Frances Georgoulis

Loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother;

Frances {Hayward} Georgoulis, 97, a lifelong Lowell resident passed away peacefully Sunday morning, November 28, 2021.

Frances was the beloved wife for over 67 years of the late Nicholas Georgoulis, a WW II veteran, who died January 2, 2016.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, January 21, 1924, the daughter of the late Fred and the late Estella (Rand) Hayward, she attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School Class of 1942.

Fran was a member of the Greatest Generation who grew up in the Depression and never forgot the lessons it taught her, family first, frugality and decency to others.
In order to support the war effort, Fran went to work at the former GE plant in Lowell packing parachutes.

She worked in retail sales for over 50 years, initially at Pollard’s and Lynch’s in Lowell and later Filene’s and Macy’s at the Burlington Mall. She retired at age 81.

Fran had many varied interests in her life. She taught Charm School, was a member and past president of Seton Guild, enjoyed her lifelong friends in Pokeno Club for over 35 years and will be remembered by her family and friends as a feisty red head, always up for adventure and socializing. Although she traveled extensively in her life nothing brought her more pleasure than her three sons and their families.
Fran is survived by three devoted sons, Stephen and Leslie (Sullivan) Georgoulis of Scottsdale, AZ, Fred and Alicia Georgoulis of North  Andover, and Gregory Georgoulis of Dracut, eight grandchildren, nine great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was pre-deceased by her granddaughter Nyssa Georgoulis and her sister Bertha Goerke.

Fran loved fiercely and was fiercely loved by her family. She will remain forever in our hearts.

A special thank you to Ascend Hospice and the staff at The Residence at Freeman Lake in N. Chelmsford, MA for their care and support of Frances and her family.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 9 to 10:30 A.M Tuesday December 7, 2021. Her Funeral Service will be held at the CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH in LOWELL at 11 o’clock followed by her burial at the Westlawn Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

George M. Tsandikos

Retired Administrator, Lowell Public Schools;

George M. Tsandikos, 91, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, a well-known Lowell educator, passed away peacefully on Thursday November 25th, 2021 at Lahey
Clinic in Burlington, Massachusetts surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on July 12th, 1930, the son of the late Michael and the late Helen (Karakantas) Tsandikos  George attended the Lowell schools
and was a graduate of Lowell High School, Class of 1949.  While growing up in the Acre, he was one of the first employees at the original Demoulas Market on Dummer Street, something he was always proud of.

George attended the New England Conservatory of Music and proudly served his country as a member of the US Army.  Upon his return to the United States, he  attended Boston University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Speech Pathology.

Prior to his retirement, George was a long-time administrator with the Special Education department for the Lowell Public school system.

In addition to his career in education, George had a passion for music and was an accomplished opera singer.  He was honored to perform with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, with the Opera at LaScala in Italy and most notably at the Herod Atticus Theatre at the foot of the Acropolis in Greece. He was also a longtime cantor at Temple Emanuel of the Merrimack Valley.

A lifelong and passionate Red Sox fan, he made it a point to try and watch every inning of every game in a season.

He is survived by three nieces Angela Papandreou and her husband John of Lowell,  Elaine Damianakis of Lowell, Frances Gordon and her husband John
of Warren, Rhode Island; his nephew, Harry T. Anastopoulos, of Weston, MA; his four great nieces and nephews; Maria Papandreou and her husband Joseph
Musel of Lowell,  Michael Damianakis, of Utah, Marina Anastopoulos of
Boston and Ted Anastopoulos of Boston.

George is predeceased by his sisters Bessie Haidutis and Kitsa Anastopoulos, and his nephew John Haidutis.

Relatives and friends are invited to George's visitation on Wednesday
December 1, 2021, at the HELLENIC ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY in LOWELL from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. followed by his Funeral Service in the
Church at 11:00 AM. Burial to follow at the Westlawn Cemetery.
E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Hellenic Orthodox Church of the Holy
Trinity, Lowell, MA 01854, or The Jimmy Fund at www.jimmyfund.org/gift or the New England Conservatory of Music at necmusic.edu
Arrangements by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME - LOWELL - (978) 458-8768.

Charles E. Gallagher

"Well known area entertainer"

Charles E. (“Charlie”) Gallagher, 93, of Lowell, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2021, at D'Youville Life and Wellness Community.  He was predeceased by the love of his life, his wife, Alyce C. (Gilligan) Gallagher.

Charlie was born on December 20, 1927, on Sargent Street in the heart of Lowell’s Acre neighborhood, the fourth of the eight children of William H. and Alice F. (Smith) Gallagher.  He attended Bartlett Elementary, Lowell High School, and the New England College of Art.

Upon graduating high school, Charlie enlisted in the Army, serving in Korea, rising to the rank of Staff Sergeant, and earning a WWII Victory Medal.

By vocation, Charlie was an illustrator, for several decades, at Raytheon Corporation but by avocation, he was a music man, an unabashed and irrepressible showman.  He learned the piano, by ear, on an old Upright literally at his father’s knee and for the next 80 years, he played, and entertained, everywhere – on (yes, on) Hampton Beach, at sea, at weddings and after funerals, at venues near and far, at formal events and countless Gallagher family parties, leading sing-alongs, and eagerly performing his favorite shticks including “Trouble” from The Music Man and The Auctioneer.

