The Winchendon Courier
Serving the community since 1878 ~ A By Light Unseen Media publication
Week of June 11 to June 18, 2020

Obituaries

Eileen Alma Lemay

EILEEN ALMA LEMAY
November 20, 1942 ~ June 5, 2020 (age 77)

LEOMINSTER – Eileen Alma (LeBlanc) Lemay, 77, of 102 Washington Street, formerly of Orange, Swanzey, NH, and Gardner, died peacefully Friday morning, June 5, 2020 at home with family by her side following a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Eileen was born in Gardner on November 20, 1942, daughter of the late Edmond and Alma (Braks) LeBlanc. She grew up in Ashburnham and was a 1960 graduate of Fitchburg High School. Eileen operated home day care centers in Orange, Swanzey, NH, and Gardner. She was known for her love of family, tenderness with children, and providing a judgement free zone for teenagers.

Her beloved husband for 39 years, Roger E. Lemay, died in 2012. Together they raised eight children, supported each other in operating home day care centers and Roger's TV Service, and enjoyed a blissfully happy marriage. Many lives were blessed through her work, and she will be fondly remembered by all who knew her. Eileen also leaves a daughter, Laurie Voedisch and her husband Eric of Leominster, with whom she resided; a son, Raymond Bettez of Royalston; and daughters Susan Libby and her partner Paul Rech of Winchendon; RoseMary LeMay Huebner and her fiance George of Plattsburgh, NY; and Janice Cox and her husband Charles of Greenfield; her sisters, Lorraine Martel of Canaan, NH and Rosalie Hardy and her husband Bill of Winchendon. She also leaves behind grandchildren Jillian Hildebrand, Joseph Fournier, Theodore Halnon, Charles Halnon, Vanessa Bettez, Jason Samuels, William Bettez, Jr., Leanne Bettez, Jessica Chalke, Sarah Bond, Ryan Bond, Monica LeMay, Natasia Cox, Elijah LeMay, Judy Keese and Kimila Maynard; many great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, as well as numerous children she nurtured over the years in home day care. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Karen Bettez Halnon, sons, William Bettez, Edward "Rex" Lemay, and James Lamoureaux, and her brother Paul LeBlanc.

A funeral service at Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Save the Children, 501 Kings Highway East, Suite 400, Fairfield, CT 06825.

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

Jesse L. Meyer

JESSE L. MEYER
August 7, 1988 ~ June 10, 2020 (age 31)

WINCHENDON – Jesse L. Meyer, 31, of Winchendon, died peacefully Wednesday afternoon, June 10, 2020 in Health Alliance Leominster Hospital.

He was born in Fitchburg on August 7, 1988 and lived for most of his life in Winchendon.

Jesse attended the Institute of Professional Practice program and lived with many foster families, whom his family would like to thank. He was a participant in the local Special Olympics. Jesse enjoyed fishing, the company of dogs and following the New England Patriots.

He leaves his mother, Irene (Cormier) Meyer of Winchendon; his father John Meyer; a sister, Katelynn Meyer of Winchendon; two nieces, Sylvia and Noella and several uncles, aunts and cousins.

Funeral services will be private and at the convenience of the family.

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

Marion L. Russell

MARION L. RUSSELL
October 9, 1924 ~ June 1, 2020 (age 95)

FITZWILLIAM, NH – Marion L. (Langille) Russell, 95, of 61 Angier Road, died peacefully Monday afternoon, June 1, 2020 in Keene Center for Nursing, Keene, NH.

She was born in Fitchburg, MA on October 9, 1924, daughter of the late Carl and Lena (Lafortune) Langille and had lived in Fitzwilliam for over 50 years.

Marion was a day care provider for 26 years and received great joy from all of the children she cared for. She and her husband Bob loved spending time with family, going to auctions, yard sales and shopping. They enjoyed long drives and vacations at Old Orchard Beach every year. She also enjoyed decorating her home for every holiday. In recent years she attended Trinity Baptist Church.

