Wakefield Obituaries

Loved the beach, music and her Cocker Spaniels

SAUGUS — Deborah Jean (Griffin) Ryan, 70, of Saugus passed away peacefully with her husband by her side Sunday night, February 22 while listening to her favorite song ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’.

Debbie was born July 29, 1955 to JoAnn and Charles Griffin. She attended Medford High…

Loved traveling, baking and her family

WAKEFIELD — Jean M. McCluskey, age 99, passed away on February 22 at the Lahey Clinic and Medical Center in Burlington surrounded by her family.

She was born in Medford on September 17, 1926 and was the daughter of the late Marion (Mooney) Rowe. She was raised in Malden…

Passionate nurse who loved her family and home

WAKEFIELD — Susan W. Richter-Haskell, age 78, of Wakefield passed away peacefully on February 22 at the High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill.

She was born in Melrose on February 7, 1948 and was the daughter of the late Charles and Barbara (Hindon) Kearney. Susan was raised…

Her deepest passion was for her family

WAKEFIELD — Ann F. Bruzzese, age 90, of Wakefield, formerly of Revere, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Thursday, February 19 at Brightview Assisted Living in Wakefield.

Born in Boston on January 9, 1936, she was the cherished daughter of the late Anthony and Phyllis…

WAKEFIELD — Thomas R. Benedetto, born May 17, 1955 in Winchester died unexpectedly on February 10 at the Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, surrounded by his family.

He was the fourth son of the late Alfred P. “Gus” Benedetto and Agnes C. (Meuse) Benedetto of Wakefield. He leaves behind his loving wife Pamela…

Varied interests in sports, cars and travel

WAKEFIELD — James French, “Terry,” a lifelong Wakefield resident passed away at his home unexpectedly on November 22, 2025. He was 79 years old.

He attended Wakefield schools in the class of ’64 and graduated from Newman Prep before attending Emerson College including a semester at Oxford College…

US Army veteran

WAKEFIELD — David Lee Blankenship, devoted loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away on February 11 at the age of 79 in Wakefield.

He was born in Morton, WA on March 16, 1946 to parents Edwin Blankenship and Edith Humphries. David spent his early years on the West Coast where he worked…

WAKEFIELD — Thomas (Todd) Sheppard gave up his soul to God on February 5 after battling complications from pneumonia. Thomas was born at Lynn Union Hospital August 19, 1955 and was named after the doctor that delivered him. He grew up in Wakefield and was a graduate of Wakefield High School class of 1973. He retired…

WAKEFIELD — Katherine R. MacDermott, age 95 of Wakefield, passed away on Sunday, February 1 at her home.

She was born in Woburn on June 8, 1930 and was the daughter of the late Joseph and Florence (Todesca) Romano. Katherine grew up in Woburn and was a graduate of Woburn High School, 1950. She had…

Loved being a grandmother

MALDEN — Marcia (Rudolph) Nelson, age 80, of Malden and formerly of Wakefield, passed away unexpectedly but peacefully at her home on January 31.

Marcia was born in Woburn on April 4, 1945. She was the daughter of the late John I. and Alice E. (Downs) Rudolph. Marcia spent the first…