Obituaries

Pierre Robichaud

Pierre Robichaud

Jul 6, 2021

Pierre “Peter” J. Robichaud, 61, of Gardner, died unexpectedly Tuesday, July 6, 2021, in his residence.

Born in Gardner on June 28, 1960, he was the son of the late Henri J. and Marguerite (Faucher) Robichaud.

Pete was a Woodworker/painter prior to his passing.

Pete loved everything about being outdoors. Whether he was out camping, near the ocean, or out in the...

Alan Pratt

Alan Pratt

Jun 29, 2021

Alan Pratt, 63, of Gardner, died peacefully Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in Tufts Medical Center, Boston, after a brief illness.

Born in Gardner on August 15, 1957, he was the son of the late Joseph and Gloria (Gerrard) Pratt. He was a truck driver for over 20 years for Pratt Trucking of Gardner.

Alan was a parishioner of Annunciation Parish/Holy Spirit Chapel....

Albert Forget

Albert Forget

Jun 29, 2021

Albert “Al” H. Forget, 86, of Gardner, died peacefully Tuesday, June 29, 2021, in Wachusett Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.   Born in Fitchburg on August 14, 1934, he was the son of the late Adrien and Marie Rose (Deschenes) Forget. He graduated from St. Bernards High School in Fitchburg with the Class of 1952. Al was a United States Air...

Kendra Erickson

Kendra Erickson

Jun 26, 2021

Kendra T. Erickson, 45, of Gardner, died peacefully in Heywood Hospital on Saturday, June 26, 2021. Born in Leominster, on May 4, 1976, she was the daughter of Steven J. Erickson and Susan M. (Gray) Avery. She was a former member of the Massachusetts State Defense Force (MA State Guard). She enjoyed crossword and sudoku puzzles, coloring, the outdoors especially...

Janice Stellato

Janice Stellato

Jun 24, 2021

Janice “Chick” M. (Sears) Stellato, 76, of Gardner, died peacefully, Thursday, June 24, 2021, with her family by her side. Born in Gardner on May 24, 1945, she was the daughter of the late Earl D. and Elsie (Lashua) Sears. She attended the former Sacred Heart of Jesus School of Gardner. Janice was a Doughnut Maker employed by Mr. Donuts...

Evelyn Tourigny

Evelyn Tourigny

Jun 23, 2021

Evelyn E. (Pierce) Tourigny, 74, of Gardner, died peacefully Wednesday, June 23, 2021, in Wachusett Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Gardner, after a battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born in Gardner on April 6, 1947, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Lorraine (Girouard) Pierce. She graduated from Fitchburg High School with the Class of 1965 and received a Diploma from...

Annette Korhonen

Annette Korhonen

Jun 22, 2021

Annette M. (Gauvin) Korhonen, 65, of Gardner, died peacefully Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at the Life Care Center of Nashoba Valley, Littleton, following an 8-year battle from a traumatic brain injury. Born in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, on July 9, 1955, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Rita (Boudreau) Gauvin. She graduated from Gardner High School with...

Ernest Kirby

Ernest Kirby

Jun 20, 2021

Ernest J. Kirby, 95, of Gardner, passed away in his home on Sunday, June 20, 2021.

Born in Gardner on February 20, 1926, he was the son of the late Fred Kirby and Eugenie (Roy, Kirby) Girouard. Ernest served in the Navy aboard the battleship USS Iowa during World War II. Upon his return to Gardner, he married Florence Zetkowsky...

Theresa L. Bankowski

Theresa L. Bankowski

Jun 17, 2021

Theresa L. (Rochon) Bankowski, 90, of Melbourne Beach, FL, formerly of East Templeton, MA, passed away Thursday, June 17, 2021.

Born on July 8, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Leo and Doris Rochon.

Theresa will be dearly missed by her seven children; Nancy Barrieau, David Bankowski, Lawrence Bankowski and his wife Louann, Gerald Bankowski and his wife Renay, Ricky...

Mark Verolini

Mark Verolini

Jun 13, 2021

With great sadness, we announce the passing of Mark P. Verolini, beloved father, brother, ex-husband, and friend.

He treasured his children and their families more than anything and was happiest when enjoying the small pleasures in life.

Here are just a few of his favourite things.

Cooking ‘Sunday Sauce’ any day of the week and ‘baconeggs’ on weekend mornings. Getting ‘lost in Boston’...

