Spencer - Southbridge Evening News

2 SPENCER NEW LEADER • Friday, April 4, 2008
OBITUARIES
NORTHBOROUGH —
David F. Blanchard, 80, of
Northborough, died
Wednesday, March 26 at
Saint Vincent’s Hospital in
Worcester following a brief
illness.
David is survived by his
loving wife of 60 years, Irene
(Kumle) Blanchard; two
sons, Michael Blanchard and
his wife, Diane, of Venice, Fla., and Jonathan
“Jay” Blanchard and his wife, Mary, of
Sterling; a daughter, Pam Appell of Mendon;
six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; a
sister, Joan Mackowiak of North Grafton; as
well as many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sister, Beverly
Stevens.
Born in Leicester and raised in Worcester,
David was the son of the late Oliver and Mary
(Lee) Blanchard. He has been a resident of
Northborough since 1955.
David was a veteran who served during
PALMER — Virginia M.
(Bearse) Brown, 86, formerly
of Pine Street in Palmer,
passed away March 24 at
Quaboag on the Common.
Born Dec. 21, 1921 in
Palmer, she was the daughter
of the late Oliver P. and
Margaret (MacKenzie)
Bearse. Virginia has lived in
West Brookfield for the past
five years, previously of the Palmer and
Monson area.
She worked for Rathbone Corp., Sanderson-
McCloud, W.T. Grants, and had been a longtime
employee of Wing Memorial Hospital.
Virginia enjoyed growing flowers, playing the
piano and spending time with her grandchildren.
She also liked crossword puzzles and
reading, and was a longtime member of the
Second Congregational Church and a founding
member of the Lamp Lighters.
WARREN — Joseph F. Caruso Sr., 64, of
Washington Street, died Tuesday, March 25 in
UMass Memorial Healthcare in Worcester.
He leaves his wife of 38 years, Katherine L.
(Veno) Caruso; two sons, Joseph F. Caruso Jr.
and his wife, Cyndi, of Framingham and
Steven Caruso and his partner, Denise Teele,
of West Boylston; two daughters, Cynthia
Courtney and her husband, Christopher, of
Brockton and Elizabeth Caruso of Worcester;
two brothers, George Caruso of Manchester,
N.H., and Samuel Caruso of Providence, R.I.;
two sisters, Catherine Caruso of Fremont,
N.H., and Rosemarie Connor of Tiverton, R.I.;
two grandchildren and many nieces and
Elmer E. Ellison Jr., 88
GRAFTON — Elmer E.
“Al” Ellison Jr., 88, passed
away March 26 after a recent
illness.
His wife of 56 years,
Marjorie G. (Gibson) Ellison,
passed in 2002.
He is survived by his
niece, Linda Cunningham;
her husband, Jim; their children,
Jason, Athena and
Erin; his nephew, John Prouty; his wife,
Susan; their daughters, Julie and Jaime, and
their children and many close friends.
Mr. Ellison was born April 30, 1919 in
Worcester, the son of Elmer E. and Lillian
(Boucher) Ellison, and had lived in Oxford
and Spencer before moving to Grafton 54
years ago. Al was educated in Worcester, graduating
from Worcester North High School in
1938. He was a sales leader for 32 years with
Paper Trading Corporation-Sani Mate Supply
Co. retiring in 1992. After retiring, Al worked
on a part-time basis with ICPI of West
SPENCER — Lorraine B.
(Collette) Zukas, age 83, died
Wednesday, March 26, following
a heart attack that
occurred while she was a passenger
in a car driven by her
husband, William (Vin)
Zukas.
Born in Marlborough,
Lorraine was the daughter of
the late Albert and Blanche
(Comeau) Collette. The family moved to
Spencer in the 1930s, where Lorraine lived for
the rest of her life. She was a graduate of
David Prouty High School and The Memorial
Hospital School of Nursing.
She worked at Memorial Hospital as an
obstetric nurse before getting married and
starting her own family. Lorraine and Vin
operated a dairy farm in Spencer for many
years. She was a devoted wife and mother who
enjoyed nursing, volunteering her time as a
QUIET
David F. Blanchard, 80
Virginia M. Brown, 86
Joseph F. Caruso Sr., 64
World War II in the United States
Navy. He served aboard the USS
Wyoming and USS Fogg.
