Obituary: Father John T. Swencki, pastor in Whitman, rector in Sudbury
Ipswich native and son of Sacred Heart (Polish) Parish, Father John T. Swencki died at Mary Immaculate Health Care, Lawrence, on Aug. 22, 2026. Born on...
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Obituaries & Death Notices
Obituary: Msgr. Joseph G. Lind, Boston's oldest priest, former pastor in Wellesley
Boston's oldest priest, Msgr. Joseph G. Lind, died on July 17, 2026, at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston. Born in Newton on Oct. 24, 1927, he...
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Obituary: Father Donald G. Lozier, OMI, former Lowell pastor, Missionary Oblate
Father Donald G. Lozier, OMI, died on July 22, 2026, at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Residence, Tewksbury. He was born in Leominster, son of the late Azade...
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Obituary: Father Herbert (J.) Jones, O.Carm., Methuen native, missionary
Father Herbert J. Jones, O.Carm., died on June 30, 2026, in his hometown of Methuen. He was born to the late Herbert Augustine Jones and Mary Margaret...
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Obituary: Father Vincent J. Gianni, Lawrence native, senior priest
A proud native of Lawrence, born in the "Immigrant City" on July 6, 1943, he was one of the two sons of the late Vincent and Rose (Rapisardi) Gianni. In...
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Death Notices
Richard C. Appleyard
Richard C. Appleyard (Aug. 22) in Melrose. Funeral service celebrated Sept. 12 for the husband of Elizabeth (LaSpina) Appleyard; father of Stephen, Jane Allen, and David, all of Melrose; and brother of the late Father Joseph Appleyard, SJ. Committal was private.
Sister Rita (Marie Rita-du-Sauveur) Blais, SSA
Sister Rita (Marie Rita-du-Sauveur) Blais, SSA (Aug. 19) in Marlborough. Funeral Mass celebrated Aug. 24 at Saint Anne Convent Chapel, Marlborough, for the daughter of the late Domina and Delima (Benoit) Blais. During 68 years of religious life, Sister Rita served in congregational assignments in Quebec, QC; Ind.; R.I.; Attleborough; Paxton; Turners Falls; Worcester; and, locally, at Saint John the Evangelist (French), Newton; and Saint Anne Convent, Marlborough. Sister Rita was buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Marlborough.
Father Joseph A. Ruggeri
Father Joseph A. Ruggeri (Aug. 13) in Lauderhill, Fla. Private funeral celebrated for the son of the late Anthony and Antoinetta (Grillo) Ruggeri, and brother of Constance Poliquin, Raymond, N.H. Ordained in 1965 of the Xaverian Missionaries, he was incardinated into the archdiocese in 1990. He served at Blessed Sacrament, Wakefield, and Saint Margaret of Scotland, Lowell, prior to his retirement in 2004. Committal services were private.
Sister Noella (Mary Eileen) Garcia, SMSM
Sister Noella (Mary Eileen) Garcia, SMSM (Aug. 16) in Wellesley. Funeral Mass celebrated Aug. 24 at Marist Sisters Chapel, Waltham, for the daughter of the late Rafael Garcia and Arcadia (Villareal) Garcia. During 61 years of religious life, Sister Noella served in congregational assignments in Colombia; Peru; Tenn.; Texas; and, locally, at Marist Sisters, Waltham. Sister Noella was buried in Saint Patrick Cemetery, Watertown.
Mrs. Maria E. (Portillo) de Pena
Mrs. Maria E. (Portillo) de Pena (Aug. 14) in Chelsea. Funeral Mass celebrated Aug. 20 at Saint Monica Church, Methuen, for the wife of Santiago, Chelsea; and mother of Father Marcos Portillo Pena, Saint Lucy and Saint Monica Parishes, Methuen; Hugo; Douglas; Elmer; Williams; Juan Carlos, and Ronald, all of Chelsea. Mrs. Pena was buried in her native El Salvador.
Father Ronald G. DesRosiers, SM
Father Ronald G. DesRosiers, SM (Aug. 9) in Framingham. Funeral Mass celebrated Aug. 13 at Saint George Church, Framingham, for the son of the late Aurele and Evelyn (Theroux) DesRosiers; and brother of Anne Bouchard, Harpswell, Maine. During 63 years of priestly ministry, Father DesRosiers served in assignments of the Marist Fathers and Brothers in Canada; France; Italy; Senegal; New Zealand; Ill.; Mich.; Minn.; and, locally, at Maryvale Seminary, Bedford; and Marist College and Seminary, Framingham. Father DesRosiers was buried in Saint John the Baptist Cemetery, Brunswick, Maine.
Brother Rene D. Roy, FMS
Brother Rene D. Roy, FMS (Aug. 3) in Lawrence. Funeral Mass celebrated Aug. 6 at Saint Theresa of Lisieux Church, Methuen, for the son of the late Rene and Rita (Bourget) Roy, and brother of Raymond, Lawrence. During 66 years of religious life, Brother Rene served in congregational assignments in Rwanda; Switzerland; Ind.; N.Y.; S. Dak.; W. Va.; and, locally, at Marist Brothers Novitiate, Tyngsborough; and Central Catholic High, Lawrence. Brother Rene was buried in Marist Brothers Cemetery Esopus, N.Y.
Josephine (Alexander) Hardy
Josephine (Alexander) Hardy (Aug. 3) in Lynn. Funeral Mass celebrated Aug. 10 at Sacred Heart Church, Lynn, for the wife of Deacon John W. Hardy '77, Lynn, and mother of Carolan, Donna Ekstrom, and MaryJo Bembenek, all of Lynn; and sister of Shirley DeRoche, Lynn. Mrs. Hardy was buried in Saint Mary Cemetery, Lynn.