Irene Perreault

Irene Perreault

Jun 10, 2021

Irene L. (Graves) Perreault, 90, of Templeton, died peacefully Thursday, June 10, 2021, in Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Athol, after an illness. Born in Gardner on November 25, 1930, she was the daughter of the late Wilfred J. and Irene (Jaillet) Graves. Irene was a Secretary employed by Wilson Bus Line of Templeton for 30-years until her retirement in 2010. Irene...

Sylvia Nowlan

Sylvia Nowlan

Jun 10, 2021

Sylvia A. (Frenette) Nowlan, 68, of Gardner, passed away at the UMass Medical Center, Worcester on June 10, 2021, following a lengthy illness. She was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada April 14, 1953, daughter of the late Jeanne (Boudreau) Frenette and Julien Frenette. Sylvia entered the United States with her parents in May 1954. Her education began at Holy Rosary...

Mary Smeltekop

Mary Smeltekop

Jun 10, 2021

Mary E. (Peterson) Smeltekop, 63, of Gardner, died peacefully Thursday, June 10, 2021, in UMass Memorial Medical Center—University Campus, Worcester, after an illness. Born in Fitchburg on January 3, 1958, she was the daughter of the late Robert and Eillen (Patnode) Peterson. She was a graduate of Oakmont Regional High School and received some college credit. Mary enjoyed going to...

Alan Stuart

Alan Stuart

Jun 10, 2021

Alan Edward Stuart, 59, of West Palm Beach, Florida, died peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, June 10, 2021, while fulfilling his dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Born in Boston on May 19, 1962, he was the son of the late Donald E. Stuart, former President of Temple Stuart Co., and Joan E. Teed. Alan graduated from Gardner High School...

Henry Cichonski

Henry Cichonski

Jun 7, 2021

Henry P. Cichonski, 81, of Gardner, died peacefully Monday, June 7, 2021, in UMass Memorial Medical Center—Memorial Campus, Worcester. Born in Gardner on January 25, 1940, he was the son of the late Zenon and Sophie (Buraczewski) Cichonski. He graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1958 where he was a member of its football team and was...

Charles Girouard

Charles Girouard

May 28, 2021

Charles J. Girouard, 75, of Hubbardston, died peacefully Friday, May 28, 2021, in Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, after an illness. Born in Gardner on September 25, 1945, he was the son of the late Charles C. and Helen S. (Danisienka) Girouard. He graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1963 and attended Wentworth Institute of Technology and Mount...

Bruce Flaxington

Bruce Flaxington

May 24, 2021

Bruce K. Flaxington, 56, of Ashburnham, died peacefully Monday, May 24, 2021, in Heywood Hospital, Gardner, after a long illness.

Born in Boston on March 24, 1965, he was the son of Janet F. (Carrier) Flaxington and the late Kenneth E. Flaxington. He graduated from West Roxbury High School with the Class of 1983. Bruce was a laborer employed by several...

Eddie L. Polk, Sr.

Eddie L. Polk, Sr.

May 22, 2021

Eddie L. Polk, Sr., 71, of Gardner, died peacefully Saturday, May 22, 2021, in Fitchburg Healthcare, Fitchburg, after an illness.

Born in Springfield on November 30, 1949, he was the son of the late Franklin P. Polk, Jr. and Dorothea (Wimbish) Polk. He graduated from Putnam High School, Springfield. Eddie was a United States Army Vietnam War and Persian Gulf...

Deborah L. Menear

Deborah L. Menear

May 22, 2021

Deborah L. (Rocheleau) Menear, 64, of Gardner, died peacefully Saturday, May 22, 2021, in UMass Memorial Medical Center—University Campus, Worcester, after a long illness with her family by her side.

Born in Gardner on October 20, 1956, she was the daughter of the late Raymond and Claire (Ducharme) Rocheleau. Deborah was the Owner and Operator of Smiley's Taxi of Gardner for...

Nelson L. Lucier

Nelson L. Lucier

May 21, 2021

Nelson L. Lucier, 81, of East Templeton, died peacefully Friday, May 21, 2021, in his residence surrounded by his family after an illness.

Born in Templeton on August 19, 1939, he was the son of the late Henry M. and Jennie E. (Thompson) Lucier. Nelson was a laborer employed by Orelo Landscaping of Holden for 4-years before retiring in 1990....