LOUISE M. McRAE
March 24, 2020

Louise M. (Costa) McRae of Weymouth, died March 24, 2020. Louise was a life long resident of Weymouth and graduated from Weymouth High School class of 1947. She worked in customer service at East Weymouth Savings Bank and retired from customer service from State Street.

Louise was a devout Catholic and active member at St. Albert The Great Church in Weymouth, where she participated in the Vigil to keep the Church open as well as took part as a Eucharistic Minister.

Louise enjoyed knitting, crochet and sewing. Her main passion in life was her family and spending time with those she loved. She will be sadly missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing her.

Beloved wife of the late William F. McRae. Loving mother of Michael J. McRae and his wife Kathleen of Winchendon, Marie P. Caracciola and her late husband Paul J. of Florida, Patrick A. McRae of Erving and Nancy L. McRae of Weymouth. Cherished Nonni of 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren. Caring sister of Angelina F. Johnson of Quincy and the late Vincent J. Costa, the late Joseph A. Costa and the late Albert F. Costa. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, extended family and dear friends.

Due to the COVID-19 services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Louise may be made to Dove, Inc. P.O. Box 690267, Quincy MA 02169. See www.Keohane.com for online condolences.

LAWRENCE C. AMBURGEY
September 17, 1934 ~ March 27, 2020 (age 85)

Lawrence C. Amburgey, a resident of Westminster, MA, passed away on March 27, 2020 at the age of 85.

Larry was the son of the late Charles Amburgey and Aino (Kallio) Amburgey. He was predeceased by his brother Richard Amburgey and sister, Edie (Amburgey) Atkins.

Larry is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Eileen (Gaudette) Amburgey of Westminster, MA, his son Scott Amburgey and wife Patricia (Day) Amburgey of Ashburnham, MA, his son Brian Amburgey and wife Cynthia (Morin) Amburgey of Fitchburg, MA, and his son Craig Amburgey of Miami Beach, FL. Larry is also survived by his four grandchildren, Seth Amburgey of Greenville, NH, Sarah (Amburgey) Bjorklund of New Braintree, MA, Jennifer (Amburgey) Rawson of Leominster, MA and Christina Amburgey of Fitchburg, MA and several great grandchildren.

Larry was born on September 17, 1934 in Winthrop, MA. During his youth, he lived in Shirley, MA and then Leominster, MA where he graduated from Leominster High School. He studied and graduated from the University of Lowell and then resided in Leominster, MA and Spring Valley, IL while working for the Foster Grant Company (subsequently acquired by American Hoechst and Huntsman Chemical) for over 40 years. For the past twenty years of retirement, Larry and Eileen returned to Massachusetts, living in Winchendon, MA followed by Westminster, MA.

Throughout his youth and adult life, Larry enjoyed working on cars, playing golf and bridge, doing yardwork, and following the Boston Red Sox. In addition, he was a past President of the Society of Plastic Engineers (Pioneer Valley Section), an active member of the Knights of Columbus (3rd Degree member in Gardner, MA and 4th Degree member in Fitchburg, MA), an active member and past Treasurer of the Winchendon Lion's Club (District 33A), was a leader with the Boy Scouts of America (Nashua Valley Council) and coached baseball with the Leominster Little League. During his retirement, Larry (along with his wife Eileen) enjoyed traveling, visiting with their family and friends, and maintaining a beautiful home and yard.

Larry will be remembered as a caring and genuine individual, hard worker, and devoted friend and family man.

Funeral services and burial will be private, and a Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Larry's memory to the Marianist Mission, Mount Saint John, 4435 E. Patterson Road, Dayton, OH 45481-0001 or to a charity of choice.

To send an online condolence please visit www.mackfamilyfh.com.

Simard Funeral Home, 14 Walker Street, Leominster, MA is assisting the family.

