Obituaries
EDWARD "TED" SHEA
May 7, 1937 ~ January 22, 2020 (Age 82)
Edward J. Shea, 82, passed away in the early morning hours of January 22, 2020 at Rivermead in Peterborough, NH after a long battle with dementia.
Edward, known to friends as Ted, was born in Stoneham, MA on May 7th, 1937 to David and Edna Shea of Cambridge, MA. Ted grew up on Elm Street in North Cambridge, attended Rindge Tech High School and graduated from Boston College in 1959 with a Bachelor of Science in accounting.
Ted’s family summered in Jaffrey and worked at Woodbound Inn in Rindge where he met his future wife and the love of his life Elizabeth (Betty) A. Belletete. They were married at Saint Patrick’s Church in Jaffrey on May 28th, 1960 and spent 59 wonderful years together.
Soon after the wedding Ted began his tour of duty in the United States Navy. He attended Officer’s Candidate School and Supply School before being stationed in Adak, AK on the Aleutian Islands where he was joined by Betty. From Adak he completed his tour of duty in Pittsburgh, PA with the rank of lieutenant.
Upon Ted’s honorable discharge he and Betty moved to Jaffrey and Ted began his post military career as the manager of the Peterborough Motor Inn. In 1965 Ted began his 40-year career working for Belletetes Inc. He started and was the manager of Belletetes second location in Winchendon, MA for many years. The last 12 years of service were spent at the company headquarters in Jaffrey, where he served as CEO and President. As a genuinely friendly, caring and hardworking person, Ted enjoyed a special bond with many of the people he dealt with.
Ted loved Jaffrey and throughout his life was actively involved in the community. He served the town on the Budget Committee and was a Past Chairman of the Planning Board. He was Past President of the Jaffrey Lion’s Club, Past President of the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce and shared with Betty the Chamber Citizens of the Year Award in 1997. He was an active communicant of Saint Patrick’s Church where he was also a eucharistic minister.
His service was not limited to Jaffrey. Ted was engaged in many vocational organizations, serving as Past President of the Massachusetts Retail Lumber Association, Director of the Northeastern Retail Lumber Association and received the New Hampshire Lumber Person of the Year Award in 2002. He was a Director at the Winchendon Savings Bank and the Monadnock Community Bank.
He enjoyed golf and was a member of the unofficial Royal Shattuck Golf Club traveling to Scotland and Spain. Ted was an avid skier enjoying the slopes in New Hampshire and Vermont, but especially looked forward to his yearly ski trips. He enjoyed nearly 40 years of tennis and comradery as a member of the Boulder Oaks Tennis Group. Over the years, Ted and Betty were fortunate to have been able to travel the world. In later years they wintered at the Plantation in Venice, FL.
Ted is survived by his wife Elizabeth and three children, Michael Shea and his wife Kendra of Jaffrey, NH, Martha Noble and her husband Lorrie of Orlando, FL, and Matthew Shea and his wife Tammy of Jaffrey, NH; and by his grandchildren, Matt Morgenson, Derek Shea, Christopher LeBlanc, Taylor Shea, Hannah Shea and Brooke Shea. Ted is also survived by his brother, David W. Shea, Jr. and his wife Mary Ann of Potomac, MD and by many nieces and nephews.
Calling Hours will be held on Sunday, January 26, 2020 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 33 River Street, (Route 202 South) in Jaffrey, NH.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 27, 2020 at 11:00 am in Saint Patrick Church, 89 Main Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452. Rev. Wilfred Deschamps, Pastor, will be the celebrant. Burial will take place in the spring at the Old Burial Ground in Jaffrey Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial contributions be made to either the John Humiston American Legion Post #11, 20 Webster Street, Jaffrey, NH 03452, or to the Jaffrey Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 2, Jaffrey, NH 03452.
FERN A. TUFTS
September 2, 1932 ~ January 28, 2020 (Age 87)
GARDNER – Fern A. Tufts, 87, formerly of Gardner, died peacefully Tuesday morning, January 28, 2020 in The Highlands, with her family at her side.
She was born in Fitchburg on September 22, 1932, daughter of the late Alfred and Beatrice (Caouette) Batten and grew up in Fitchburg, graduating from Fitchburg High School. For the last several years, she had lived in Gardner after living previously in Leominster.
Fern and her husband Wilbur were the former owners of Crescent Farms in Lunenburg. She was a member of the VFW Women’s Auxiliary in Gardner. She enjoyed trips to Foxwoods, playing bingo and dancing. Her greatest enjoyment was spending time with her family.
She leaves her husband of 57 years, Wilbur M. Tufts; three children, Tamara Woodard of Peterborough, NH, Gail Bissonnette and her husband Mark of Leominster and Michael Tufts and his wife Denise of Lunenburg; four grandchildren, Justin Bissonnette, Tasha Woodard, Ashley Landry and David Tufts; six great grandchildren, Hayleigh, Kassidie, Samuel, Ava, Cooper and Braelynn; a brother Alfred Batten of Fitchburg and several nieces, nephews and cousins. A son, Ross Tufts, preceded her in death.
Calling hours will be held Friday, January 31, 2020 from 10:30 AM to 12:30 P.M. in Stone-Ladeau Funeral Home, 343 Central Street, Winchendon.