David worked for 34 years for
New England Grocer Supply Co.,
formerly known as Sweet Life,
as a sales manager. He was a
member of St. Rose of Lima Church in
Northborough and the Knights of Columbus
St. Augustine Council. David supported many
charitable organizations during his life. He
was an avid stamp and coin collector.
A funeral Mass was held Monday, March 31
in Saint Rose of Lima Church, 244 West Main
St., Northborough. Burial followed in Howard
Street Cemetery.
Calling hours were held in Hays Funeral
Home, 56 Main St. (Route 20), Northborough.
Memorial donations may be made to
Knights of Columbus, St. Augustine Council,
c/o Merrill Dussault, 21 Hamilton Road,
Northborough, MA 01532.
For online condolences, please visit
www.haysfuneralhome.com.
Virginia was predeceased by her husband,
Wayne L., in 1969; her brother, Oliver Jr.; and
her daughter, Judith Bannon, in 2007.
She will be greatly missed by her children,
Malcolm Brown and his wife, Peggy of New
York, Marjorie Swingle and her husband,
Ronald, of Maryland and David Brown and
his wife, Idell, of North Brookfield. Virginia
also leaves her sister, Shirely Scott, and her
husband, Donald, of Ludlow; a sister-in-law,
Margaret Bearse of Wilbraham; several
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces,
nephews and friends.
A visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Saturday, April 5 at the Beers & Story Palmer
Funeral Home. A memorial graveside service
will follow at 11 a.m. at Oak Knoll Cemetery.
Donations may be made in her memory to
the American Diabetes Association.
For more information and to sign a memorial
guestbook, please visit www.beersandstory.com.
Boylston. He was a member of The
Evangelical Congregational Church of
Grafton and Franklin Lodge A.F. & A.M. in
Grafton.
A celebration of life service will be held at
noon Saturday, April 12 in The Evangelical
Congregational Church of Grafton, 30
Grafton Common in Grafton Center. There
will be a reception following the service in the
church fellowship hall. Al will be laid to rest
privately with his wife in Riverside Cemetery.
There are no calling hours.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in
his name to The Elmer E. and Marjorie G.
Ellison Trust, c/o The Greater Worcester
Community Foundation, 44 Front St.,
Worcester, MA 01608 or The Alzheimers
Association, 311 Arsenal St., Watertown, MA
02472.
Arrangements are in the care of Roney
Funeral Homes of Grafton.
A condolence book and directions are available
at www.roneyfuneralhome.com.
Lorraine B. Zukas, 83
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nephews.
He was born in Waltham, son of the late
George and Catherine (Bongourno) Caruso,
and lived there most of his life before moving
to Warren in 2004.
Mr. Caruso owned and operated his own
reupholstering business for 25 years.
A funeral service for Joseph was held
Friday, March 28 in the Varnum Funeral
Home, Inc., 43 East Main St., West Brookfield.
Burial was in St. Paul’s Cemetery in Warren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in
Joseph’s memory to the National Kidney
Foundation, 85 Astor Ave., Norwood, MA
02062.
nurse at the Spencer Fair.
An artist who enjoyed oil painting, she also
liked gardening, walking and her bowling
league. Vin and Lorraine spent much time
together traveling and camping throughout
the United States and Canada.
She is survived by Vin, her husband of 56
years, and her sister, Norma Collette, who
lives on Cape Cod. She also leaves her three
children, Peter Zukas and his wife, Lynn, of
Sturbridge, Joanne Descoteau of Leicester
and Elizabeth Barys and her husband, Jim, of
Oakham, as well as five grandchildren.
Friends are welcome to attend a graveside
service at 2:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 at Mary,
Queen of the Rosary Cemetery in Spencer.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to
the Visiting Nurses Association at Overlook
VNA, 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA
01507.
Pillsbury Funeral Home, 163 Main St.,
Spencer, was in charge of arrangements.
Send all obituary notices to the
Spencer New Leader,
25 Elm St., Southbridge, MA
01550, or by e-mail to
ddore@stonebridgepress.com.
