Folsom Funeral Service

Maurice Conway Burns, Jr., a longtime resident of Dedham, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2024, at the Care Dimensions Hospice Home in Lincoln, MA.  He was 78. Maurice was born August 21, 1946, in Boston, Massachusetts, the beloved son of Maurice C. Burns Sr. and Marian Patricia (Joyce) Doherty. He grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts but especially enjoyed spending his summers on Nantucket throughout his youth where his family owned and ran Lucky Pierre’s, a local restaurant.  Maurice was an athlete his whole life and had fond memories of playing on the baseball fields and tennis courts throughout Brookline. Maurice earned his Bachelor’s Degree from Bentley College and his Master’s Degree from Northeastern University, after having been drafted into the US Army where he served from 1967 to 1969. Maurice worked as a salesman in the wholesale food industry until his retirement 10 years ago.  Prior to that, and his true passion, was working as a political consultant for local campaigns.  Maurice fully embraced his retirement, spending many hours with friends and family on the golf course and traveling with Ellen to every single antique store throughout New England.  He enjoyed golfing at many courses throughout Massachusetts and most recently, as a member of the Needham Country Club.  Being retired also gave him the freedom to attend ALLLL his grandchildren’s activities and sporting events.  He was always found cheering on his grandchildren from the sidelines, ready to offer both words of encouragement and words of “advice.”  Much to everyone’s amusement, he truly embraced becoming a “Dance Grampa.”  Maurice cherished his friendships throughout his life but had a special place in his heart for his lifetime Brookline crew, the YaYa’s, the Riverdale and Dedham community, especially the Riverside Drive Family, Uncle Bob, as well as cousins from both the Burns and Kreutel families.  Maurice is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ellen L. (Kreutel) Burns; his children, Timothy P. Burns, and his wife Lilah, of Foxboro, and Megan E. DiBella, and her husband Anthony, of Franklin; his sisters, Vaughan Nesslar and Terry Vivenzio; and his grandchildren, Emily and AJ DiBella, Luke Brookfield, and Fiona Burns. He was the brother of the late Owen Burns, and the late Marian Burns. Visiting hours will be held Thursday, November 21st from 4 to 8 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Mass Friday, November 22nd at 9 am at St. Susanna’s Church, 262 Needham Street, Dedham with a reception to follow. Private interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Proctor, Vermont. Donations to Beth Israel Lahey Health, c/o Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Office of Philanthropy, 529 Main Street, 4th Floor, Charlestown, MA 02129 would be appreciated.

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Irene Alice (McNeil) Seale, 95, of Dedham, passed away peacefully of natural causes on October 21, 2024 at Advinia Care Newton Wellesley, Wellesley, MA.

Irene is predeceased by her parents, Lawrence and Irene McNeil of Boston; her husband of 44 years, David M. Seale of Dedham, MA; her ex-husband, Gaetano Pistone of Chelsea, MA; her sister, Shirley Voorhees of Citrus Height, CA; her brother, Lawrence McNeil of Methuen, MA; her brother, John McNeil of Somerville, MA; her daughter, Linda Curcio of Chelsea, MA; her sons, Paul Pistone of Saugus, MA, & Gaetano Pistone Jr. of Chelsea, MA; and; her grandson, Michael Curcio of Chelsea, MA.

 Irene is survived by her loving family;  her brother, William McNeil of Hampstead, NH; 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.  She is also survived by her husband David’s family of 6 children, 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. 

We are forever grateful to Folsom’s Funeral Home in Dedham, MA.   A private joint burial and memorial gathering is planned for the immediate family at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, MA.

The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, friends and loved ones make a donation in Irene’s name to the Alzheimer Association  (https://www.alz.org/ ).

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Jane (Gordon) Brace of Concord, MA and long-time resident of Dover, MA died peacefully with family by her side on October 26, 2024. She was 88 years old.

Born in Bridgeport, CT to Albert Benedict Gordon and Frances (Jennings) Gordon, Jane was the beloved wife of Richard G. Brace for 55 years, who predeceased her in 2018. Jane is survived by her daughter: Lindsey Brace Martinez, and husband Peter of Dedham, and her son: Richard “Rick” G. Brace, Jr., and wife Marlayne of Dover: sister Cynthia Gordon of Natick, and brother Robert Gordon, and his wife Meg of Nevada City, CA. Jane was a proud grandmother to four grandchildren: Katrina Brace Harper, Nathan D. Brace, McQuillen B. Martinez and Rhodes M. Martinez.

