The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of November 7 to November 14, 2019

Obituaries

Katherine A. Flint

Katherine A. Flint
JULY 17, 1941 ~ OCTOBER 31, 2019 (AGE 78)


WINCHENDON – Katherine A. “Rookie” Flint, 78, of 142 Pleasant Street, died peacefully Thursday evening, October 31, 2019 in Wachusett Manor Nursing Home, Gardner with her family at her side.
She was born in Winchendon on July 17, 1941, daughter of the late Harry and Pauline E. (Lafond) Diamantopoulos and was a lifelong resident of Winchendon.
Rookie was a 1959 graduate of Murdock High School and then graduated from St. Joseph’s Hospital School of Nursing in Lowell. She worked as a registered nurse for 42 years at Burbank Hospital in Fitchburg. Rookie was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church and St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Katherine was known as Rookie to her family and friends. She earned that nickname from her grandfather, as Rookie is short for Katherine in Greek. Katherine enjoyed time with her family more than anything else, including trips to Disney World, Cape Cod, sitting by the pool, and holidays.
Katherine loved hosting celebrations along with her husband, most notably The Flints’ famous 4th of July parties. Katherine was the epitome of Toy Town Pride. She loved her town and she loved being a Murdock graduate. Katherine was a loyal fan of The New England Patriots and The Boston Red Sox. Katherine lived her life to the fullest and never missed an opportunity to spend time with her friends and vacation with her family.
She leaves her husband of 56 years, Theron A. “Buddy” Flint Jr.; three children, Deborah Flint of Winchendon, Sean Flint and his wife Amy of Rochester, NY and Tracey Barrows and her husband Keith of Winchendon.
She also leaves five granddaughters, Ashly Switzer, Caitlin Epner, Lindsey Zaccardi, Jaqueline Flint, and Taylor Barrows, and 7 great-children, Nathan, Lila, Lily, Roman, Kennedy, Georgia and Henry. Katherine had an especially close relationship with each of her five granddaughters. Katherine’s constant companion over her last 10 years at home was her daughter’s dog Fenway who brought her such joy and comfort.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 6, 2019 at 10 A.M. in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon. The Rev. Carlos Ruiz will officiate. Burial will follow in Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.
Calling hours in the funeral home are Tuesday, November 5, 2019 from 5 to 7 P.M.
For those who wish to make a donation in Katherine’s memory, the family requests they be made to The WPS Special Olympics Team, care of Catherine Desmarais, c/o MMHS, 3 Memorial Drive, Winchendon, MA 01475 or St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105

Sandra L. Gaudet

Sandra L. Gaudet
OCTOBER 20, 1944 ~ NOVEMBER 3, 2019 (AGE 75)


Fitchburg - Sandra L. Gaudet, 75, of Fitchburg died Sunday, November 3, 2019 in The Highlands surrounded by her loving family.
Sandra was born on October 20, 1944 in White Plains N.Y. daughter of James Bradley Jr. and Grace (Cuyler) Bradley.
Sandra attended Fitchburg Schools, leaving school to help with her family, later returning to receive her G.E.D. and going on to Montachusett Regional Technical School of Nursing, where she graduated top of her class. For several years she worked at the former Mt. Elam Nursing Home in Fitchburg, where she was a Nursing Supervisor. Sandra was a member of St. Joseph Church in Fitchburg. Sandra volunteered for several charities including Our Father's House and Boston Children's Hospital. Sandra was a two time cancer survivor. Her family was her whole life.
Sandra was predeceased by her husband Ovila "Bill" Gaudet in 2006, whose devotion to care for her was unsurpassed.
Sandra leaves her daughter Denise Gaudet and her partner Joseph Caban of Fitchburg, her 3 sons: John Gaudet and wife Mary of Ashburnham, Danny Gaudet and his wife Cindy of Lunenburg and Ronald Gaudet and his wife Kimberly of Winchendon, her grandchildren: John, Jackie, Amanda, Anthony, Simon, Lisa, Anthony, Jennifer and Sidney, her great grandchildren: Emily, Joshua, Mason, Aurora, Conway, Charlie, Carson, Garvin, Kayden, Sophia, Makenzlee, Noah, Essreal, Isabella and Amara, Her brother Leon Cuyler, her sisters Marsha LaFrenier and Tina Trembley. She was predeceased by a son Anthony Joseph Gaudet, who died in 1976 and two sisters: Eileen and Debbie.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, November 8, 2019 at 11:00am in St. Joseph Church, 49 Woodland Street, Fitchburg. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery, Fitchburg. Calling hours will be held Thursday evening, November 7th from 6 until 8pm, under the direction of Stephen R. Moorcroft in the Lavery, Chartrand, Alario Funeral Home, 99 Summer Street, Fitchburg.
Denise Gaudet and her family would like to thank The Highlands Nursing Home family and Beacon Hospice for their loving care.

