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Mary E. Browne, 77; retired insurance underwriter
Mary E. Browne of Wellesley died May 28, 1997, at Bethesda at Evanswood in Kingston after a long illness. She was 77.
Born in Boston on Sept. 22, 1919, she was the daughter of the late Joseph A. and Alice V. (McKeon) Browne.
Miss Browne was raised in Boston and graduated from Mt. St. Joseph's High School in Brighton. She was a 1940 graduate of Regis College, Weston.
She lived in Wellesley for 20 years before entering the nursing home three years ago.
Miss Browne retired as an insurance underwriter for United States Aviation Insurance Group in 1987, and she had previously worked for Aetna Insurance Co.
She was the sister of the late Alice Murray. She is survived by two nieces, Margaret A. Achille of Plymouth and Patricia Smith of Pembroke; a nephew, James G. Murray of Rockland; and many grandnieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass was said in St. Thecla's Church, North Pembroke, on June 2. Interment was in Holyhood Cemetery, Brookline. Arrangements were by the Sullivan Funeral Home, Hanover.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 1 Kendall Square, Building 200, Cambridge, MA 02139-1562.
Thomas C. Norcross Jr., 69; longtime clerk with Kendall Company
Thomas C. Norcross Jr. of Newport, N.H., formerly of Wellesley, died June 1, 1997, at the Pine Rock Manor in Warner, N.H., after a three-year illness. He was 69.
Born in Boston on June 26, 1927, he was a son of the late Thomas C. and Rachel (Reed) Norcross.
Mr. Norcross was raised in Wellesley and educated in the Wellesley elementary schools. He graduated from Kimball Union Academy in Meriden, N.H., in 1946.
He worked as a clerk with the Kendall Company in Needham for many years.
A longtime resident of Wellesley, Mr. Norcross moved to New Hampshire 10 years ago.
He is survived by two brothers, Robert R. Norcross of Robbinston, Maine, and William D. Norcross of South Natick; three nieces; and several cousins.
A funeral service is scheduled for today, June 5, at 10 a.m. at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Newton Lower Falls, with the Rev. Peter G. Chase officiating. Burial will follow in the churchyard cemetery. Arrangements are by the J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring Funeral Home, Wellesley.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 258 Concord St., Newton Lower Falls, MA 02162.
Anthony 'Tony' DeJon, 80; owner of local construction company
Anthony "Tony" DeJon of Natick, formerly of Wellesley, died May 24, 1997, at the Carlyle House following a brief illness. He was 80.
Born in Wellesley, he was the son of the late Sabatino and Elisa (DiTiberio) DiGiandomenico.
Mr. DeJon was a graduate of Wellesley High School, and he served his country in the military service during World War II.
A well-known builder in the Wellesley-Newton area, he was the owner and operator of the Anthony DeJon Construction Co. for more than 50 years and continued activity until his recent illness.
Mr. DeJon enjoyed music and had composed and written several selections. He was the owner of the Sioux Warrior Music Co.
He was also a boating enthusiast and a member of the National Rifle Association; and for several years, he had served as a fund-raiser for the Salvation Army.
He is survived by four sons, Geoffrey A. Domenico of Bridgewater, James S. DiGiandomenico of Northborough, Anthony P. DiGiandomenico of Bourne and Marc L. DeJon of Newton; two daughters, Marsha D. Rowlands of Wellesley and Elissa S. Holt of Taunton; a brother, Archibald DiGiandomenico of Jacksonville, Fla.; a sister, Janet Pappas of LaPunte, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A funeral service is scheduled for today, May 29, at 11 a.m. in the Gibbs Memorial Chapel of the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road, Cochituate, with the Rev. Richard Hurst Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the family lot in Woodlawn Cemetery, Wellesley.
Memorial donations may be made to the Dana Farber MetroWest Cancer Center, 115 Lincoln St., Framingham 01701.
Christopher W. Stanwood, 86; former resident, insurance executive
Christopher W. Stanwood of Kennebunk, Maine, formerly of Wellesley, died May 1, 1997, following hip surgery. He was 86.
Born and raised in Wellesley Hills, he was the son of William C. and Mary F. Merrill Stanwood. He attended Wellesley schools and Kent Preparatory School in Connecticut before attending Williams College.
While living in Wellesley, Mr. Stanwood served as a Town Meeting member, as a member of the Wellesley Board of Health, and as chairman of several Community Chest fund-raising campaigns. He was also a member of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church.
Mr. Stanwood was employed for many years as vice president and field director of National Health and Welfare Retirement Association Inc., now known as Mutual of America. He retired in 1972.
He was a lifelong summer resident of Squirrel Island near Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and he lived in West Falmouth from 1974 until moving to Kennebunk in 1983. Family members described him as a "devoted family man, a great sailor and an outstanding bridge player."
Mr. Stanwood's first wife, Catherine Barrett (Dent) Stanwood, passed away in 1962.
He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Jeanne Sawyer Faggi Stanwood of Kennebunk; a daughter, Mary Lee Stanwood of New York City, formerly of Wellesley; a stepson, John Faggi Jr. of Oakland, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Cynthia Krebs of Haverhill; and a sister, Mary Elizabeth Crockett of Brunswick, Maine, formerly of Wellesley.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, May 31, at 2 p.m. at St. David's Episcopal Church, Kennebunk, Maine. Arrangements are by Bibber Memorial Chapel, Kennebunk.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Williams College.
