Search Archived Marriage Records
Alton L. Rhoads, 95; educator and mentor
Alton L. Rhoads of Wellesley, retired Stamford, Conn., High School teacher and administrator, died on June 30, 1997, at the Mary Ann Morse Nursing Home in South Natick. He was 95.
Mr. Rhoads taught science and was the principal of Stamford High School over a period of 35 years. A native of Harrisburg, Pa., he had lived in New Canaan, Conn., and in Heritage Village, Southbury, Conn., before moving to Wellesley in 1979.
He was a graduate of Pennsylvania State University and held a master's degree in Secondary School Administration at New York University. He was a member of Eta Kappa Nu, honorary electrical engineering society, and Sigma Tau, honorary engineering society. He was a past president of Kiwanis in Stamford.
Since 1981, Mr. Rhoads lived with his daughter and son-in-law, Alison and Alan Schechter, and their family at 228 Grove St. He was well-known, loved and respected by his family's friends, many of whom knew him as "Gramps." Known for his kindness, sense of humor and wisdom, he served as a mentor to his family and to his many young friends.
His wife, Kathryn Linehan Rhoads, predeceased him.
Besides his daughter and son-in-law, he is survived by three grandchildren, Kate, Andrew and Stephen Schechter; and a great-grandson, Alex Schechter.
Services are private under the direction of the George F. Doherty and Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.
Memorial contributions may be made to Natick Visiting Nurse Association, 209 West Central St., Natick, MA 01760.
Dr. Arthur A. Thibodeau, 91; complete obituary next week
Dr. Arthur A. Thibodeau of Needham, formerly of Wellesley, died July 1, 1997. He was 91.
Before retiring, Dr. Thibodeau was an orthopedic surgeon at Tufts New England Medical Center. He had lived in Wellesley for 36 years before moving to Needham.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia Davis (Phelps) Thibodeau; a son, Frederic J. Thibodeau of Pompano Beach, Fla.; a daughter, Anne T. Joyce of Newburyport; and two grandchildren.
Visiting hours are scheduled for today, July 3, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the George F. Doherty and Sons Funeral Home, 477 Washington St., Wellesley.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. Paul Church, 502 Washington St., Wellesley, on Saturday, July 5, at 9 a.m.
Luigi Ralli, 91; worked at Wellesley and Babson colleges
Luigi Ralli of Wellesley died June 30, 1997, at his home. He was 91.
Born in Italy, he had lived in Wellesley for 43 years.
Mr. Ralli was a retired employee of Wellesley College and had previously worked at Babson College. He enjoyed gardening.
He is survived by his wife, Maria (Ferrari) Ralli; two children, Osvaldo Ralli of Dedham and Tilde Miller of Wellesley; a sister, Francesca Ralli of Italy; and four grandchildren, David and Michael Ralli of Dedham, Donna Miller of Swampscott and Mark Miller of Wellesley.
A funeral Mass was said in St. Paul Church, Wellesley, on July 2. Interment was in St. Mary's Cemetery, Needham. Arrangements were by the George F. Doherty and Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.
Mary T. Dowd, 84; active in church and senior groups
Mary T. (Sicari) Dowd of Wellesley died June 30, 1997, at the Wellesley Health and Rehabilitation Center, where she has resided for the past six years. She was 84.
Born in Boston's Back Bay neighborhood, she graduated from Jamaica Plain High School in 1932. She had resided in Jamaica Plain from 1925 to the mid-1970s. During that time she was an active member of Our Lady of Lourdes Ladies Sodality and was a member of the Don Bosco High School Mothers Club.
Mrs. Dowd lived in West Roxbury for 15 years before moving to Wellesley. She was an active member of St. Theresa's Parish and a member of local senior citizens groups.
She is survived by two sons, John W. Dowd Jr. and Richard J. Dowd, both of Wellesley; a brother, Lloyd Sicari of Cambridge; and four grandchildren. She was the wife of the late John W. Dowd Sr., the mother of the late Robert J. Dowd, and the sister of the late A. Louise Sicari.
