Wakefield Obituaries

A family man who was hardworking and loving

NORTH READING — Charles Lowell Spicer, 84, died on Sunday, August 28, 2022.

Born in Wakefield on July 28, 1938, Lowell was the son of Ralph K. and Dorothy T. (Patterson) Spicer. He was raised in North Reading on the family farm, Meadowview Dairy on Park…

Had a successful teaching career and loved to travel

MELROSE — Barbara C. Kenison, age 82, longtime resident of Melrose died peacefully on Wednesday, August 31 after a brief illness with her loving husband Bill and her daughter Laura and son Tom by her side. She was born in Medford on December 17, 1939 and…

Recording artist and children’s TV performer who recorded more than 30 songs

WAKEFIELD — Recording artist and children’s television performer Judy Valentine (Berkal), a well-known personality from the Golden Age of Television in Greater Boston, passed away on August 26 at the age of 99.

Born Norma Baker in Boston in 1923, as a youth…

Most remembered for her love of her family

SOUTH BOSTON — Sonia (Lesiak) Maraqa passed away on August 21, 2022, at the age of 72. She will most fondly be remembered for how fully she embraced and enjoyed her most treasured values: family, relationships, children, love, knowledge, and the world.

She was the devoted mother of…

A loving husband and father who was strong willed and direct

WINDHAM, N.H. — Mr. John F. “Jack” Dion, of Windham, N.H. and formerly a longtime resident of Melrose, passed away at his home on Saturday, August 27, 2022 surrounded by his loving family. He was 78 years of age.

Jack Dion was born on…

Graduate of WMHS and attended the First Baptist Church of Wakefield

NORTH ANDOVER — C. Charles Klapes of North Andover died on August 28, 2022.

He was born in Wakefield on May 1, 1927. He was the son of the late Charles J. and the late Aphrodite (Petropoulos) Klapes.

Mr. Klapes was raised in Wakefield…

Loving father and grandfather whose passion was music

WAKEFIELD — Edward H. Stanley, Jr. (Tony), age 95 and a long-time resident of Wakefield and a former resident of Reading, passed away on Saturday, August 27 surrounded by his family, at his home. He was the loving father of Donna Whalen and her husband Michael of…

A lover of life and people who was a true ‘gamer’

WAKEFIELD — Loretta M. McCarthy passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, August 21.

Loretta leaves sons John J. McCarthy Jr. and his wife Leah of Wakefield and Michael P. McCarthy and his companion Cathe Mustone of Gloucester. She was the loving Nana…

Member of First Parish Congregational Church

WAKEFIELD — Mary K. MacLaughlin, age 98, a longtime Wakefield resident died Monday, August 22 at the Greenwood Nursing Home in Wakefield.

Born in Wakefield on September 15, 1923 she was the daughter of the late Charles J. and Aphrodite (Petropoulos) Klapes.

Mary was raised in Wakefield and was…

A faithful woman who was very social and enjoyed a laugh

MELROSE — Our Mom, Nana, and Great-Grandmother, Jean Crosby Awiszus, of Melrose, surrounded by her family, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 20, 2022, just short of her 92nd birthday.

Jean was born in Malden on September 2, 1930 and grew up in Wakefield…

Member of the Wakefield Elks and an avid golfer

LYNNFIELD — James F. Simmons, of Lynnfield died on Thursday, August 18 at his residence.

Born in Boston on August 11, 1934, he was the son of the late Earl and Alice (Brice) Simmons

Mr. Simmons was a graduate of Medford High School. He had been…

A social, gregarious man who enjoyed connecting with others

MELROSE — Douglas E. MacDonald, a lifelong proud Melrose resident, passed away peacefully at home in Melrose on Monday, August 22, 2022, at age 81.

Doug was born in Malden on March 15, 1941, one of three sons of the late Judson M. MacDonald and Dorothy…