Jane spent her earliest years in Connecticut and then moved to Pennsylvania and attended Abington High School where she was head majorette for the marching band. She went on to get her B.A. in Sociology at Wheaton College and while there was active in school government and an enthusiastic member of the Tritons, the synchronized swimming team. She continued to be an active alumna of the college throughout her life.

After graduating from Wheaton in 1958, Jane moved to Boston and began working at IBM as one of the first women in its management training program. Jane loved living on Beacon Hill with friends, and it was there that through a local social club and mutual friends, she met Richard “Dick” Brace. Dick was smitten with Jane from the first day he met her. They married in 1964 and moved to Dover, MA to start a family.

 Jane was an active member in the community, joining the Junior League of Boston and the Noanet Garden Club. Following an interest in architecture, she went to work as a residential real estate broker and became one of the best in the business. During her 40-year career, she worked tirelessly for her clients and received multiple sales awards. She was passionate about her work and built long and lasting friendships with colleagues and clients. Jane cared greatly about conservation and was a member of Dover’s open space committee.

Jane was an extrovert, liked to stay active, learn and keep her mind sharp. She played tennis every week for years with friends at the Dedham Country and Polo Club, was in an investment club and book club, and played bridge and mahjong. She had impeccable style, beautiful blue eyes and a wonderful sense of humor. Many of her happiest moments were spent in Northport, Maine in the summer with her family. She braved the cold water of Penobscot Bay, played golf at nearby Megunticook Golf Club and, as an already accomplished cook, mastered the art of making a fantastic blueberry pie. She was a caring mother and grandmother, wonderful role model and a woman of poise and grace. She will be greatly missed.

Funeral Services will be held on January 4th, 2:00 pm at the Duvall Chapel located at 80 Deaconess Road Concord, MA. Interment will private. In lieu of flowers, please send gifts in Jane’s honor to the Wheaton College general fund – https://give.wheatoncollege.edu/in-loving-memory. For obituary and guest book please visit www.folsomfuneral.com.

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Jenot Warner Shipley, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, died peacefully, surrounded by family, on Saturday, October 26, 2024 of complications from lymphoma.

Born in Cleveland, Ohio on July 12, 1942, to Whitney Warner, Jr. and Elizabeth Alvira White Warner, Jensie is survived by her husband of 61 years, William Upjohn Shipley, MD. Jensie attended Mount Holyoke College and earned her degree in Mathematics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1965. She went on to do research at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary studying the inner workings of the ear.

Known for her warm, easy smile and tireless energy in service to others, Jensie brought her keen mind and talent for organization and philanthropy to many charitable organizations. She served for 20 years as a founding leader of The Friends of the MGH Cancer Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, a patient advocacy group, and was instrumental in the creation of The Howard Ulfelder, MD, Healing Garden where she spent some of her last hours. She served on the Development Committee for Steps to Success, a program that promotes equity for students from low-income families in Brookline, MA where the Shipley’s family home was located.  She was a fixture each summer at the Chatham Yacht Club, where she had first met Bill in 1960.

An avid tennis player, talented quilt-maker, and joyful family-vacation-planner, Jensie’s lifelong love for sailing inspired perhaps her greatest commitment outside of her family: to conservation efforts in Chatham, MA, site of the family’s summer home.  Through Friends of Pleasant Bay, Jensie was a donor and passionate advocate for the preservation of the natural beauty of Cape Cod.

Jensie’s greatest joy in life was her family, and she took enormous pride in her children and grandchildren. She is survived by her three daughters: Karen Shipley Taylor and her husband, Gary Taylor; Barbara Elizabeth Shipley (Barb) and her husband, Paul Lamoreux; and Gwendolyn Cary Shipley (Gwen) and her husband, Kevin DiRocco. She was also the proud grandmother to eight grandchildren, each of whom she cherished deeply: Charles Shipley Taylor Hartley (Charlie) and his husband, Finley Hartley (Fin); Gwendolyn Guion Taylor (Wendy); Theodore Jenot Taylor (Theo); Karina Coralie Lamoreux; Cody Baker Lamoreux; Tucker William Lamoreux; Camille Elizabeth DiRocco (Millie); and Adam Joseph DiRocco (AJ). Jensie is also survived by her sister, Emily Warner Craig.

A Celebration of Life will be held on June 30th, 2025 in Chatham, MA. Please check this website for details. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Jensie’s honor can be sent to The Friends of Pleasant Bay.