Elizabeth 'Betty' Cowles, 92; active in patriotic organizations
Elizabeth "Betty" (Sherman) Cowles of Wellesley died May 26, 1997, after a brief illness. She was 92.
Born and educated in Brookline, she was the daughter of the late Roger I. and Carrie (Dunmore) Sherman.
A resident of Wellesley for the past six years, Mrs. Cowles had lived in Washington, D.C., and New York City for many years.
She had been manager of the Christian Beacon office at the National Press Building in Washington, D.C. During World War II she had been director of Women's Programs for Electric Boat. She had served as women's director of High Frontier, and was active for more than 30 years with patriotic organizations across the country.
She had been a member of the National Press Club and of the Women of Constitutional Government, who selected her as their "Woman of the Year." She was a longtime member of Eagle Forum; former assistant director of community relations, National Society of New England Women; and director of Speakers for America.
In 1974, she received a distinguished award for her patriotism from Phyllis Schlafly's "Eagle Council" meeting in St. Louis, Mo. The Eagle Council is a leading national organization dedicated to fighting the Equal Rights Amendment. The council stands in opposition to the women's liberation movement and to the National Organization of Women (NOW).
She is survived by two daughters, Betty Jane Conant of Weston and Sally-Ann Clark of River Vale, N.J.; a son, Sherman Goss of Leesburg, Fla.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, May 30, at 11 a.m. at the J.S. Waterman & Sons-Waring Funeral Home, 592 Washington St., Wellesley. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Brighton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Old North Church, 193 Salem St., Boston, MA 02113.
Ellis Knotts memorial service
A memorial service and celebration of the life of E. Ellis Knotts will be held Saturday, June 7, at 2 p.m. at Christ Church, United Methodist, 2 Brook St., Wellesley.
Mr. Knotts died March 29, 1997, at age 80. An Army veteran of World War II, he had served under Gen. George Patton and was the recipient of a Bronze Star. Before retiring, he was the director of finance at ITT Sheraton Hotels.
A resident of Medfield for 32 years, Mr. Knotts had previously lived on Juniper Road, Wellesley. He was a longtime active member of Christ Church.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Church, United Methodist Campaign Fund, 2 Brook St., Wellesley 02181.
Margaret F. Navoni, 70; former longtime resident, registered nurse
Margaret F. (McKenna) Navoni of Mashpee, formerly of Wellesley, died May 28, 1997, at her home. She was 70.
Born in New Bedford, she attended Holy Family Schools in New Bedford and graduated from St. Luke's Hospital School of Nursing.
She worked as a registered nurse for the Visiting Nurse Association in Boston before her marriage.
A resident of Wellesley for more than 30 years, Mrs. Navoni moved to Mashpee in 1983. She was the wife of the late Andrew N. Navoni.
Mrs. Navoni was a communicant of Christ the King Parish and a member of the Women's Club; a member of the Holly Berry Quilters Guild; and a Friend of Bill W.'s for 20 years.
She is survived by four children, Anne N. Jackson of East Greenwich, R.I., Louise N. Lydon of Rumford, R.I., James A. Navoni of Natick and Thomas M. Navoni of Mansfield; a sister, Eileen Waldie of Pittsburgh, Pa.; and nine grandchildren. She was the sister of the late Charles J. McKenna Jr.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 30, at 10 a.m. in Christ the King Church, Mashpee Commons. Visiting hours are tonight, May 29, from 6-9 in the John-Lawrence Funeral Home, Route 28, Marstons Mills.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Cape Cod, 923 Route 6A, Yarmouthport 02675, or Christ the King Parish, P.O. Box 1800, Mashpee 02649.
Mary A. Gilbert, 84; retired secretary for Loomis Sayles Co.
Mary A. (Renzetti) Gilbert of Wellesley died May 23, 1997, at the Eastwood Care Center, Dedham. She was 84.
Born in Portland, Maine, she graduated from Dedham High School and Bryant and Stratton Secretarial School.
Mrs. Gilbert worked as a secretary for Loomis Sayles Co. in Boston for many years before retiring in 1977.
A resident of Wellesley for 16 years, she had previously lived in West Roxbury and Dedham. She was the wife of the late William M. Gilbert.
She is survived by two brothers, Louis Renzetti of Dedham and Arthur W. Renzetti of Canton; three sisters, Loretta Watson of Springfield, Hilda Merenda of Westwood, and Josephine Ray of Pennsylvania; and by many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service was held May 28 at the Allin Congregational Church, Dedham. Interment was in Brookdale Cemetery, Dedham. Arrangements were by the Kraw-Kornack Funeral Home, Norwood.
Richard A. Gildawie, 36; longtime resident; educated in Wellesley
Richard A. Gildawie of Wellesley died May 21, 1997, at the Columbia MetroWest Medical Center, Natick. He was 36.
Born in Newton, he was a longtime resident of Wellesley and attended the Wellesley schools.
He was the son of Gladys (Bamforth) Gildawie of Needham and the late John Gildawie; the brother of John H. Gildawie of Wellesley, Janice Gildawie of Ann Arbor, Mich., Gregory Gildawie of Natick, George Gildawie of Millis, Gary Gildawie of Framingham and the late Robert Gildawie. He also leaves three nieces, Holly, Kaitlyn and Kelsea.
A funeral service was held May 24 at the Eaton Funeral Home, Needham. Burial was in the Needham Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one's choice.