Her husband, Robert P. Russell, died in 1994. Her son, Howard L. Meattey, died in 1980. She leaves a niece, Carolyn Nurmsen of Winchendon; a nephew, James Pelto of Gardner and four grandnieces, Andrea Suchocki and Felicia Nurmsen of Winchendon MA, Becky Thurlow of Gardner, MA and Jennifer Pelto of Florida.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 13, 2020 at 10 A.M. in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.

Burial will be in Pine Grove Cemetery, Fitzwilliam.

Marylou Lashua

MARYLOU LASHUA
January 19, 1945 ~ June 9, 2020 (age 75)

TEMPLETON – Marylou (Greenwood) Lashua, 75, of East Templeton, died peacefully Tuesday afternoon, June 9, 2020 in Health Alliance Leominster Hospital, with her family at her side.

She was born in Gardner on January 19, 1945, daughter of the late Kenneth R. and Alice M. (Gilhooly) Greenwood and attended Central Catholic High School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL., where she was raised. She later resided in Ashburnham and had resided in Templeton for the last 35 years.

Marylou worked a variety of jobs and most recently worked at David Haye’s Finishing. She had previously worked at Fontaine Brothers, Nichols and Stone, Ethan and Allen, Digital, Betty’s Flower Shop and Simplex Time Recorder. A lover of the outdoors, Marylou enjoyed camping, boating, water skiing, gardening, horseback riding, traveling and especially spending time with her family.

She leaves her husband of 27 years, Walter J. Lashua; children, Christina L. Flanagan of Walpole, NH and Richard M. Fontaine and his wife Paula of Westminster; grandchildren, Michael Fontaine, Meghan Fontaine, Jason Fontaine, Chelsea Flanagan, Maggie Lashua and Erica Lashua; stepsons, Michael A. Lashua and his wife Julie of Winchendon and Mark E. Lashua of Ft. Lauderdale, FL; her siblings, Alvin F. Greenwood of Chipley, FL and Janice L. Murphy of Fitzwilliam, NH; her former husband, William B. Fontaine of Leominster and several nieces and nephews.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Denis Church, 85 Main Street, Ashburnham.

Calling hours will be private.

Burial will be in New Cemetery, Ashburnham.

Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142 or to American Lung Association, 1661 Worcester Rd #301, Framingham, MA 01701.

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

Harry Skip Kinner

HARRY "SKIP" KINNER
September 1, 1948 ~ June 9, 2020 (age 71)

WINCHENDON – Harry “Skip” Kinner, 71, of 41 Joslin Road, died peacefully at home Tuesday morning, June 9, 2020, with his loving family at his side.

He was born in Sayre, PA on September 1, 1948, son of the late Harry L. Kinner and Jean E. (Wells) Lee. Skip spent his early years in Pennsylvania and then his family moved South Barre when he was twelve. During his high school years, his family moved to Winchendon, where he lived the rest of his life.

Skip proudly served in the Army National Guard from 1968 to 1974. In 1988, he started Kinner’s Auto Body, which he owned and operated for many years until his retirement in 2005. He was a member of Artisan Lodge of Masons and Eugene M. Connor Post #193. He loved hunting, fishing, cars and going to Foxwoods. His greatest enjoyment and love was spending time with his family.

He leaves his wife of 50 years, Elaine D. (Richard) Kinner; three daughters, Crystal J. Robertson and her husband George Darrin Robertson of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Melissa L. Fortunato of Winchendon and Trisha L. Race and her significant other Joseph Boisvert of Winchendon; brothers and sisters, Connie R. Zelnia and her husband James of No. Palm Beach, FL, Larry D. Kinner and his wife Pamela of Old Orchard Beach, ME, William L. Kinner and his wife Margrete of Winchendon, Allan L. Barrows and his wife Sharon of Canton, GA, Danial G. McLean of Winchendon; a half-brother Ricky Kinner and a half-sister Karen Morehead, both of PA; eight grandchildren, Katlin and significant other Garrett, Joseph, Mariah, Max, Jayla, Andrew, Sophia and Rebekah; two great grandsons Ryen and Ryder and many nieces and nephews. A sister, Patsy Jean, predeceased him.

Private graveside services will be held in Riverside Cemetery, Winchendon.

Memorial donations may be made to the Angel Fund of Artisan Lodge of Masons, 319 School Street, Winchendon, MA 01475.

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