SPENCER — Gunhild A. (Johnson) Dunn,
92, of Lake Avenue and formerly of
Sturbridge and Auburn, died Tuesday, March
25 in the Overlook Masonic Healthcare Center
in Charlton.
Her beloved husband of 32 years, Edward J.
Dunn, died in 1982.
“Gunny” leaves her four children, Sharon
Lindgren of Falmouth, William Dunn and his
wife, Kathy, of Charlton, Robin Fitton and her
husband, Mark, of Webster and Bonnie
Coleman and her husband, Stephen, of
Spencer, with whom she lived; eight grandchildren,
including Kerri Coleman, who predeceased
her; nine great-grandchildren; her
brothers, Walter Johnson of Ludlow and
Donald Johnson of Connecticut; and her sister,
Helen Bergman of Charlton.
She was predeceased by her brother, Elmer,
and her sister, Edna Corcoran.
Gunhild was born in Auburn, a daughter of
the late Axel D. and Gunda S. (Broman)
Johnson. She spent most of her life in
WORCESTER — Beulah
Rozella Allen, 97, of
Worcester, passed away
peacefully March 18 at the
Lutheran Home in
Worcester with family at her
side.
She was born Jan. 27, 1911
in Prescott, one of the four
towns that were vacated
when the Quabbin Reservoir
was established, to the late Frank Roswell and
Ruth Grover Allen. Beulah was predeceased
by her brothers, Lyman and Ernest Allen, and
her sister, Bernice (Allen) MacDonald.
Beulah lived for 65 years in her third floor
apartment at 39 William St. in Worcester, and
successfully navigated three flights of stairs
and did her own food shopping until
December of this year.
The beloved aunt of many nieces and
Gunhild A. Dunn, 92
Rose M. Gustafson, 60
LEICESTER — Rose M.
(Anderson) Gustafson, 60, of
Clark Street in the Rochdale
section of Leicester, died
Thursday, March 27 in her
home, surrounded by her
loving family, after an illness.
She leaves her husband of
40 years, Paul L. Gustafson; a
son, Stephen P., and his wife,
Erika Gustafson, of Leicester; four grandchildren,
Cheyanne Rose, Stephen M., Olyvia
Rose and Evan J. Gustafson; several nieces
and nephews; and a stepsister, Carol Scanlon
of Rhode Island.
She is predeceased by a son, Scott M.
Gustafson, who died in 2007.
Mrs. Gustafson was born in Tewksbury,
daughter of Carl and Barbara (Lord)
Anderson. She graduated from Leicester High
EDGEWATER, Fla. — Doris M. (Boisjolie)
Michajlow, 83, of Edgewater, formerly of
Worcester, died Monday, March 24 in Ocean
View Nursing Center in Edgewater.
She leaves her husband of 35 years,
Eustachy Michajlow; a son, Duane Robinson
in Massachusetts; a brother, Ray Boisjolie of
Vero Beach; and two grandchildren.
Doris was born in Spencer, Mass., later lived
in Worcester for many years and has lived in
Florida for more than 25 years.
Mrs. Michajlow was a secretary for the City
of Worcester treasurer’s office. She retired
Doris Michajlow, 83
Marion A. Hammond, 95
LEICESTER — Marion A.
Hammond 95, of Crestwood
Road, died Thursday, March
27.
She leaves a nephew,
Richard Odlum of Leicester;
four grandnephews, Michael
DiStefano Jr. of Leicester,
Richard DiStefano and his
wife, Heather, of Worcester,
Richard F. Miller of
Leicester and Scott J. Miller of Charlton; a
great-grandnephew, Alex DiStefano of
Worcester; three great-grandnieces, Kaitlyn
Miller, Sarah Miller and Casey Miller; and her
LEICESTER — Paul J.
Milluzzo, 62, of Leicester,
passed away Monday, March
24 in his home after being
stricken ill.
Paul is survived by his
beloved wife and partner of
40 years, Linda M.
(Desrosiers) Milluzzo; his
devoted son, Paul M.
Milluzzo, and his companion,
Christine Plaud of Leicester; a grandson,
who was his pride and joy, Nicholas P.
