 1, 2016, after a period of poor health. Stevie is survived by his children, Donald Stephenson and his wife Cheryl, and Shanna Pagliuca; his brother Thomas Stephenson and his wife Anne of Weeks Mills, Maine; his sister Priscilla Lucey and her husband Bob of Melrose; and his five grandchildren: Zachary Stephenson, Jessica Stephenson, Ray Ray Pagliuca, Stephen Pagliuca, and Tyler Pagliuca.

Stevie was born in Lynn, Massachusetts on May 23, 1930. He was raised in Melrose, Massachusetts,  the son of the late Lester H. Stephenson, Sr., and the late Marion (Roberts) Stephenson.  In 1966 he married the late Marie (MacIntosh) E. Stephenson and moved to North Reading. Stevie served in the armed forces in the Army Reserves Railroad Battalion. He went to work for the Boston & Maine Railroad in 1947, steadily working his way to Trainmaster at North Station. He continued his work with AMTRAK, ending in 1994. After AMTRAK, he worked as an MBTA commuter rail consultant until 2004. Throughout his long career, Stevie was a stickler for protocol but he recognized when flexibility was appropriate.

Stevie was best known as an intensely active member of the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. He first appeared in the 1947 museum annual report which mentioned the Stephensons. His dad, Lester H. Stephenson, Sr., was a longtime operator for the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway Company. Lester, Sr., was an early and very active Seashore member, and his interest in mass transit passed easily from father to son.

Stevie was elected a Member Trustee of the museum at the annual meeting on February 10, 1957, to fill the post vacated by Eliot Sterling. Stevie served as a trustee until May 17, 1975. He was General Manager of the museum from April 24, 1960, to May 17, 1975, and editor of The Seashore Trolley Museum Dispatch from 1959–1972.

In addition to his official positions, Stevie was a skilled tractor-trailer driver and was responsible for moving many streetcars and other transit vehicles to the museum as well as innumerable truckloads of materials. In the years that followed his service as a museum official, Stevie continued as an active volunteer, always lending a helping hand to keep the organization moving ahead. He often worked behind the scenes in the museum gift shop, and was a frequent crew member in the ongoing public operation along with his son, Donald, especially on Fridays during the operating season.

In the 1960s and 1970s, Stevie helped the Railroad Enthusiasts organize excursions, and in the 1980s with his friend of many years, Bill Crawford, assisted the Mass. Bay RRE organize an impressive number of rare mileage fantrips between 1981 and 1986, “greasing the skids” with officialdom to make the trips happen.

As a member of the Boston Street Railway Association and the Friends of Bedford Depot Park, Stevie provided considerable information and many photographs for publication. He treasured his monthly luncheon attendance at “Old Wheels” meetings, sharing a lifetime of experience with his railroad colleagues of years gone by. He also was an active volunteer at Seashore’s operation in Lowell with the National Park Service, switching off on the running of New Orleans car No. 966 with his partner, John Grady.

In 2009, the museum elevated Stevie to the position of Senior Trustee, befitting his lifetime of service and bringing his rich trove of experience to the Board of Trustees. We have lost a great friend and a major player in the fields of railroad and street railway history and preservation. Rest in peace, Lester; you will be sorely missed.