A funeral Mass was scheduled for today, July 3, at 10 a.m. in St. Theresa's Chapel, with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Arrangements were by the P.E. Murray Funeral Service, West Roxbury.
Rose K. Yaffee, 89; services today
Rose (Keller) Yaffee, 89, of Canton, formerly of Wellesley, died July 1, 1997, at Norwood Hospital.
Mrs. Yaffee was a resident of Wellesley for more than 40 years. She was the wife of the late Theodore Yaffee.
She was the mother of Michael Yaffee and his wife Jane of West Hartford, Conn.; Esta Wolfe of Newton; and Harriet Ronkin and her husband Gerald of West Peabody.
She is also survived by nine grandchildren, David A. and Daniel J. Yaffee, Jeanne L. and Deborah E. Wolfe, Cynthia J. and Kenneth J. Wolfe, and Sharon M., Steven M. and Gary S. Ronkin. She was the sister of the late Dr. Louis Keller and the late Michael Keller.
Services are scheduled for today, July 3, at 1 p.m. at the Levine-Briss Funeral Home, 84 Mazzeo Drive, Randolph. Interment is in Sharon Memorial Park.
A memorial observance will be held at the home of Esta Wolfe today, July 3, and Sunday, July 6, through Tuesday, July 8.
Remembrances may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Thalassa Cruso Hencken, 88; former columnist, TV's 'Plant Lady'
Thalassa Cruso Hencken, known by gardeners everywhere as the "Plant Lady," died on June 11, 1997, at the Newton-Wellesley Alzheimer's Center. She was 88.
Mrs. Hencken, who was known professionally as Thalassa Cruso, was born in London, England. She received her academic diploma in archaeology from the London School of Economics, London University, in 1931, and subsequently became assistant keeper of the costume collection at the pre-war London Museum.
She also trained in field archaeology, and from 1933 to 1936 directed the excavation of Bredon Hill, an Iron Age fort in Worcestershire, England. The report on this excavation established a basis for much of the later archaeological work on British Iron Age sites, and led to her election to the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1938.
In 1935 she married Hugh O'Neill Hencken of Boston, who later became curator of European Archaeology at Harvard University. During World War II, she wrote reports on American public opinion for British Intelligence, for which she later received a special commendation.
After the war, Mrs. Hencken joined the Chestnut Hill Garden Club and began her career in horticulture and the environment. In 1961 she was made a Garden Club of America horticultural judge. In 1962, with two friends, she established the Amateur Horticultural Competition at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's annual Spring Flower Show.
From 1966 to 1969 she wrote and starred in "Making Things Grow" for WGBH-TV. She became a regular guest on the "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson, published four books on gardening, and for 22 years wrote a gardening column for the Boston Sunday Globe.
She was awarded the Medal of Merit by the Chestnut Hill Garden Club, for the Garden Club of America, in 1969, the Distinguished Service Medal by the Garden Club of America in 1970, a Distinguished Citation by the Horticultural Society of New York in 1970, and the George Robert White Medal of Honor in 1985 by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. She also served on the boards of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society and the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.
She is survived by three daughters, Ala Reid of York Harbor, Maine, Sophia Stone of New Orleans, La., and Thalassa Scholl of Boston; seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held June 24 in the Church of the Redeemer, Newton. Arrangements were by the J.S. Waterman and Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.
W. Everett Wood, 91; longtime professor at Mt. Ida College
W. Everett Wood of Wellesley and Sebago Lake, Maine, died June 28, 1997, at North Hill Health Center, Needham. He was 91.
Born in Montague on March 19, 1906, he was the son of the late William Henry Wood and Anna Laura (Silmser) Wood.
He graduated from Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, in 1924, and from Bates College, Lewiston, Maine, in 1928.
