Page 12 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, ApriL 10, 2026 OBITUARY Michael E. Diggs November 22, 1968 ~ April 1, 2026 (age 57) his own family but he was also a big part of the Dom’s family. In his leisure time, Michael enjoyed traveling with his wife, often visiting tropical destinations or staying closer to home for long weekends. He also loved trips to Encore with Pamela, was a passionate supporter of New England sports teams—especially the Patriots and the Red Sox—and was known for his exceptional cooking skills. Michael is survived by his O f Saugus passed away on April 1st after a lengthy illness. He was surrounded by his loving family. He was the son of the late James and Phyllis (Mabardy) Diggs. Michael spent his earlier years residing and working in Malden. Michael later moved to Saugus where he settled down with his family. Michael was a devoted husband to Pamela Diggs, and the couple were married on April 2nd, 2006. Pamela, his loving wife, was Michael’s caretaker. He was also a beloved father to William J. Diggs. He also cherished his two fur babies Raven and Echo. With over 30 years of service at Dom’s Sausage in Malden, Michael performed various tasks such as cooking and catering. He warmly greeted everyone who visited Dom’s, leaving a lasting impression on all who met him, not only did he have TOWN EYESORES | FROM PAGE 11 eral abandoned properties that should be registered, including one on Essex Street, another one “up by Oye’s – a little white building that gets graffitied all the wife, Pamela Diggs; his son, William J. Diggs; his siblings, James Diggs Jr., Robert Diggs and his late wife Debra Campana, Patricia Fiorino-Diggs and her husband Peter Fiorino, and William Diggs; as well as many other cherished family members and friends. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Michael’s Honor to the Jimmy Fund or the Melrose Humane Society. Services for Michael were held at the Weir MacCuish Funeral Home, 144 Salem St, Malden on Tuesday April 14th from 9-1 with a service at 12:00. Roger W. Worthley O f S au - gus, formerly of Malden. Died on Thursday, April 2nd at the age of 85. He was the beloved husband of Judith (Gagliardi) Worthley with whom he shared 56 years of marriage. Born in Medford and raised in Malden, Mr. Worthley was the son of the late Charles and Phosine Worthley. A U.S. Army Veteran, Roger started his career with the MDC Police and time” and another on the corner of Spencer and Ballard Streets. “While it’s a good bylaw, I recognize that the Inspectional Services has a lot going on,” Manoogian said. “Hopefully, with Mr. Mooney’s impetus tonight, this will result in some positive acCarrijo Home Improvement, Inc. General Contractor * Interior & Exterior Carpentry * Kitchen & Bath * Roofs * Painting * Decks * Siding * Licensed & Insured * Free Estimates Carrijohomeimprovement.com Call 781-710-8918 * Saugus, MA later became a Massachusetts State Trooper retiring after 28 years of service. A resident of Saugus for 48 years, he was a member of the Knights of Columbus, American Legion and the Retired Metropolitan District Police Organization. In addition to his wife, Mr. Worthley is survived by his two sons, Steven Worthley and his wife Coleen of Saugus and Capt. Jeffrey Worthley, USN of VA and three grandchildren, Drew, Ian and Carter. He was predeceased by four brothers, Robert, Kenneth, his twin brother Ronald and Stephen Worthley. Relatives and friends were invited to attend visiting hours in the Bisbee-Porcella Funeral Home, Saugus on Thursday, April 9. A funeral will be held from the funeral home on Friday at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass in St. Margaret’s Church, 431 Lincoln Ave., Saugus at 10 a.m. Interment in Riverside Cemetery in Saugus. In lieu of flowers, donations in Roger’s memory may be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation at t2t.org. tions,” Manoogian told selectmen at their March 24 meeting. “Nobody wants to be punitive to people who have fallen on hard times. But the neighbors have a right to quiet enjoyment of their property without having a nuisance,” he said. Owners of Saugus properties determined to be vacant and dilapidated by the town’s Department of Inspectional Services can pay registration fees ranging from $250 to $1,000. Owners of properties who fail to register with the Department of Inspectional Services initially or fail to maintain properties in accordance with the bylaw can face fines of up to $300 for each month that the properties are improperly maintained. Savvy Senior by Jim Miller What Happens if You Die Without a Will? Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve put off making a will for years. What actually happens to my money and property if I die without one? --Getting Old Dear Getting, If you die without a will, your assets will be distributed according to the laws of your state, known as intestacy laws. These laws determine who inherits your property and financial accounts when there’s no will or trust. Since rules vary from state to state, it’s important to check the specifics where you live. A helpful starting point is heirbase.com, which offers Intestacy Evaluators for 37 states. You enter your household information and see how your estate might be distributed. If your state isn’t included, Nolo has a useful state-bystate intestate succession guide at nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/ intestate-succession. In the meantime, here is a general overview of what can happen, depending on your family situation. Married with children: When a married person with children dies without a will, all property, investments and financial accounts that are “jointly owned” automatically goes to the surviving co-owner without going through probate, which is the legal process that distributes a deceased person’s assets. But for all other separately owned property or individual financial accounts, the laws of most states award one-third to one-half to the surviving spouse, while the rest goes to the children. Married with no children: Some states award the entire estate to the surviving spouse, or everything up to a certain amount (for example the first $100,000). But many other states award only one-third to onehalf of the decedent’s separately owned assets to the surviving spouse, with the remainder generally going to the deceased person’s parents, or if the parents are dead, to brothers and sisters. Jointly owned property, investments, financial accounts, or community property automatically goes to the surviving co-owner. Single with children: All state laws provide that the entire estate goes to the children, in equal shares. If an adult child of the decedent has died, then that child’s children (the decedent’s grandchildren) split their parent’s share. Single with no children or grandchildren: In this situation, most state laws favor the deceased person’s parents. If both parents are deceased, many states divide the property among the brothers and sisters, or if they are not living, their children (your nieces and nephews). If there are none of them, it goes to the next of kin, and if there is no living family, the state takes it. Make a Will To ensure your assets go to those you want to receive them, you need to create a will or trust. If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are do-it-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents for very little money. Some top-rated options include the Quicken WillMaker & Trust (willmaker.com, $109) and Trust & Will (trustandwill.com, $199). Or, if that’s more than you’re willing to pay, you can make your will for free at freewill.com or doyourownwill.com. If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced attorney can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. Costs will vary depending on where you live, but you can expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $1,000 for a will. The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (actec.org) websites are good resources that have directories to help you find someone in your area. If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (findlegalhelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-6771116 for a referral. Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
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