LEONARD E. OJA
September 5, 1935 ~ March 27, 2020 (age 84)

PHILLIPSTON – Leonard E. Oja, 84, of 25 Old Highland Avenue, died Friday morning, March 27, 2020 in Athol Memorial Hospital, Athol.

He was born in East Jaffrey, NH on September 5, 1935, son of the late Eino J. and Gladys I. (Ladeau) Oja and grew up in Royalston, MA. He raised his family in the Town of Phillipston.

Leonard proudly served his country as a member of the United States Army during the Korean War.

For many years, Leonard worked as a maintenance man in his family’s area nursing homes. He later worked with the Army Corps of Engineers on the Birch Hill and Barre Falls Dams. In recent years, he was self-employed under his own vinyl siding company.

A graduate of MA. Firefighting Academy, Leonard was an EMT and EMT instructor for the Town of Phillipston. At one time, he helped rescue a potential drowning victim in the middle of winter from Millers River. Leonard was awarded Athol - Orange, "Fire Fighter of the Year" for outstanding performance of duty involving lifesaving river rescue. He also received "The Award of Merit" for courageous act by Worcester West Forest Wardon's Associan.

Leonard was active in recreational softball and bowling leagues and also participated in the annual River Rat Race. His other hobbies were gardening, fishing and playing golf.

He leaves his wife of 64 years, Beverly A. (Barrows) Oja; four children, Pamela J. Bennett and her husband Roland of Ashburnham, Scott L. Oja and his wife Traci of Winchendon, Timothy J. Oja and his wife Milagros of Phillipston and Jeffrey A. Oja of Phillipston; his many brothers and sisters, Richard Ladeau of Gardner, Thomas Oja of Baldwinville, Stuart Oja of CT, Darrell Oja of Gardner, Weynona Lucia of Gardner, Sandra Clark of Alabama and Linda Dunchus of Winchendon, many grandchildren, many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers and sisters, Lloyd Oja, Robert Ladeau, Doneta Leslie, Vivian Prentice and Starr Waters.

Due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, funeral services will be held at a later date and time, and will be announced by Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial, with military honors, will be in Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.

RAYMOND C. RUSSELL
December 18, 1938 ~ March 12, 2020 (age 81)

Raymond C. Russell 81, of Alfred, Maine and formerly of Bellingham, MA passed away on March 12, 2020 after a brief illness surrounded by his loving family.

Raymond was born on December 18, 1938 to the late Harold E. and Marion E. (Baird) Russell in Winchendon, MA. He was the beloved husband to Darlene T. Russell predeceased June, 2013. They resided in Bellingham, MA for many years before relocating to Maine in 1999.

Raymond is survived by his 5 children, Garry Russell and his wife Nancy of Bellingham, MA; Sylvia Zardeskas and her husband Thomas of Bellingham, MA; Ronald and his partner Kellisha DeCarlo of Milford, MA; Stephen Russell and his partner Diane Enos-Goozey of Arundel, ME; and Catherine Geddes and husband Robert of Millis, MA. Raymond is also survived by his mother-in-law, Mary Aten of Alfred, Maine, brothers-in-law William Aten of Mendon, MA and Roy Aten of Mobile, AL, sister-in-law Lori Aten of Whitinsville, MA. Grampy also leaves his cherished grandchildren Michael, Nicholas, Alicia, Katrina, Melissa, Samantha, Mirella, Cameron, Katelyn, Rachel, and Robbie. He leaves his great-grandsons Ryan and Mason. In addition, Raymond is predeceased by brothers Harold Russell, Clifton Russell, Robert Russell, Willard Russell and sisters Eleanor Lagasse, Francis Nadeau, Norma Desrosiers and Jean Burbidge. He was the loving uncle and friend to many nieces and nephews.