Dorothy Marie LeBlanc

Dorothy Marie LaBlanc
SEPTEMBER 18, 1933 ~ OCTOBER 18, 2019 (AGE 86)


Dorothy (Doris) Marie LeBlanc was granted her Angel wings at the age of 86 on Friday, October 18th, 2019 at her home in Ellenton, Florida. Dorothy was born on September 18th, 1933 in Moncton, NB Canada to the late Francois and Melanie (Allain) Arsenault. Along with her parents Dorothy is preceded in the death of her brother Norman Arsenault.
She married her beloved husband Ulysse LeBlanc of 66 years in Ontario, Canada. They then moved to the United States Via Fitchburg, MA later to Ashburnham, MA, then settling in her forever home of Ellenton, FL for 19 years.
Besides her husband she leaves behind six children whom she loved very much.
Ronald LeBlanc and his wife Melody of Winchendon, MA, Linda Hakala and her husband Ron of Naples, FL/Gardner, MA, Claudette LeBlanc and her husband Todd(predeceased) of Ellenton, FL/ Fitchburg, MA, Gail Paschal and her husband Kass of Phoenix, AZ, Eunice LeBlanc of Flagstaff, AZ, LorieAnn Aldrich and her husband Joshua of N. Haverhill, NH. Fourteen Grandchildren; Jeremy, Christy, Adam, Shaun, Sandy, Brad Jenna, Thomas, Christina, Christopher, Dyllan, Matthew, Nicolas and Kiptyn. Twelve Great-Grandchildren; Alex, Rachel, Sophie, Gage, Aria, Cross, Dublin, Emma, William, Owen, Cameron and Carter.
Her brother's wife Laura Arsenault of Ellenton, FL/Fitchburg, MA and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and Prayers during this difficult time.
There will be a private service on November 1, in Ellenton, Florida with immediate family followed by a Celebration of Life scheduled for the summer of 2020 in NB Canada.

Judith D. Busby

Judith D. Busby
JULY 1, 1944 ~ OCTOBER 30, 2019 (AGE 75)


Judith D. Busby, 75, of Homosassa, FL passed away October 30, 2019 in Crystal River. She was born on July 1, 1944 in New Haven, CT to Reginald and Doris Blair and she grew up in Winchendon, MA. A homemaker for most of her life, she along with her husband William Busby, Jr. moved to the area about 20 years ago from Naples, FL. Judith was an avid knitter and loved to travel. Judith loved her dogs, was a proud member of the ladies group "The Lunch Bunch" and enjoyed their weekly lunch dates.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Blair. Judith is survived by her loving husband of 36 years, William Busby, Jr.; son, Leon Rice; step-children, William (Julia) Busby, III, Diane Anastas, David Busby and Lisa MacDonald; brothers, Donald (Diane) Blair and David Blair; grandchildren, Taryn, Michele, Curtis, Coleman, Noah, Brianna and Cameron; many friends, especially, Marilyn Nutting of Hopedale, MA and Frank and Eileen Spinosa of Ocala, FL; her beloved dogs Cody and Benji.
Private cremation will take place under the direction of Brown Funeral Home and Crematory in Lecanto, FL. A memorial mass will be held at 10 AM, Thursday, November 7, 2019 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Crystal River, FL.
Brown Funeral Home & Crematory in charge of arrangements.

