Obituaries

Jan 1, 2021

André D. “Butch” “Andy” “Bookie” Lafortune, 97, of Gardner, died peacefully, Friday, January 1, 2021, in his residence with his family by his side.

Born in Winchendon on October 15, 1923, he was the son of the late Joseph and Alice (Gamache) Lafortune. Butch was a United States Army World War II Veteran serving from 1943 to 1946, where he...

Dec 29, 2020

Alexander Pabrezis, Jr., 79, of Winchendon, died unexpectedly Tuesday, December 29, 2020.

Born in Boston on March 14, 1941, he was the son of the late Alexander Pabrezis, Sr. and Lena (DePaul) Pabrezis. He was a graduate of the South Boston High School. Al was an outside machinist employed by Gillette of Boston for 20-years until his retirement.

Al was...

Dec 28, 2020

Daniel J. “Danny” Richard, 65, of Baldwinville, died peacefully, Monday, December 28, 2020, in his residence surrounded by his family after an illness.

Born in Gardner on February 27, 1955, he was the son of the late Zoel and Marie Zelima (Cormier) Richard. Danny was the head custodian employed by Nashoba Regional High School in Bolton for several years. He...

Dec 27, 2020

Nancy L. (Ridnger) Leonard, 84, of Gardner, formerly of Mechanicsburg, PA, passed away, Sunday, December 27, 2020, in Wachusett Manor, after an illness.

Born in Harrisburg, PA, on August 10, 1936, she was the daughter of the late Paul and Ethel (Feeser) Ridinger. She graduated from Susquehanna Township High School with the Class of 1954 and from Susquehanna University with...

Dec 25, 2020

Donald M. “Don” Sawtell, 83, of Westminster, died peacefully in his home on Friday, December 25, 2020, due to complications from bladder cancer, with his family by his side.

Born in Ware, Massachusetts, on August 18, 1937, he was the son of the late Joseph O. and Margaret W. (Carter) Sawtell. He graduated from Barre High School with the Class...

Dec 24, 2020

Daniel A. “Dan” Arsenault, 31, of Hartford, CT, died peacefully, Thursday, December 24, 2020, after an accident.

Born in Leominster, MA, on November 20, 1989, he was the son of Kevin J. and Paula J. (Fournier) Arsenault. Dan graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 2008 and went on to further his studies at the University of Hartford,...

Dec 23, 2020

Harry E. Leonard, Jr., 83, of Gardner, formerly of Mechanicsburg, PA, passed away, Wednesday, December 23, 2020, in Wachusett Manor, Gardner, after an illness. 

Born in Harrisburg, PA, on June 30, 1937, he was the son of the late Harry E. Leonard, Sr. and Clara (Schafer) Leonard. He graduated from William Penn High School, Harrisburg, PA, with the Class of...

Dec 18, 2020

Russell P. "Russ" Webber, 71, of Greenfield, passed away Friday, December 18, 2020, in Charlene Manor Extended Care, Greenfield, from complications of COVID-19.

Born in Gardner on August 1, 1949, he was the son of the late Paul W. and Irene E. (Lajoie) Webber. He graduated from Narragansett Regional High School with the Class of 1967 and earned a degree...

Dec 18, 2020

Jovide N. “Joe” Girouard, 93, of Gardner, passed away Friday, December 18, 2020, at Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner, from COVID-19 related causes.

Born in Gardner on February 6, 1927, he was the son of the late George and Blanche (Beaudet) Girouard. He graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1945 and studied drafting at Northeastern University in...

Dec 16, 2020

On December 16, 2020, David “Dave” R. Bourgeois passed away at age 66.

Dave was born in 1954 in Gardner, MA, where he lived his whole life, to Roland and Phyllis (Petts) Bourgeois. He graduated from Gardner High School in 1972 and went on to complete the electrical program at Montachusett Regional Vocational Technical School. 

His passion was music, and...

Dec 15, 2020

Anita M. (Poirier) Johnson, 95, of Gardner, died peacefully, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, in Gardner Rehabilitation and Nursing Home, Gardner, after a brief illness.

Born in Rogersville, New Brunswick, Canada, on November 1, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Narcisse and Emma (Hebert) Poirier. Anita was a dietary aide employed by Heywood Hospital of Gardner for six years...

Dec 14, 2020

Sharon R. Murray, 70, of Gardner, died peacefully, Monday, December 14, 2020, in Heywood Hospital, Gardner, after an illness.

Born in Worcester on February 1, 1950, she was the daughter of the late Francis R. and May (Sheehan) Murray. She attended Murdock High School in Winchendon. Sharon worked as kitchen staff at several area nursing homes over the years.

She...

Dec 14, 2020

Scott J. Augusto, 59, of Gardner, died unexpectedly, Monday, December 14, 2020, in his residence.

Born in Gardner on December 3, 1961, he was the son of the late Joseph and Linda (Kirby) Augusto. At the time of his death, Scott was a machinist employed by MSI Transducers.  

Funeral Services will be private and held at the convenience of...

Dec 14, 2020

Aud S. (Hagen) Froystein, 89, of Athol, formerly of Rockport, passed away, Monday, December 14, 2020, in Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Athol, after an illness.

Born in Manger, Norway, on February 13, 1931, she was the daughter of the late Theodor and Johanna (Smith) Hagen. Aud was the proprietor of Aud Froystein Antiques which she operated in Rockport for several years....

Dec 12, 2020

Alyce A. (Vermette) LeBlanc, 78, of Gardner, passed away Saturday, December 12, 2020, in Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Athol, after an illness.

Born in Gardner on May 12, 1942, she was the daughter of the late Onesiphore “Lefty” and Anna (Krasawski) Vermette. She graduated from Gardner High School with the Class of 1960. Alyce was an assembler employed by Maki Corporation...

Dec 11, 2020

Dec 11, 2020

Ruth A. (Nash) Frigon, 75, of Gardner, died Friday, December 11, 2020, in Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield of complications from COVID-19.

Ruth was born to Paul and Stella Nash on April 21, 1945 in Winchendon. She graduated from Murdock High School and earned her LPN from Gardner State Hospital. She spent her nursing career working in nursing homes in the...

Dec 11, 2020

Rita M. Guertin “Ri”, 33, of Ashburnham, died peacefully, Friday, December 11, 2020.

Rita was born in Fitchburg on April 8, 1987. Rita attended the Ashburnham-Westminster Regional School District and obtained her GED. She earned a certificate as a Medical Assistant from the Salter School as well as receiving a certificate in Phlebotomy.  At the time of her death, Rita...

Dec 10, 2020

Tracy A. Harworth, 51, of Brookline, died unexpectedly, Thursday, December 10, 2020.

Born in Boston on July 8, 1969, she was the daughter of the late Jeffrey and Geraldine (Ricketts) Harworth.

There are no services scheduled.

Memorial Contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Please reference in memory of Tracy A. Harworth

Dec 9, 2020

Kenneth (Ken) Blanchard DeRoy, 60, of Gardner, Massachusetts passed away peacefully at his home on December 9, 2020, comforted by his loving wife, Michelle, and his dear family. Ken’s valiant battle with brain cancer showed his courage in always facing life's challenges with a smile.  

Ken was born in Norfolk, Virginia on November 10, 1960. He was the third...