Milluzzo; a sister, Mary Jasper of Boylston;
nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was born in Worcester; his parents were
the late Paul S. and Mary (Cooney) Milluzzo.
Paul J. Milluzzo, 62
Beulah R. Allen, 97
Auburn, later living in Charlton and
Sturbridge.
A longtime homemaker and devoted family
woman, “MorMor,” as she was known to her
family, cherished her children, grandchildren
and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed crafting,
and volunteering was a big part of her
later life. She was a member of St. Joseph’s
Parish in Charlton and a former member of
Saint Joseph’s Parish in Auburn.
Her funeral was held Friday, March 28 from
the Britton-Wallace Funeral Home, 91 Central
St., Auburn, with a Funeral Mass celebrated
in Saint Joseph’s Church, 10 H. Putnam Road,
Charlton. Burial followed in Hillside
Cemetery in Auburn.
The family requests that memorial gifts be
sent to Sherry’s House Helping Kids with
Cancer, 1152 Pleasant St., Worcester, MA
01602.
To leaves a message of sympathy for
Gunhild’s family, please visit www.brittonfuneralhomes.com.
School in 1965. She worked at Worcester Tool
& Stamping before retiring due to illness. She
was a member of Greenville Baptist Church
and their Women’s Club. She enjoyed camping,
gardening, bike riding and summers at
Cape Cod.
To all those who knew and loved her, her
strength and determination were an example
to us all. She truly was an Angel on earth.
The funeral was held Monday, March 31 in
Greenville Baptist Church, 674 Pleasant St.,
Rochdale. Burial was in Greenville Baptist
Cemetery. Calling hours were in Morin-
Morrison Funeral Home, 1131 Main St.,
Leicester.
Memorial donations may be made to VNA
Care Hospice, Development Office, 120
Thomas St., Worcester, MA 01608 or
Greenville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 396,
Rochdale, MA 01542.
many years ago. She was a member of the
Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy
Resurrection in Worcester.
The funeral was held Saturday, March 29
from Henry-Dirsa Funeral Home, 33 Ward St.,
Worcester, with a service in the Russian
Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection, 63
Laurel St., Worcester. Burial was in Hope
Cemetery in Worcester.
Memorial contributions may be made to the
Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy
Resurrection, 63 Laurel St., Worcester, MA
01605.
dog, Bruschie.
She was born in Worcester, daughter of
Hugh and Bridget (Scanlon) Hammond, and
graduated from Commerce High School.
Marion worked for J.M. Fields Company
and then the Chess King Company before
retiring. She was a member of St. Pius X
Church. Marion enjoyed gardening and flowers.
A funeral was held Monday, March 31 from
Callahan & Fay Brothers Funeral Home, 61
Myrtle St., Worcester, with a Mass in St. Pius
X Church, 1154 Main St. Internment was in St.
John’s Cemetery in Worcester.
www.callahanfay.com
He grew up and was educated in Worcester,
and has lived in Leicester since 1989.
Paul was a great husband, father, grandfather
and friend who could always be counted
on for anything some one needed. He loved
Las Vegas, gardening and cooking. He will forever
be remembered for his kindness and generosity
to family and friends.
Paul worked for the former Worcester
County Hospital before retiring. He was a
member of the Eastside Improvement Club.
Paul’s funeral was held Friday, March 28
from the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel,
370 Plantation St., with a Mass in Our Lady of
Mount Carmel Church, 24 Mulberry St., both
in Worcester. Burial was in St. John Cemetery.
nephews, and grandnieces and nephews,
“Auntie Boo” always remembered birthdays
and Christmas with a card and personal note.
She delighted in sharing stories of life in
Prescott, and faithfully kept handwritten
notes, pictures and artifacts from those simple
times. Her dry sense of humor, sharp wit,
and gentle nature will be missed.
She graduated from Barre High School and
the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, and
practiced as a registered nurse until her
retirement. She was a member of the Swift
River Valley Historical Society and the
Memorial Hospital Alumnae Association.
There will be a graveside service in
Quabbin Park Cemetery in Ware at 11 a.m.
June 7.
Pillsbury Funeral Home, 44 Gilbert St.,
North Brookfield, is in charge of arrangements.