Mr. Wood taught English at Mt. Hermon School, Northfield, following his graduation from Bates. He was a professor of English at Boston University for several summer sessions and for more than 30 years at Mt. Ida College, Newton Centre.
A resident of Wellesley for 12 years, Mr. Wood had formerly lived in Newton for 41 years. He was a member of the Eliot Congregational Church of Newton.
He was a Master Mason and 70-year member of Mechanics Lodge, Montague City.
He was predeceased by his wife of 65 years, Pamelia Leighton Wood, who died in January 1996.
He is survived by three children, Patricia Wood Reiman of Lincoln, William Everett Wood Jr. of Dallas, Texas, and Cornelia Wood Tibbals of Wellesley; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m. at the Eliot Congregational Church. Burial will be in Springdale Cemetery, Montague, at a later date. Arrangements are by the J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring Funeral Home, Wellesley.
Memorial donations may be made to Eliot Church of Newton, 474 Centre St., Newton, MA 02158; the National Humane Education Society, 521-A East Market St., Leesburg, VA 20176; or to the charity of one's choice.
Sr. Patricia Marie O'Sullivan, 89; longtime educator and nun
Sister Patricia Marie O'Sullivan, S.C.H., of Mount St. Vincent, Wellesley Hills, died June 10, 1997. She was 89.
Born in New York City, she was the daughter of the late Eugene J. and Margaret M. (Drake) O'Sullivan.
Sister Patricia was in religious life for 73 years. She was an educator in Nova Scotia for 18 years and taught locally at St. Kevin's School in Dorchester. She had also taught in parochial schools in Jamaica, Woodside and Fresh Meadows, all in New York. For several years she had been a recreational therapist in hospitals in Bronx, N.Y.
She retired to Mount St. Vincent, Wellesley Hills, in 1981 and went to the Elizabeth Seton Residence in 1986.
Until the last few days of her life, Sister Patricia was involved in teaching English to immigrants both on staff and the public. She also assisted them in receiving social benefits for their families and children.
The sister of the late John and Eugene O'Sullivan, Julia Duggan and Catherine Prosnack and Margaret Drake, she is survived by several nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was celebrated in Mount St. Vincent Chapel on June 12. Arrangements were by Brady & Fallon Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to Sisters of Charity, Mount St. Vincent Community, Wellesley Hills, MA 02181.
Thomas F. Casey, 79; former resident; Gillette executive
Thomas F. Casey of Westwood and Martha's Vineyard, formerly of Wellesley and West Newton, died June 17, 1997, at the Boston University Medical Center. He was 79.
Born in Boston, he was the son of the late John and Elizabeth (McDermott) Casey. He was a graduate of Boston Latin School, class of 1936, and Harvard College, class of 1940.
Mr. Casey was a World War II veteran and retired colonel of the U.S. Army.
He was a past president of the Newton Taxpayers Association and former member of the Braeburn Country Club in West Newton and the Hatherly Country Club in North Scituate. He was a member of the Harvard Club of Boston.
Before retiring, Mr. Casey was an executive with the Gillette Co. of Boston.
He is survived by his wife, Jean (Henry) Casey; six children, Marguerite J. Casey of Haverhill, Pamela C. McCormick of Wellesley, Thomas W. Casey Jr. of South Natick, Georgia A. Jenkins of South Natick, Sheila C. Christensen of Rumford, R.I., and Robert A. Casey of Dedham; and 12 grandchildren. He was the father of the late John F. Casey.
He was also the father-in-law of Harold S. McCormick, Douglas R. Jenkins, John G. Christensen and Lauren T. Casey.
He was the brother of the late John F. Jr., Edward M., George W., William, Elizabeth and Mary Casey.
A funeral Mass was celebrated in St. Ignatius Church, Chestnut Hill, on June 20. Interment was in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline. Arrangements were by the George F. Doherty and Sons Funeral Home, Wellesley.
Memorial donations may be made to the Harvard Radcliffe Catholic Students Center, 29 Mt. Auburn St., Cambridge.