Links:

plamoreux.smugmug.com/Jensie

www.friendsofpleasantbay.org 

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Donald Gordon MacLeod Jr., a resident of Dedham, died Saturday, October 26, 2024 at his home in Dedham. He was 80. Donald was born February 11, 1944 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Donald Gordon Sr., and Charlotte Gertrude (Pierce) MacLeod. He graduated from Dedham High School with the Class of 1961. Donald enlisted in the US Army in September of that same year and was honorably discharged three years later from the 82nd Administrative Company. He worked as a plumber and was the co-owner of C & D Plumbing and Heating in Waltham. Donald was an avid golfer and a longtime member of the Wampatuck Country Club in Canton. He also enjoyed hanging out with friends, socializing and watching sports at the Canton Town Club. Donald was the husband of the late Marilyn Ruth (Petherick) MacLeod and is survived by his son Donald R. MacLeod, and his spouse Heather J., of Novi, Michigan; his daughter, Heather Mae MacLeod, and her spouse Jeffrey R. Wentworth of Saco, Maine; his two brothers, Arthur H. MacLeod of Belmont, and Robert P. MacLeod of Ashburnham; as well of his three grandchildren, Andrew M. MacLeod, Jacob R. MacLeod, and Jordan J. Wentworth. He was the grandfather of the late Mallory R. Morgan. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Service Friday, November 15, 2024 at 11:30 am at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham. Private interment will be in Havens Cemetery in South Royalton, Vermont. In lieu of flowers donations to the American Cancer Society, 3 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701 or online at donate.cancer.org would be appreciated.

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John “Jack” Nelson Corish, Sr., a resident of Dedham since 1960, died Wednesday, October 23, 2024 at the Faulkner Hospital in Boston after a long illness. He was 87. Jack was born June 29, 1937 in Norwood, Massachusetts the son of John William and Irene Florence (Smith) Corish. He earned his associate degree from Northeastern University in Boston. Jack started his career at age 16 with Stop & Shop and rose through the ranks to become an Assistant Price Administrator. He retired in 1999. Jack enjoyed barbershop quartet singing, fishing on the Westport River, and sang with the Bay State Statesmen. He was also a member of Celestial Lodge AF & AM, and an active member of Christ Church in Hyde Park. Jack was the husband of the late Marjorie Elizabeth Corish who predeceased him in 2001. He was the father of Jeffrey W. Corish of Franklin, Jennifer E. Corish of Westport and Andy, and the late John N. Corish Jr. , and the brother of Lois Myers of Norwood. Jack was the grandfather of Nicole, Tommy “TJ”, Aaron, David and Abbigail, and the great grandfather of Rita and Anthony. He also leaves behind his best friends Pat, Flo, Father Ben and Father Noble.  Visiting hours will be held Monday, October 28th from 5 to 8 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Jack’s funeral Tuesday, October 29th at 10 am at the Christ Church, 1220 River Street, Hyde Park followed by interment in Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham.

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Peter Hugo Karl Fein went home to be with the Lord on October 17, 2024. He was 89 years old. Peter was married for 62 years to Christa (Werk) Fein who preceded him in death in May, 2023. He is survived by his six children: Catherine, Elke (Nelson), Susan (Don), Elisabeth (Peter), Peter (Avni), Stephanie; and 11 grandchildren.Peter was born on August 11, 1935, in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. He grew up in East Germany during the tumultuous years of World War II and briefly lived in West Germany afterward. At 17, shortly after graduating from high school, Peter inspired his family to move to the United States. He took great pride in becoming a U.S. citizen and soon after, he enlisted in the National Guard, where he served for eight years.Peter studied Mechanical Engineering at Columbia and McGill Universities, earning respect in his field early in his career. From 1956 to 1993, he worked for several prominent mechanical engineering firms before starting his own company, Industrial Piping and Certified Welding Co. Peter found deep fulfillment in his work and was admired by his employees, customers, and suppliers. His passion for his craft kept him actively engaged in the business, and he didn’t retire until the age of 80.

In his younger years, Peter was an avid long-distance cyclist, a passionate soccer player, and enjoyed fishing trips with his uncles in Toledo. In 1958, he met Christa on a blind date in New York City. They were married on June 17, 1961, in College Point, NJ. As an adult, Peter cultivated his love for photography and music, learning to play the accordion, violin, and piano. He had a powerful bass voice and was known to blast his record albums on weekend mornings to wake up his kids! A skilled ballroom dancer, Peter especially loved to polka and waltz with Christa at the Boylston Schul-Verein in Walpole.

Peter was an enthusiastic WWE wrestling fan and never turned down a game of canasta or rummy. Known for his strong opinions and great sense of humor, Peter also had a deep faith in God. He loved reading the Bible and sharing his beliefs with others. Above all, he was immensely proud of his large family. He will be greatly missed.

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We are heartbroken by the loss of our father, Sivarama Krishnamurti Gummuluru.  We are honored to reflect on his life with you today.  He lived for 91 years, 61 of which were with his wife Usha: a life that was filled with love, happiness, and joy. 