Funeral services will follow at 1 P.M. Friday in the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon.
The family wishes to extend its heartfelt thanks to the Memory Care Unit of The Highlands.
Memorial donations may be made to Memory Care Unit, The Highlands, 333 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420.
HENRY DAY, JR.
January 17, 1945 ~ January 26, 2020 (Age 75)
Fitchburg - Henry W. Day, Jr., 75, of Fitchburg, died Sunday night, January 26, 2020, surrounded by his loving family in the Health Alliance Leominster Hospital.
Henry was born in Clinton on January 17, 1945, a son of the late Henry W. and Irene (Julsonnete) Day and grew up in Lancaster. He had resided in Fitchburg since 1999.
Shortly after his graduation from Leominster Trade School, Henry Joined the U.S. Air Force and served during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge in 1969 having attained the rank of Sergeant.
Henry was a welder by trade and worked for several years in the maintenance department at Surprenant Wire and Cable.
He was a member of the Fitchburg Knights of Columbus Joseph P. Keating Council 99, the Sterling American Legion Post 189, the Disabled American Veterans and St. Bernard's Parish at St. Camillus de Lellis Church. He loved Elvis, the Red Sox, York Beach, Ormand Beach and "The Camp".
He leaves his wife of 31 years, Susan M. (Leach) Day of Fitchburg; his seven children, Kimberly Whitley and her husband Jim of West Boylston, Karen Hooper of Sterling, James Day of Worcester, Jonathan Buckley and his wife Mandy of Alabama, James Buckley and his wife Sarah of Shrewsbury, Jennifer Hendrickson and her husband Leif of Athol and Jessica Reevers of South Carolina; six siblings, Lorraine Gable and her husband Robert of Indiana, Robert Day and his wife Margaret and Nancy Trembley and her husband Richard all of New Hampshire; Judy Janda and her husband Robert of Sterling; Patricia Kelley of Clinton and Bryan Day and his wife Linda of Winchendon; his brothers in-law, Robert Leach and Richard Leach and his wife Denise; 12 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and 19 nephews and nieces.
His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, February 3, at 11:30 AM in St. Camillus de Lellis Church, 333 Mechanic St., Fitchburg. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 2, from 2 to 5 PM in the Isabelle and Anderson Funeral Home, 316 Clarendon St., Fitchburg.
For further information or to leave an online condolence please visit their website at www.andersonfuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Leominster Veterans Memorial Center, 100 West St., Leominster, MA 01453
SHIRLEY ANN LUPIEN
December 7, 1932 ~ January 24, 2020 (Age 87)
Shirley Ann Lupien, 87, of Gardner, Massachusetts, passed away Friday, January 24, 2020.
She was born on December 7, 1932, to the late George and Eva (Caouette) Fagan. She was the youngest of five children. Shirley was raised in South Ashburnham and raised her family there. In 1953, she married James M. Lupien, and for the next 61-years, she worked at home and raised her family. She was always busy doing something. She loved to sew clothes for her children and served as Assistant Boy Scout Leader for her two sons. She shared her love of the outdoors with her family, camping, fishing, gardening, and excursions to many attractions in New England. She worked at Caouette’s Catering and, in 1987, was co-owner of April’s Fine Food and Ice Cream in Winchendon. Her homemade biscuits and made from scratch pies kept people coming back. During the early 1980's Shirley and her husband built a home in Hubbardston. They did all of the house construction themselves except for electrical and drywall. In addition to caring for her family, she always found time to help people. Through the years, she provided transportation for family and friends to attend medical appointments, rides to the airport, and whatever was needed. After raising six children, she and her husband raised their granddaughter, Colleen. In later years, her son, Randy returned home and provided the necessary support that enabled her to live in her own home, on her own terms. Shirley loved to play cribbage, watched the birds from her window, worked jigsaw puzzles, crocheted afghans, and potholders for her family and friends.
She is survived by her children: Randy Lupien of Gardner, MA; James Lupien (Sheila) of Biddeford, ME; Kay Johnson (Jerry) of Billerica, MA; April Palmer (Steven) of Cottonwood, AZ; Heidi Happy (Andrea) of Bellingham, MA; Colleen Girouard (Keith) of Waxhaw, NC; son-in-law, John Kelley of Mariposa, CA. Grandchildren: Melissa Summers, Lindsy Lupien, Emily Lupien, John Michael Kelley, Ryan Johnson, and Luke Happy. Great Grandchild: Cody Legault and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James in July 2015 and daughter, Patricia Kelley in September 2019. Shirley was also preceded in death by her four brothers and sisters: Phillip Fagan, Andre Fagan, Kathryn (Kitty) Pelletier, and Gloria Reynolds.
Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 29, 2020, from the Boucher Funeral Home, Inc., 110 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA, with a Mass at 11:30 a.m. in Annunciation Parish at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, 135 Nichols Street, Gardner, MA. Burial will be held at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 111 Glenallen Street, Winchendon, MA, at the convenience of the family.
A Calling Hour will be held Wednesday, January 29, 2020, from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to the GVNA HealthCare, Inc., 34 Pearly Lane, Gardner, MA 01440. Over the years, the Gardner Visiting Nurses provided services and, most recently, hospice with dignity and respect. Please reference in memory of Shirley Ann Lupien.