All Obituaries

NEW SALEM- Clinton C. Goodnow passed peacefully on October 18th, 2020 surrounded by his loving family at his home in New Salem at the age of 81.  Clinton was born to Helen (Anderson) and Clarence Goodnow on June 23, 1939 in Gardner.  Known by most as Clint, he graduated from Orange High School in 1957 and graduated from East Coast Aerotech in 1959.  He was employed by L.S. Starrett Co. in Athol for 37 years, most recently in Special Gauge.  Clint loved the...

WENDELL- James C. LaClaire Sr., 85, of Mountain Laurel Road, died unexpectedly on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Athol Hospital after being stricken ill. Born in Leverett on January 18, 1935, he was a son of Joseph and Harriet (Bourne) LaClaire. James had been married to Marion (Calcari). James started his working career by logging with his father, later going to work at the Rodney Hunt Company in Orange. After several years at Rodney Hunt, he went on to work at the Erving Paper Mill...

MONTAGUE- Dr. Allen Ross died the morning of October 13 at the age of 77 in the company of his children at Quabbin Valley Healthcare, Athol.  Born February 15, 1943 to Harold and Mary Ross in Norwich CT. In his childhood, Allen was a little league player, and sailor in Long Island Sound.  He attended Andover Academy, and Oberlin College, where he starred in the play The Hairy Ape by Eugene O’Neil. Allen attended Georgetown Medical School and started as an Infectious Disease...

ORANGE- Jorene A. (Lachance) Drew, 78, of Dusty Lane, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 7, 2020 at home surrounded by her loving family. Born in Gardner on May 18, 1942, she was the daughter of Joseph A. and Irene (Duguay) Lachance and grew up in Athol and graduated from Athol High School in 1960. In 1968 she married John L. Drew and they have enjoyed 52 years of marriage and raising a family. Jorene had worked at Erving Paper Mill from 1960- 1967, followed by a brief time with...

ORANGE- On October 5, 2020 Dolores M. “Lolly” Belloli, devoted mother, and matriarch of five generations, passed away at the age of 95. Dolores was born on December 2, 1924 in South Portland, Maine to Clarence and Gladys (Connors) Theobald. She graduated from Kennebunk High School in 1942, and in December, 1942, she married Everett “Pete” Belloli. They had seven children and lived in Orange most of their married life. Her strong Christian faith guided Dolores’...

ATHOL- Roland “Papa’ Gamache, age 68 of Athol, passed away suddenly but peacefully in his sleep on Friday, October 2, 2020. He was born on October 18, 1951 to Roland Gamache Sr. and Priscilla (Ware) Gamache in Orange, MA. Roland graduated from Ralph C. Mahar Regional School in 1970 where he played football as a lineman for the Mahar Senators. After graduation he began working for Plotkin’s Furniture. One day he delivered a bunk bed to a Ms. Barbara Collins and it was love...

ATHOL- John Wray “Johnny” Kramer, 59, of Partridgeville Road, passed on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 peacefully in his home surrounded by family after a long battle with MAC and a brief but courageous battle with cancer. He was born February 3, 1961 in Norwood to Edward and Diane (Glynn) Kramer. He grew up in Weymouth and attended Weymouth High with the class of 1979. John served in the United States Army from 1979-1983 and was honorably discharged. He was a manager for...

ATHOL- Mrs. Sheila Rosaire (Dimond) Merrifield, of Athol, MA, passed away at Heywood Hospital in Gardner, MA on Sunday, September 27, 2020 at the age of 82. Sheila is survived by her husband, Erwin “Pete” Merrifield of Athol, MA; her daughters Cindy Merrifield, of Denver, CO and grandson Zachary of Ocoee, FL and Jennifer (Tom) Cardinal, of Athol, MA and grandson Colin of New York City; she was also predeceased by her son, Ralph. She is also survived by her brothers Frank...

ORANGE- Richard “Rick” Allen Jess Sr., 60, of East Road, died unexpectedly on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Athol Hospital after being stricken ill earlier at home. Born in Fitchburg on August 17, 1960, he was the son of Richard and June (Dame) Jess. Rick leaves his wife of 43 years, Tina (Boudreau) Jess of Orange; his children, Richard Allen Jess Jr. and his wife, Jessica, and William Jess and his wife, Allyshya, all of Winchendon, and Kristen Archambault and her husband,...

WARWICK- Helen C. Hoffman, 101, of Old Winchester Road and formerly of Newton and Needham, died Friday, September 25, 2020 at Athol Hospital. Born in Newton Highlands on November 18, 1918, she was a daughter of Col. Herman R. Hoffman and Mabel (Woodworth) Hoffman. Helen moved to Needham Heights in 1960 and stayed until 2019 then moved to Warwick, MA to live with her niece Nancy. Helen worked for the MBTA of Boston her whole life till she retired at age 62. She was a member of the Newton...