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THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, September 3, 2021 Page 17 OBITUARIES Brother John Joseph Waitkus, a.k.a. Brother Aquinas 87, a religious Brother of the Sacred Heart, died on Tuesday, August 17, 2021, at Landmark Hospital in Woonsocket, RI. The only son with five sisters, Brother John was born on January 14, 1934 to John D. Waitkus and Mary Brandano in Malden. Brother John entered the Institute of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart on July 25, 1950 in Sharon and continued his religious formation in Pomfret, CT, in 1951. He professed his first vows on August 24, 1953, at Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI, and his final vows on July 19, 1959, at Cor Jesu Terrace in Harrisville, RI. Earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Physical Education from the University of East Georgia in 1980, Brother John taught and helped young people grow physically, morally and spiritually in NE schools of the Brothers for 38 years. Brother John began his teaching career in 1953 at Sacred Heart School in Sharon and continued his work in the P.E. classroom in several Catholic schools in the NE area, including Mount St. Charles Academy in Woonsocket, RI; Mount St. John School in Deep River, CT; Sacred Heart School in Andover; Christ the King/Mater Christi in Burlington, VT; and Oak Hill School in Williston, VT. After retiring from the classroom in 1991, he became a member of the buildings and grounds staff at Bishop Guertin High School in Nashua, NH, and Brother John eventually retired to the Brothers’ Retirement Center in Harrisville, RI, for the last 25 years of his life. Brother John will be remembered by his confreres, friends and students as a man who loved teaching, especially physical education, and all sports, in general. He was a dedicated bike rider, a beloved coach, and an avid sports fan. Brother John was preceded in death by his parents and four of his sisters: Elaine Fossa, Barbara Hayward, Muriel Bogan and Theresa Nye. He is survived by his sister, Jean Hardy, of Adkinson, NH, several nieces and nephews, and many close friends, especially the DeFabio family of Malden. Brother John donated his body to the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Therefore, a memorial Mass and a celebration of Brother John’s life will be celebrated at a later date when COVID-19 restrictions are eased. Memorial donations can be made to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Foundation, 4600 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70122. Howard “Howie” Edward Fowler 1949-2021 A Vietnam Veteran, was born on Feb. 18, 1949, in Malden, Mass., and died on Aug. 25, 2021, in Arizona, the brother of the late Kenneth Fowler of Woburn. On his first date with Jane Burgess, he pulled a faux diamond ring out of a machine, and it was clear that she was the one. They were married and remained so for 50 years. They had three children: Jeanene and Jason Fowler of Arizona and Joy Gruver of California. He was the proud Papa of Sydney and Austin. Howie was a lover of Elvis, the New York Yankees and Giants – much despised by his Boston family. He will be missed by his extended family and friends. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to a veterans charity. Jeanne Marie (Donahue) Gear Age 87, of Malden, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2021. She was born in Boston and grew up in Medford, a daughter of the late Peter B. and Marie (Babin) Donahue. She was the beloved wife of the late Jerome J. Gear. Loving mother of Maureen Hogan and her husband, Kerry, of Londonderry, N.H.; Tara Gear of Boston & Palm Beach, Fla.; Kevin Gear and his wife, Aurora, of Malden; Michael P. Gear of Anchorage, Alaska; Shawn P. and his late wife, Rosanne Gear, of Saugus; Brian M. Gear of Lynnfield; and the late Kerry J. Gear; two sisters and three brothers: Mary Lou DeBenedictis and her husband, Carl; Debora Falco and her husband, Michael; and Joseph Donahue and his wife, Angela, all of Medford; Thomas Donahue of North Carolina; and Leo P. Donahue and his wife, Deborah, of Brimfield. Four treasured grandchildren: Erin Whitten and her husband, Ted; Courtney Loux and her husband, Steve, all of Derry, N.H.; Kerry J. Gear II and Charlotte of Tewksbury; and Brittany Gear of Lynn; nine cherished great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and friends. In addition to her husband, parents and son, she was predeceased by her sisters Ann Marie Balian and Joyce McGahey and her brother Edward Donahue. Jeanne was fiercely independent, had good judgement and always seemed to have the right words to comfort all. She was generous, charitable and kind. Her appearance was always impeccable. Before starting a family, Jeanne worked at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. When her children were grown, she returned to work at BayBank. She retired from Bank of America at 76 years old. She was an avid reader and loved music, travel and her Irish heritage. She had a passion for shopping and always loved a great sale! “Nana G.” will remain forever in our hearts. Funeral Services will be Friday, September 3, 2021, beginning with an hour of visitation from 8:30 a.m.9:30 a.m. at the J.S. Waterman-Langone Chapel (580 Commercial St.), followed by the Liturgy of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Leonard Church (320 Hanover St.), both in Boston. The mask mandate will be followed at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Holy Cross Cemetery (175 Broadway, Malden). In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory of Jeanne M. Gear may be made in support of Massachusetts General Hospital. Checks can be mailed to Massachusetts General Hospital c/o Development Office, Attn: Lauren Dello Russo, 125 Nashua St., Suite 