Donald A. Kukta

Donald A. "Skip" Kukta
FEBRUARY 13, 1935 ~ OCTOBER 31, 2019 (AGE 84)


Westminster-Donald A. "Skip" Kukta, 84, died Thursday, October 31, 2019 at Fitchburg Heath Care surrounded by his loving family, due to end-stage complications of Muscular Dystrophy.
He leaves the love of his life, his beautiful wife of 48 years, Cheryl A. (Christian) Kukta; two daughters, Amy Kukta-Gleason and her husband Keith Gleason of Leominster; Karen Kukta and her husband Kurt Hanss of Ayer: two grandchildren, Grace "Gracie" Hanss and Broderick "Brody" Hanss; one sister, Barbara Guy of Winchendon and several nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by four brothers, Joseph Kukta, Stanley Kukta, Francis "Snoozie" Kukta and Charles Kukta.
Donald was born in Fitchburg, on February 13, 1935, son of the late Joseph and Magdalene R. (Leahy) Kukta. Donald was very fond of the city of Fitchburg and loved telling stories of his time growing up in "the Patch" and summers spent at nearby Lake Shirley. He was a 1954 graduate of St. Bernard's High School and he was actively involved in football and neighborhood pick-up baseball games.
Donald was very proud of the time he spent serving his country in the US Army, immediately following the Korean War. He reveled in sharing stories of his time spent stationed in Germany and was a lifelong patriot and lover of freedom, equality and justice. It is notable that he served his country while fighting through the symptoms of Muscular Dystrophy, a condition which he was not diagnosed with until many decades later.
After his time in the military, Donald worked as a self-employed Union Carpenter and helped build many structures in the New England area. Using his impressive carpentry skills, Donald and his wife built their home in Westminster themselves, with some assistance from Donald's brother Joseph. Donald was a creative problem solver, who even invented and fabricated many of his own tools.
In his leisure time, Donald enjoyed playing cards, woodworking, fishing, boating, golf and playing pool with his long-time friends at Mason's Bowling Alley in Leominster. Donald also loved to visit casinos with his wife and play the slots. He loved to spend time with his family and was a very devoted husband, father, father-in-law, and teacher for his daughters and his beloved grandchildren.
Donald was also an accomplished artist who enjoyed painting, drawing and he was a long-time member of the Leominster Art Association. After his retirement, he spent several years working at the Fitchburg Art Museum, which led to a side hobby of making picture frames. He also enjoyed experimenting with various drawing and painting media and enjoyed drawing with his grandchildren.
Donald is remembered by his friends and family as being a good person who always did the right thing. He was a kind, loving, funny, curious and a generous person who enjoyed making observations about the world and talking with people from all walks of life. He will be sorely missed by all.
His funeral will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2019 from the Smith-Mallahy-Masciarelli Funeral Home and the Fitchburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 243 Water Street, Fitchburg, MA with a mass at 9:30 am in St. Bernard's Parish @ St. Camillus Church, 333 Mechanic Street, Fitchburg, MA 01420.
Burial with Military Honors will be at 11:00 am in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, MA 01475.
Calling hours will be in the funeral home on Monday, November 4, 2019 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Montachusett Opportunity Council's Elder Nutrition/Meals on Wheels program https://www.mocinc.org/elder-services
For further information see http://www.masciarellifamilyfuneralhomes.net

Herbert W. Richards

Herbert W. Richards
MARCH 9, 1931 ~ OCTOBER 26, 2019 (AGE 88)


Herbert W Richards, age 88, of Sarasota, Florida passed away on Saturday October 26, 2019. Herbert was born March 9, 1931 in Winchendon, MA.
He survived by two sons David of Sarasota and Lawrence of Herman, CA and a daughter-in-law Margaret Richards of Sarasota, Grand daughter Amber Richards, a step daughter Julie Moore of Venice, FL. And 4 grand children (Christine, Shawn, Kevin, and Matthew).
He proudly served in the US Navy - CPO.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.palmsrobartsfuneralhome.com for the RICHARDS family.