He was a U.S. Army veteran stationed in Kornwestheim, Germany returning home in 1962. He was employed for over 30 years by General Motors Corporation, many of those as a general foreman and plant shift supervisor in Framingham, MA. Upon that plant closure in 1989, he traveled periodically to GM Plants in Missouri, Michigan and New York in the same role until his retirement in 1998. Throughout his retirement until recently, he worked for several transportation companies as a medical appointments driver both in MA and Maine.

Raymond was deeply devoted to his family, friends, and especially his wife Darlene of 35 years. They shared a love of their family and treasured every gathering to such. He also loved playing cards and doing crossword puzzles. As a hobby, he enjoyed wood working, carpentry and home renovation sharing and completing many of his projects with and for family and friends. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan and enjoyed even more so attending the sporting events of his children and grandchildren. He had a tremendous sense of humor often predictable yet nevertheless cherished. He welcomed onto himself any stereotypical comparisons to the distinct Maine humor he displayed. Through the years, he enjoyed the love and especially the loyalty of his many dogs and was seldom without at least one of them by his side.

Raymond was a gentleman and a valuable friend to so many. He was deeply loved and will be sadly missed.

Services are in the care of Ginley Funeral Home, 131 Main Street / Franklin, MA. Services will be announced at a later date through the Ginley Funeral Home website. Please consider a donation of any kind to an animal shelter, kennel or humane society of your choosing in the name of Raymond C. Russell.

EVA S. CARON
May 30, 1930 ~ March 27, 2020 (age 89)

WINCHENDON – Eva S. (Perrault) Caron, 89, of 274 Spring Street, died peacefully Friday afternoon, March 27, 2020 in Health Alliance Leominster Hospital.

She was born in Lynn, MA on May 31, 1930, daughter of the late Sylvio and Eva (LeBlanc) Perrault and grew up in Maine. She lived in Billerica for a time and had lived in Winchendon since 2007.

Eva enjoyed mosaic pictures and mostly enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren.

She leaves her husband Arthur H. Caron; three children, Suzanne D’Amore and her partner Chris Woodward of Gardner, David Caron and his wife Vicki of Winchendon and Helen Doyle and her husband John of Utah; her stepbrother Bernard Perrault; a stepsister Rachelle Langevin; ten grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. A son, Paul Caron and a grandson, Sean D. Caron predeceased her.

Private funeral services will be held at the convenience of the family.

Burial will be in Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.

Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon is directing arrangements.

ANNETTE M. SHEPPARD
December 24, 1936 ~ April 1, 2020 (age 83)

WINCHENDON— Annette M. (Homon) Sheppard, 83, of 375 Front Street, died peacefully on April 1st in her home, with her family by her side.

She was born in Winchendon on December 24, 1936, daughter of the late Joseph J. and Nellie A. (Stebbins) Homon, was educated in Winchendon schools. Annette was a lifelong resident of Winchendon.

Annette enjoyed raising her family, traveling with her husband and friends, spending time with her grandchildren, knitting, scratch tickets, word searches, and feeding the squirrels and birds in her backyard.

The love of her life, her husband Gordon A. Sheppard, died in 1999. She leaves her daughter, Lisa A. Lary and her husband Bill of Winchendon, and her son, Steven G. Sheppard of Winchendon; her sister, Nancy C. LeBlanc of Winchendon; her grandchildren— Stacie, Zachary and wife Bethany, Will, Abby, Jason, Samantha, Taylor, and great granddaughter Chloee; her sisters-in-law, Pattie Homon and Marion May; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by two daughters, Karla A. Haley in 2004 and Donna M. Girouard in 2014, as well as brothers, Joseph Alfred Homon, Albert G. Homon, Herbert V. May and Donald R. May and her sisters, Evelyn G. Duval, Helen A. Ricard and Phyllis A. King.

Private funeral services will be held in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery.

The family would like to say a special thank you to the wonderful, caring staff at Athol Hospital Rehabilitation Center and GVNA Hospice that went above and beyond to care for Annette along with her family.

Memorial donations may be made to GVNA HealthCare Inc. Hospice Program, 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440.