Folsom Funeral Service

Robert Averill Murray, Jr., a resident of Newton, died Saturday, February 5, 2022 at the Belmont Manor Nursing Home in Belmont, MA. He was 87. Robert was born January 21, 1935 in Boston, Massachusetts, a son of Robert A. and Mary (Emmart) Murray Sr. He served in the US Navy for four years and returned to civilian life to spend 26 years working as a mechanic for the MBTA until his retirement in 1991. He is survived by his brother, Stephen E. Murray of Marstons Mills, and his sister, Priscilla Griggs of St. Augustine, Florida. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his graveside service Saturday, April 2, 2022 at Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston.

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Anna Louise Baker, a resident of New Pond Village of Walpole for the past eight years, formerly of Medfield for nine years and Westwood for almost fifty years, died Friday March 4, 2022. She was 96 years old. Louise (known to close friends as Squeak) was born October 19, 1925, in Glenridge, NJ, the daughter of Michael K. and Edith (Clegg) Zabaunik. She attended Great Barrington High School and the State Teachers College of North Adams. Upon graduation, Louise taught the 1949 sixth grade class at the Phelps School in Agawam. As a testament to Louise’s impact on them, many of those students recently re-connected, visited, reminisced, and remained in contact with her. Louise married Joseph N. Baker, Jr. in 1949 and moved closer to Boston as Joe began his career in banking. They eventually settled in Westwood where they raised a family. Louise later returned to teaching first and second grade at the Pine Hill School (now the Hanlon School) in Westwood until her retirement. Louise loved children, her own and her students. In her spare time, she was an avid reader, she hooked rugs, and she knitted hats, mittens, and scarves for family as well as for the Allin Church craft fairs. Louise loved golden retrievers, and her family had many of them. Walks in the woods with her dogs always made her happy. Louise and Joe loved Bermuda for their annual vacations, and their home in Woodstock, VT was always a happy destination for family and friends. Louise was on the curling team at Brae Burn Country Club for several years, a sport she loved. Louise spent her final years at New Pond Village, enjoying the company of old friends, and making new ones. Wife of the late Joseph N. Baker Jr., mother of the late Kevin M. Baker, and sister of the late Sonia Wallaston. Louise is survived by her daughter Pamela Millard of Dover and her former son-in-law John Millard of VT. Friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Saturday, March 26^th at 10 AM at the Allin Congregational Church in Dedham. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306, supporting families of American heroes-fallen, first responders and wounded veterans, or the Animal Rescue League of Boston, c/o Development, 10 Anna’s Place, Dedham, MA 02026. Both charities also have online donation ability.

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Patricia Theresa (Mercier) Oakes, a longtime resident of Hyde Park, died Friday, March 11, 2022 at Newbridge on the Charles in Dedham. She was 96. Patricia was born February 1, 1926 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the daughter of Joseph and Alexina (Gaudette) Mercier. She trained as a nurse for three years at St. Vincent Hospital in Worcester from where she graduated in 1946, and worked at the Jamaica Plain Veterans Administration, and the Rutland Veteran’s Facility before stepping out on her own to do private nursing duty for shut-ins. She was a proud member of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Patricia was the wife of the late Walter J. Oakes, and the sister of the late Andrew Mercier, and the late Joseph Mercier. She is survived by her son, Thomas Oakes of Weymouth; her daughter, Nancy Ellen Oakes of Cambridge; and her granddaughter, Savanna Walsh of Brighton. Visiting hours will be held Wednesday, March 16, 2022 from 8:30 to 10:30 am at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham, MA 02026 followed by her Funeral Mass in Most Precious Blood Church, 25 Maple Street, Hyde Park. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.

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Charles Edward Obin, Sr., a resident of Dedham, passed away on March 10, 2022 at the age of 86. Born in Boston, the son of George and Bernice (Mackey) Haar. Mr. Obin was the beloved husband of Carol E. (Masters) Obin and dear father of Charles E. Obin, Jr. of Canton, Carl Obin and his wife Teresa of Randolph, Clifford Obin and Carin Obin, both of Dedham. He is also survived by his grandson, Jacob Obin and his family. He was the brother of the late Mary Packer. Interment will be private. A Memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2022 at 10:00 AM at the Church of the Good Shepherd. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd, 62 Cedar St., Dedham, MA 02026 or to a charity of your choice.

