All Obituaries

ORANGE- Mary Evelyn “Evie” (Creedon) Kima passed away on January 12, 2021 at Buckley Healthcare Center in Greenfield. She was born in Sanford, Maine to James and Ann (Gorman) Creedon on June 26, 1921. She graduated from Sanford High School in 1940. On November 30, 1945, she married Sigmund “Ziggy” Kima, moved to Orange, and they enjoyed 52 years of marriage until his death in 1998. Before retiring as a bookkeeper from L. S. Starrett Company in 1983, she worked in...

ATHOL- Michael went home to be with the Lord early Tuesday morning. He is survived by his son, his friend Michael the 3rd who was the world to him, he was an excellent father while he was in Mikey's life.  He is also survived by his father Michael Sr.  and his wife Patricia, his mother Samantha and her husband Mike. Michael has many siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and many friends that love him dearly. Michael graduated from Athol High School where he was awarded...

ORANGE- Rev. Fred (Frederick) W. “Tomato Freddie” Swedberg, 72, of Moss Brook Road, died on Tuesday Morning, January 5, 2021 at Heywood Hospital in Gardner after a brief battle with renl (kidney) cancer that spread to his lungs. Fred was born in Gardner on February 12, 1948, the son of David O. and Jennie B. (Harmon) Swedberg and grew up in Gardner, graduating from Gardner High School in 1966. In 1971, Fred married Elizabeth “Wibby” (Smith) and they have enjoyed 49...

ORANGE - Bonnie K. (Olson) Hurtle passed away peacefully on January 4, 2021 due to complications while courageously battling melanoma. She was born on August 25, 1944 in Montague, MA, the daughter of John H. Olson, Jr. and Doris (Bourque) Olson. She graduated from St. Pius X Catholic High School in Chamblee, GA in 1962. On June 10, 1967, she married Donald J. Hurtle and they enjoyed 53 years of marriage. Before retiring in 2003, Bonnie worked as a cook at Butterfield Elementary School....

ATHOL- Jerald H. Smith Jr., 83, of Miles Road, died unexpectedly on Sunday evening, January 3, 2021 at Saint Elizabeth Hospital in Boston where he had been taken to earlier. Born in Eureka, Montana on May 26, 1937, he was the son of Jerald H. Sr. and Deloris (Clapper) Smith. Jerald spent most of his life and career in the United States military, including 23 years in the Navy and 36 years at the Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington. Funeral services and interment at the...

LEYDEN- Fay E. (Matthews) Sessions, 59, of North County Road, died on Sunday afternoon, January 3, 2021 at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston following a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Greenfield on February 15, 1961, she was the daughter of the late Glenn T. Matthews Sr. and Rosemary (Bezio) and graduated from Franklin County Technical School in 1979. Fay was married to Todd Sessions. Always a hard worker, Fay had worked for Hudson Lock as well as the fish farm,...

RUTLAND- Kimberly J (Wedge) Gregoire of Rutland MA, passed away on January 1, 2021, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born on Thanksgiving, November 25, 1954 to Raymond and Barbara Wedge (both pre-deceased) of Spencer MA and was a joyful presence to all who knew her. She was a valedictorian graduate of St.Mary’s School and David Prouty High School in Spencer MA (1972), and a suma cum laude graduate of Worcester State University (BS Accounting) and Anna Maria...

NEW SALEM- Robert J. DeSanto, 84, of Daniel Shays Highway, died on Saturday, December 26, 2020 at Heywood Hospital in Gardner. Born on February 16, 1936 in Clyde, New York, he was the son of Octave and Sophie (DeFrank) DeSanto and grew up In New York. On January 5, 1955, Robert enlisted in the United States Navy, serving during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged on December 18, 1958. On July 13, 2011, he married Patricia (Dunshee) whom he had known for many years and they...

Albert R. Hebert   ORANGE- Albert R. “Al” Hebert, 85, of Putnam Street and formerly of Mechanic Street in Athol, died peacefully on Friday evening, December 25, 2020 surrounded by loved ones. Born in Waterville, Maine on January 1, 1935, he was the son of Alphie and Isabelle (Dufault) Hebert. Al was the life partner of Randy Wagner who died on December 8, 2020. They are reunited again in partnership and love. Al served with the United States Navy in Portsmouth , NH as a...

ORANGE- Trudi L. (Benoit) Bigwood, 58, died on Thursday morning, December 24, 2020 at home after a courageous battle with cancer, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Gardner on July 31, 1962, she was the daughter of Kenneth and Carol (White) Benoit and grew up in Athol, attending Athol High School. In July of 1990, Trudi married Steven Bigwood and have enjoyed their 30 years of marriage. Trudi was a dietician assistant at Baldwinville Nursing Home and had previously worked at several...