Our father / Nannagaru/ Mavaigaru / Tata is remembered very fondly and respectfully by many as how he and his wife (our mother) provided a helpful hand, shared their home, supported their nieces and nephews, and extended their love for family and friends in a gracious manner. He was known as a kind, loyal, gracious, and pious man. Our father was a devout, honest and a deeply committed person who touched many lives, as evidenced by the number of condolence messages that have poured in from all over the world.

His life journey started in Koilkuntla, a small village in Andhra Pradesh.  His father and mother were Ramamurti and Suryadamma. His upbringing was in several places in Andhra and Tamil Nadu, but eventually Vishakapatnam was considered the family home. He was one of seven siblings with five brothers and two sisters.

He completed his studies including his bachelor and master’s degrees in Andhra University. After completing his Ph.D in Physics at Jadavpur University in Calcutta in 1961, he had an illustrious career working in India Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) in Delhi, India. In October of 1965, he spent six months in Madison, WI and six months in Riverside, CA working as an academic fellow on a Rockefeller Scholarship.  Many of his students to this day remember him respectfully for his subject matter knowledge in Soil Physics and continued to correspond with him. We are blessed as our father and mother created a community of family and friends for us in Delhi, far away from their own parents and siblings. 

He took an early retirement and made a bold decision to move to Canada in his 50s to re-initiate his professional career. He did so to provide a better future for his daughter and son. Our father continued his professional travels on this second career by working in Australia and Italy where he again made a lot of friends.

He was an extremely social person who enjoyed playing cards with friends, watching sports (especially tennis and football!), enjoying a good old-fashioned Andhra Bhojanam (meal) with family during all religious festivals.  He enjoyed spending time with his grandkids playing cards and board games.  He was a deeply religious man with deep knowledge of Hindu traditions and mantras, serving as a guide for many family religious ceremonies. He enjoyed creating a genealogy chart of the family and encouraged all to connect.

He is survived by wife, Usha Devi; his daughter, Sailaja and son-in-law, Dilip. His son, Suryaram, and daughter-in-law, Sudha. His four grandchildren who were the lights of his life:  Ramya and her spouse KC, Anjali and her spouse Alex, and Divya and Roshan. 

He is survived by three siblings.  His elder sister, Mrs. Padmini Vulimiri, and younger sister, Mrs. Brahmaramba Manda and brother-in-law, Mr. Ramachandra Rao Manda, and his younger brother and his sister-in-law, Dr. GVRK Sharma and Uma Sharma. There are also many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and nephews, and many more extended family members and friends who are family.

“Some people spread happiness wherever they go, others create happiness wherever they go!” – The Gita

In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests you donate to the American Lung Association in honor of Sivarama Krishnamurti Gummuluru.

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Charles Earle Briggs, a longtime resident of Norwood died unexpectedly on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Needham. He was 85

Charlie was born October 14th, 1938 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of William Earle and Mary Margaret (Daley) Briggs. He graduated high school from Tabor Academy and went on to study at Maine Maritime Academy, graduating in 1960. After graduating MMA, Charlie returned and sailed as a watch officer on the school training ship.
Charlie was a dedicated Freemason of 65 years, having joined Hancock
Lodge #4 in Castine, Maine while a midshipman at Maine Maritime
Academy, and later joined Orient Lodge in his hometown of Norwood, MA.
He served in numerous roles over the years, including District Deputy
Grand Master of the 4th Masonic District of Maine, Master of Orient
Lodge, and Grand Organist for Grand Lodge in Maine. A self taught organist, he most enjoyed traveling throughout Massachusetts and Maine to serve as organist for many Masonic ceremonies. Among the countless accolades for his service, he rose to the level of 33rd degree, an honor bestowed on few Masons.
Charlie had a passion for adventure, as was evident by his countless world
trips, ranging from going on an African safari to riding the Orient Express
throughout Asia. He had an interest in trains and frequently enjoyed taking
cross country trips, sometimes in a private rail car.
An avid lover of music, Charlie was particularly drawn to the theatre organ
after seeing the organ at Radio City Music Hall during a Christmas show.
He was an active member of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS),
Eastern Massachusetts Chapter of ATOS, and the Pine Tree Chapter of
ATOS. He frequently traveled to organ conventions and concerts around
the country, and was well known in the theatre organ community for his
ardent support of the instrument; in particular, fostering new talent. As a
member, then later President, of the Eastern Massachusetts Chapter, he
sponsored an annual “Young Organist Concert” at Babson College on the
Chapter’s Wurlitzer Organ. Many organists he invited are now among the
top in the field today. In recognition of his decades of tireless support,
Charlie was awarded the 2023 “Member of the Year” by the American
Theatre Organ Society.