For Charlie, life was a song – preferably in four-part harmony.  He was a well-known (“legendary,” according to one contemporary) “barbershopper” for over a half century.  He sang with many barbershop choruses including the Andover (MA) Townsmen and the Granite Statesmen (Nashua, NH), and was a founding member of the Lowell Gentleman Songsters.  He sang with many different barbershop quartets – including, with his son, brother, and nephew, The Gallagher Four – which he would proudly introduce as “two fathers, two sons, two uncles, two cousins, and four friends.”  He sang from Lowell to Alton Bay, NH and from Montreal, Canada to the Netherlands.  He sang on the streets of the Lowell Folk Festival and at many area non-profit and political gatherings.   He sang – and taught – all four musical parts, even creating a barbershop “slide rule,” enabling singers to readily transpose from one key to another.  There were few things he loved more than “ringing” a great chord.  If a barbershop chorus needed a director, an emcee, a trainer, or someone to blow the “pitch pipe” to ensure that singers remained on key, Charlie was the guy.

Charlie was also a recreational inventor, composer, and poet, self-publishing his own book of poetry.

Although he was passionate about his barbershopping and piano-playing, Charlie’s greatest love was his late wife, Alyce, and his greatest accomplishment was selflessly guiding her through nearly a decade of Alzheimer’s – serving as her cook, launderer, beautician, chauffeur, and fierce health care advocate – committed to keeping her in her home, and that is where she remained.

While for most of his life, Charlie enjoyed excellent health, multiple physical challenges beset him in his later years.  When he lost his sight, he put down his songbook.  When he lost the use of his legs, even though he had circled his beloved Fort Hill Park every day, rain or shine, for 30 years, he settled into an Adirondack chair on his front lawn overlooking the park and engaged passersby in friendly banter.  Through it all, to the end, he never, ever complained.

Charlie and Alyce had five children whom they put through college, to whom he passed along his love for music and art, and for whom he modeled integrity, self-confidence, entrepreneurship, frugality and generosity, independence, respect, and hard work.  He is survived by a daughter, Caroline Gallagher, of Rockland, ME; four sons, Michael Gallagher and his wife Linda of Lowell, Daniel Gallagher and his wife Jody of Lowell, Chris Gallagher and his wife Brigitte of Sarasota, FL, and Charles E. Gallagher, Jr. of Rockland, ME.  In addition, he was “Grandad” to seven treasured grandchildren, Ryan Gallagher and his wife, Claire, Rory Gallagher, Drew Gallagher, Datev Gallagher and her fiancé Adam Witzel, Cory Gallagher, Este Fuller and her fiancé Adam Page, and Brady Gallagher, and to his great granddaughter, Clara Rose Page.  He is also survived by his cherished sisters, Mary E. Quinn of Dracut, and Angela Lyons and her husband Jack of Dracut, and sister-in-law Rita Gallagher of Dover, NH, and dozens of much-loved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Charlie was the brother of the late William Gallagher, Walter Gallagher, Owen Gallagher, Frederic Gallagher, and Ellen Spear – all of whom also served their country in the armed services.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in Lowell on Thursday, November 11, 2021, from 3 to 7 P.M.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Friday morning at ST. PATRICK CHURCH 282 SUFFOLK ST. in Lowell at 11 o’clock followed by his burial at the LOWELL CEMETERY.  E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com.  Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Charles E. Gallagher Memorial Fund, c/o Lowell Community Foundation, 100 Merrimack St., Suite 202, Lowell, MA 01852 or online Charles E. Gallagher Memorial https://glcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create?funit_id=3808.  Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

John J. "Jay" Sopel, Jr.
Beloved father;

John J. “Jay” Sopel, Jr., 60, of Lowell, Massachusetts passed away on Monday November 1, 2021 after a brief illness.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1960, the son of the late John J. Sopel, Sr. and the late Pauline A. (Peters) Sopel, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of the Greater Lowell Technical High School.

Jay was a truck driver with Cintras Corporation of Chelmsford, MA for over 15 years.

Among his many interests, Jay’s passion was coaching and volunteering for PYO in Pawtucketville, spending time with his kids, family and friends. Whenever he had the opportunity jay brought his kids to different sporting events.

Jay is survived by two sons Kyle J. Sopel of Lowell,Ma and Brandon A. LaDuke of Lowell,Ma, a daughter Natalie M. Jardine of Dracut, Ma; his former wife Melissa B. Sopel of Lowell, MA.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Memorial Visitation to be held on Wednesday November 10, 2021 at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 4 to 6 P.M. followed by his Funeral Service in the Funeral Home at 6 o’clock. Private committal services will be held at a later date for the family. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing to make contributions in his memory please donate to PYO by mailing a check to PYO- P.O. Box 8441 Lowell, Ma or by Venmo; @PYO-Lowell which is listed as a business. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.