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Edwin Eugene Waite, know by all as “Bud”, died Sunday, March 6, 2022 at the Sophia Snow House in West Roxbury. He was 96. Bud was born October 22, 1925 in Millis, Massachusetts, one of the five children of Eugene Edwin and Flossie (Saltmarsh) Waite. He was inducted into the Army in 1944 and served for two years as a Private First Class in the 60th Infantry Regiment of the 65th Infantry Division, in Company F. He was awarded the Bronze Star for his heroic and meritorious service in the Rhineland and Central Europe. Bud was also awarded the French Legion of Honor Award with the rank of Chevalier. It is the highest honor of merit bestowed by the French Government and dates back to 1802 when it was established by Napoleon Bonaparte. After the end of the war Bud returned to Millis to finish his high school classes and was honored in a special ceremony to grant him his high school diploma. Bud worked as a systems analyst for the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles and helped in the transition from paper documents to computerization. He was a member of the Stratford Street Baptist Church (now the Stratford Street United Church) where he married Minetta May Forward in 1955 and has remained active in many positions at the church. Bud volunteered in the Walk for Hunger for Project Bread for 25 years, raising over $25,000. He was a member and Past President of the 65th Infantry Division Association, and a two time Past Commander of the American Legion Post 208 in Millis. Bud was the husband of the late Minette M. (Forward) Waite who predeceased him in 2020, and the brother of the late Kenneth Waite, Carlene Perry, Flossie Johnson, and Myrtle Purrington. He is survived by his daughter, Beverly Waite Greenberg of Watertown; his two sons, Arthur W. Waite, and his wife Mary, of Dedham, and Douglas E. Waite, and his wife Anita, of Walpole; two grandchildren, Allison and Alex Greenberg; and many beloved nieces and nephews, and their families. Visiting hours will be held Friday, March 11th, 2022 from 4 to 7 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral Saturday March 12th at 10 am at the Stratford Street United Church, 77 Stratford Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 followed by interment with military honors at the Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery, Baker Street, West Roxbury. Masks are suggested at the funeral home and at church. Donations to the Accessibility Fund at the Stratford Street United Church (address above) would be appreciated.

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Walter Charles Nee, a lifelong Dedham resident, died Tuesday, March 1, 2022 at Wind Rose at Weymouth. He was 87. Butchie was born August 31, 1934 in Boston, Massachusetts, a son of Francis Joseph Sr. and Ida K. (Schnell) Nee. He enlisted in the Navy in 1952 and served on the USS Coral Sea until his honorable discharge in 1954. Walter worked as a carpenter for the Town of Dedham in the Parks and Recreation Department. He is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Nee, and her partner Corey Merritt, of Pembroke, and Robyne Ryley of Pembroke; and Kathleen’s siblings, Robyne Ryley and Stephen Murphy of Weymouth, Keith and Lori Hoffman of Stoughton, and Kevin and Debra Hoffman of Hampstead, NC; his granddaughter, Dannee Girl; and his best friend and son he never had, Frankie Fitzgerald. He was the brother of the late Sonny, and the late Dolores. Visiting hours will be held Saturday, March 12th, 2022 from 11-2 pm at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton Street, Dedham. Private interment will be in Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham. In lieu of flowers donations to Brookhaven Hospice, 45 Braintree Hill Park, Suite 102, Braintree, MA 02184 would be appreciated.

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Adrienne Lorraine (Reid) Parsons, a 60 year resident of Dedham, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 3, 2022 at the Ellis Nursing Home in Norwood. She was 93. Adrienne was born May 3, 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of George T. and Anne F. (McIntosh) Reid. She graduated from Roslindale High School with the Class of 1945 and worked at the First National Bank until 1954 when motherhood beckoned. Adrienne was the devoted mother of John C. Parsons Jr. of Foxboro, Peter S. Parsons of Virginia, Jeanne C. Jeffery of Dedham, and Andrew K. Parsons of Rhode Island, and the loving grandmother of William A. Parsons and Emily M. Parson. She was the sister of Barbara J. Nordblom of Foxboro and the late Malcolm E. Reid. Adrienne was a passionate Roxbury Latin School mother who cherished her 10 plus years of varied volunteer services there, as well as an active member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Church in Dedham where she also served on the Altar Guild. She was generous and talented in the kitchen but she never met a slice of pecan pie that she was willing to share. “Godspeed Mom, and give Dad a kiss from all of us!”. Private interment will be in Brookdale Cemetery in Dedham.