Charlie was the owner/operator of C.A. Briggs, Company, a candy manufacturing firm started by his father. They started out in Cambridge and later moved the operation to Norwood. He moved out of the candy business and for 40 years worked in the trucking and transport industry fir C&D Warehouse Cartage, a company he started and operated with his friend and partner David Mullin.

Visiting hours will be held Friday, october 18th from 6 to 8 pm at the Folsom & May Funeral Home, 85 Nichols Street, Norwood with a Masonic Service by Orient Lodge, AF & AM of Norwood at 7 ‘o clock. A Graveside service will e held Saturday at 10 am at Highland Cemetery on Winter Street in Norwood. In lieu of flowers donations to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom Street, Boston, MA 02114 would please Charlie.

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Daniel Leonard, Jr., 89, died on October 11, 2024 in Westwood, MA. Dan was born in Evanston, IL in 1935, the first child of Daniel Leonard II and Sarah May Morey Leonard. He grew up in Winnetka, IL at “Wildacre,” the family home. He was an Eagle Scout, graduated from New Trier High School, Amherst College and earned an MBA from the University of Chicago. In 1959 he married “the most beautiful girl in Chicago,“ Elizabeth Anne Dix Chamberlain, “Betty.“ Together, they raised three children in Chicago, Winnetka, IL, Ridgewood, NJ, and finally Amherst, NH.

Dan started his career as an early computer geek in Chicago, with IBM, McKinsey & Co., and founding Teledata Corp., a pioneer in digital banking services in the 1960’s. Later, he worked for Citibank in New York City, taught at Bentley College and did management and career consulting in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Dan was open, accepting, gracious and charming. Some have described him by stating simply “he was an embrace.” He was intellectually gifted, a walking encyclopedia, and a lifetime member of Mensa. He was a lifetime learner who enjoyed studying science, poetry, history and world cultures, and experimented with composting long before it became popular. He was known as the family historian, outdoorsman and fixer-upper, with a quick wit and MANY hobbies.

Among his favorite places in the world was “Wa Awa,” the family Adirondack camp built by his grandfather, who fell in love with the site in the 1800’s.  An avid woodsman, he enjoyed the mix of wilderness, time with family, tranquility and an active cocktail party schedule. 

Dan was committed to family and genealogy, excited to discover new relatives, living or deceased. He and Betty enjoyed genealogical research, taking trips which they described as “going to dig up dead ancestors!“ and tracing several lines through colonial New England and dating back more than six centuries, including Charlemagne! Dan loved to welcome new family members, and at some point in the conversation, would pull a folded piece of paper and a mechanical pencil from his pocket and jot down their info for his database. He put people at ease with his warmth and signature sense of humor.

In 2014, Dan and Betty left their NH home of 40 years and moved to Fox Hill Village in Westwood. In his last days, a grandson asked him to identify the best period of his life. He responded with “Fox Hill Village! I am surrounded by great people, who care about each other. What could be better?” He participated in clubs, took (and taught) classes, wrote for The Fox and had breakfast with his “men’s breakfast group,” the highlight of his day. He approached everyone, residents and staff, with the same respect and curiosity. If someone spoke with an accent, Dan wanted to hear about their heritage and learn a few words of their language so that he could greet them properly the next time.

Our hearts are broken, but we are forever grateful for his impact on our collective lives. Dan is survived by Betty, his wife of 64 years; sister Sarah Krepp, (Carter Howard); three children, Ashley Leonard, Elizabeth “Bonnie“ Leonard (Christina Toro), Danford Leonard (Robin St. Germain); five grandchildren, Danford “Ford,” May, Anne, Ian and Christopher Leonard; a niece, Caroline Krepp O’Malley; a nephew, Charles “Chad” Krepp and several beloved godchildren.

A memorial service will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, October 19, 2024 at:

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church

59 Court Street

Dedham, MA.

The Church Service will be livestreamed. It may be accessed thru the St. Paul’s Church website athttps://youtube.com/live/JmE3r51MEVghttps://youtube.com/live/JmE3r51MEVg

There will be a second memorial service in Winnetka, Illinois in the coming months where Dan’s ashes will be interred with those of his parents

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Dan to the Fox Hill Village Appreciation Fund.  The fund is shared by the Fox Hill Village staff, with whom a mutual feeling of kindness and respect was shared.  Checks should include a memo indicating Leonard Appreciation Donation, and sent to:

Fox Hill Village

10 Longwood Drive

Westwood, MA  02090

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