540, Boston, MA 02114. Donors should make checks payable to the “Multiple Myeloma Research Fund” and include the name of the deceased on the memo line. Online donations may be made at giving.massgeneral.org Charles McCarthy Of Malden, formerly of Medford passed away on August 25th surrounded by his loving family. Beloved husband of Annie “Nancy” (Cogavin). Loving father of Margaret and her husband, Bob Foley, Tim McCarthy of TX and Edward and his wife, Marlo McCarthy of CO. Adored grandfather of Joseph, Kyle, Ryan, Kerri, Korbin, Kaleigh, Tara, Mason and Brianna. Brother of Eileen Keating of Woburn. He is predeceased by Hannah Sheehan, Mary Collins, Sheila McCarthy and Timothy McCarthy. Charles is also survived by many nieces, nephews and good friends. He is also a past member of the Irish American Club & Knights of Columbus of Arlington. The family has chosen a private visitation at the funeral home and burial. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Rita L. (McCarthy) McRitchie Of Somerville formerly of Malden August 28, 2021. Beloved wife of the late William McRitchie. Daughter of the late Margaret and Daniel McCarthy. Loving mother of Kenneth and David McRitchie of Somerville. Dear sister of Helen Cunha of Wilmington, Daniel McCarthy and his wife Margaret of Hamilton and the late Mary D'Amore, Marguerite Peterson. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. A Funeral Home Service will be held for Rita, in the George L. Doherty Funeral Home, 855 Broadway (Powder House Sq.) Somerville, Wednesday morning 10:00. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours, Wednesday morning 9:00 - 10:00. Interment Puritan Lawn Cemetery. Rita was a retired Verizon Operator, member of the Telephone Pioneers and American Legion Auxiliary. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Rita's memory to the, Alzheimer's Disease Research, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg · (800) 437-2423 Deborah C. Smallwood April 8, 1948– August 29, 2021 Debbie was born in Lynn, Massachusetts, the first child of what would eventually be six children, by Malverne and Marjorie. She spent her childhood years growing up in Malden, Massachusetts, in a busy house with five brothers and sisters, sharing a room with two of her sisters. They were a close family and lived a simple and humble life. She had very little private space, if any, that she could call hers. Instead, she learned how to involve and share herself with everyone in her life, always with God in her heart at her core. She always had a simple, loving, giving and sincere Christian lifestyle. She attended public school in Malden and graduated from Malden High School. She also attended and was an active member at First Baptist Church in Malden. As a teenager, she got a job at Jordan Marsh in Boston, where she met her best friend (and lifelong friend) Lorraine Bates. After graduating from high school, Debbie married Fred Bonanno and then had three children: Fred, Jim and Amie. Later, God called her to work as a foster parent, where she met and adopted her fourth child, Jason Smallwood. Working as a foster parent, she often commented that she learned more from the kids and she could teach the kids. She continued an active membership and fellowship with God at First Baptist Church in Melrose, Mass., where she later moved. Along with church, she also attended many Bible studies in different places and homes, eventually hosting her own at her home. She became a “moral compass” for many, people both of faith and secular, strong in her knowledge and convictions. Although obedient to God, she was anything but dull. She was fun, and she knew how to have fun and show other people how to have OBITUARIES| SEE PAGE 19 ~ LEGAL NOTICE ~ COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS THE TRIAL COURT PROBATE AND FAMILY COURT Middlesex Probate and Family Court 10-U Commerce Way Woburn, MA 01801 (781) 865-4000 Docket No. MI21P4405EA Estate of: Karen Marie Cushing Date of Death: 05/14/2021 CITATION ON PETITION FOR FORMAL ADJUDICATION To all interested persons: A Petition for Formal Probate of Will with Appointment of Personal Representative has been filed by Steven Cushing of Everett, MA requesting that the Court enter a formal Decree and Order and for such other relief as requested in the Petition. The Petitioner requests that: Steven Cushing of Everett, MA be appointed as Personal Representative(s) of said estate to serve Without Surety on the bond in unsupervised administration. IMPORTANT NOTICE You have the right to obtain a copy of the Petition from the Petitioner or at the Court. You have a right to object to this proceeding. To do so, you or your attorney must file a written appearance and objection at this Court before: 10:00 a.m. on the return day of 09/24/2021. This is NOT a hearing date, but a deadline by which you must file a written appearance and objection if you object to this proceeding. If you fail to file a timely written appearance and objection followed by an affidavit of objections within thirty (30) days of the return day, action may be taken without further notice to you. UNSUPERVISED ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE MASSACHUSETTS UNIFORM PROBATE CODE (MUPC) A Personal Representative appointed under the MUPC in an unsupervised administration is not required to file an inventory or annual accounts with the Court. Persons interested in the estate are entitled to notice regarding the administration directly from the Personal Representative and may petition the Court in any matter relating to the estate, including the distribution of assets and expenses of administration. WITNESS, Hon. Maureen H. Monks, First Justice of this Court. Date: August 27, 2021 TARA E. DeCRISTOFARO REGISTER OF PROBATE September 3, 2021

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