Obituaries
John Stafford Sheedy Jr., born November 26, 1937, a life-long resident of Groton, only child of John S. Sheedy Sr. and Alice C. Cleary, left us on Sunday, February 1, 2026 in his home of 65 years.
John was a graduate of Lawrence Academy and attended Tufts University. Known to run out of class at the sound of the fire whistle, he was a Groton fireman for more than 25 years, retiring as Deputy Chief. He served as a Cemetery Commissioner, and on...
After 89 years of perpetual motion, the life of the Honorable Robert Standing Hargraves came to a peaceful close on January 16, 2026. He was a man of resilience, humor, and quiet strength, whose life was defined not by hardship, but by the grace and determination with which he overcame it.
Bob met the love of his life, Ellen, in 1960, and they married in 1962. Their partnership was one of enduring devotion. Ellen passed away seven months ago...
Virginia Louise (Floyd) Sullivan, 80, was born in Newton, on March 23, 1945 to Malcolm and Barbara (Perry) Floyd. She was the oldest of four children. They all grew up in a beautiful home in Auburndale, and four generations have lived in that house over the years.
Ginny attended Colby Sawyer College, and after graduating, worked at Marriott where she met the love of her life, James “Jim” Sullivan. On their second date, Jim said he knew he was...
Johanne Nielsen Gambrill, mother, math teacher, civil rights activist, craftswoman, photographer, and great admirer of nature’s beauty, died on January 19, 2026, in Ayer. It was her 88th birthday and Martin Luther King, Jr., Day.
“Walk with purpose” were the words Johanne lived by and the words of wisdom she imparted to her four daughters. From a young age, she was inspired to see the world and contribute to building community, understanding,...
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It is with great grief that we announce the passing of Charles Alfred Faucher on Wednesday January 5. He was 87. He died peacefully, surrounded by family, after a long and courageous battle with valvular heart disease. Born in Detroit on September 27, 1938, he was the second oldest of six children born to Greg and Vermelda Faucher. Charles lived a life rich with creativity, a reverence for the natural world, and an unwavering love for his...
On Sunday, January 4, 2026, the beautiful soul of Barbara Ann Kenney was called home to God after a long, courageous battle with cancer. She was peaceful and surrounded by the love of her family when she passed.
Barbara was born in Providence, RI on November 13, 1967, to her dear parents, Bertha and the late George Sanky, and grew up alongside her three older sisters, Josie, Margaret, and Cathy. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in...
Diane K. Simon Reilly, passed on Sunday December 28th after a brave fight with cancer.
She was the beloved daughter of the late Melvin “Doc” Simon and Lucille “Lou” Beaulieu Simon and cherished daughter-in-law of the late Donald “Don” Reilly and Carol Westerman Reilly. Diane was born the youngest of four daughters in Hanover, NH, on September 10, 1965. Diane graduated from Hartford High School in 1983, moved to Boston and graduated from...
Nyola (Romanauskas) Vaillancourt, 85, a visionary educator and champion of Lithuanian heritage, passed away on December 22, 2025, at Emerson Hospital.
A pioneer in the Chelmsford Public Schools, Nyola helped transform the district’s Special Education department into a national model. In the 1960s, she combined her background in drama with her expertise as a speech pathologist to create innovative instructional television programming using...
February 8, 1934 — December 16, 2025 Groton, Massachusetts
Barbara Joyce Rich, of Groton, born February 8, 1934, passed away on December 16, 2025, after sustaining severe injuries in a car accident. At 91 and ¾, she was still loving her work as a dedicated Parent Advocate and talented Yoga Teacher. Barb worked enthusiastically in both capacities until her final days.
Barbara is survived by her four children, Tracy (partner Tam); Adam;...