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March 29, 1933 – February 27, 2022

Lawrence J. Healy, of West Roxbury and formerly of Dedham, Jamaica Plain and Hyannis, passed away on February 27, 2022. He was 88.  Larry was born in Boston on March 29, 1933, and was the son of the late Thomas A. Healy and Gertrude E. (Donnelly) Healy. He grew up in Jamaica Plain and attended the St. Thomas Aquinas High School, graduated in 1950, and later went on to attend Boston University.

Larry was a proud Army veteran of the Korean War. He was awarded the Army of Occupation medal for his time he spent in Germany, as well as the National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in January of 1955 with the rank of Corporal. Larry became a dedicated firefighter in the City of Boston Fire Department until his retirement on July 1, 1981. He also proudly owned his own painting and wallpapering business, and was a member of the American Legion Post #18 in Dedham, the USS Jacob Jones VFW Post 2017, the Knights of Columbus in Roslindale, as well as the Irish Social Club in Boston.

He was the loving husband of the late Helen C. (Carey) Healy, and beloved father of Thomas P. Healy of West Roxbury, Lawrence J. Healy and his wife Karen of West Roxbury, John M. Healy and his wife Julia of Dedham, Nora J. Dwyer of Pembroke, Mary E. Malinn and her husband James of Dedham, Kathleen M. Twyman of Dedham, and Laura M. Scace and her husband David of Dedham.  Dear brother of Thomas A. Healy of NH and the late Richard Healy.  He is also survived by his cherished friend Michael Soule of NH, his 12 lucky grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation for Larry will be held on Friday March 4, 2022 from 8-11AM at the Folsom Funeral Home, 87 Milton St., Dedham, before going to St. Anne Church, 90 W. Milton St. Hyde Park for his Funeral Mass at 11:30AM.  Interment to follow at Brookdale Cemetery, Dedham with military honors.  Donations in Larry’s name to Massachusetts Soldiers Legacy Fund, 255 Cedar Hill St., Suite 200, Marlborough, MA 01752, or at https://www.mslfund.org/ ,would be appreciated. 

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Suzanne (Hervey) Lapham of Canton passed away on February 22, 2022 at the age of 78. Born in Providence, Rhode Island to William A. and Mabael (Braheney) Hervey. She was the loving mother of Glen Lapham and his wife Debra of Medway and Shawn Lapham of Canton. Sister of Joanne Harald and her husband Albert of California. She was the dear grandmother of Ryan Lapham and his wife Erica and Kailyn Lapham. She was the aunt of Monica and her husband Frank of California and the great aunt of Nora and Frankie. Suzanne was predeceased by her longtime companion Bob Pollock. The service and interment will be private and a celebration of her life will be scheduled for a future date. Donations in her memory may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675-8516.

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April 20, 1945 – February 15, 2022

Richard J. Lillis -Of Westwood, age 76, passed away on February 15, 2022 after a long illness with his loving wife by his side. He was the dear husband of Audrey A. (Haire) and the loving father of Kerry J. of Walpole and Joseph P. and his wife Amanda of Boston. Brother of Martin Lillis of Boston, and the late Robert Lillis. Beloved grandfather of Cameron J. Noonan.  He was predeceased by his parents Joseph P. Lillis and Elizabeth (Damon) Lillis.  Loving uncle to his nieces and nephew.

Dick attended Boston English High School where he was inducted into the athletic hall of fame. Dick had a BS in Physical Education as well as a Masters in Education from Northeastern University.  He was the former Athletic Director and Hockey Coach at King Philip Regional High School in Wrentham, Assistant Principal at Easton Public Schools and a respected ice hockey official.  He was also an  entrepreneur that owned ice and cold storage facilities around New England, namely The Ice Box, Boston Ice Company, Southern New England Ice and Cape Cod Ice.  Dick greatly enjoyed sporting events – golfing, ice hockey, water skiing, and boating. He treasured the time he spent with his family and friends and especially loved to watch his grandson play hockey.  He cherished spending many years with family and friends at his homes in New Hampshire and Nevis, sharing stories about his family and his life.

Services and Interment for Dick will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations to Norfolk Golf Club 166 East Street, Westwood, MA 02090 for a scholarship in memory of Dick, or to the Alzheimers Association MA/NH 309 Waverley Oaks Road, Waltham, MA 02452 are appreciated. Please include a note or check memo that the donation is in memory of Dick Lillis.

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