James G. Spanos, Sr.

Beloved father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and in-law;

James G. Spanos, Sr., 89, of Dracut, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday March 15, 2021.

He was the loving husband of the late Theresa (Gauthier) Spanos who died January 17, 2018.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, October 11, 1931, the son of the late George and the late Veneta (Sperounis) Spanos, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School with the Class of 1949.

A decorated veteran of the Korean Conflict, Jim proudly served his country as a Sergeant First Class in the U.S. Army. Among his several medals and honors, he was awarded two Bronze Stars.

Prior to his retirement, he worked in Internal Communications with the Raytheon Corporation. Previously, he was a foreman with the former Concord Foundry in Concord, MA with 30 years of service.

An avid Patriots fan, Jim enjoyed playing golf, softball and attending all his grandchildren’s sports and activities. However, his greatest joy was just being with his family, whom he deeply loved and they him.

Jim is survived by three children James G. Spanos, Jr. and his wife Deena of Milford, NH, Debra Ludwig and her husband Robert of Dracut and Linda Entwistle and her husband Scott of Lowell; six grandchildren Tiffany Collins and her husband Joe, Billy Spanos and his wife Lindsey, Robert Ludwig, Michael Ludwig and his wife Kristen, David Entwistle and Lindsay Entwistle; five great grandchildren Jake, Laney, Harper, Braxton and Alexander; his dear brother Charles G. Spanos of Hudson, NH; his in-laws Rita Miele and her husband Ralph, Germaine Woodman and her husband Ray, Constance Gauthier and her partner Rita Toppi, Diane Daigle and her husband Ron, Dolores Kaplan and her husband Dennis, Elizabeth Quintal, Hector Gauthier and his wife Rhonda and Jacqueline Gauthier; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

He was also the brother of the late Louis Spanos, John Spanos, Irene Wojcik, Anna Desrosiers, Dorothy Spanos and Andrew Spanos.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in Lowell from 2 to 5 P.M. Sunday March 21, 2021. (All state required social distancing procedures will be observed including the wearing of masks upon entrance into the funeral home.) Due to gathering concerns, the Funeral and Burial Services will be held privately for the family. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the American Heart Assn. P.O. Box 417005, Boston, MA 02241. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

Margaret L “Maggie” Martin

Beloved mother, sister-in-law, aunt and friend

Margaret L. “Maggie” Martin, 80, of Lowell died Tuesday, March 2 at Lowell General Hospital. She was the beloved wife of 48 years to Lawrence R. “Larry” Martin who passed away in 2015.

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, February 24, 1941, She was the daughter of the late Henry and the late Helen (O’Flaherty) Brennan. She was an only child.

Maggie attended the Academy of Notre Dame in Tyngsboro where she was known for getting kicked out of Glee Club with her friend Ann Marie Hurley. She completed her bachelors degree in Psychology at Marrymount College and later went on to receive her MBA from Lesley University.

Maggie devoted most of her professional career to the research and treatment of cancer. She held many positions throughout the years including Biostatistician at Faulkner Hospital and Director of the Cancer Treatment Centers at Wentworth Douglass Hospital and Saints Memorial Hospital. She maintained her certification as a Tumor Registrar throughout her life and enjoyed getting calls for job offers for this coveted skill even in her 70s.

After her so-called retirement, Maggie took a part-time role working for D’Youville Senior Care doing public relations and events. She brought her signature dedication to this role as well. She continued this work as a volunteer and had just completed planning their latest public access television show when she passed.

Although Maggie came from a small family herself, she embraced the Martin/Sayer clan with open arms. She started the tradition of hosting the entire family for Thanksgiving dinner (40+ people) and loved nothing more than having a house full of family and a table full of food. Maggie was known for her amazing chocolate chip cookies that no one else in the family has been able to replicate. She was also an avid dog lover and her chocolate lab, Ashley was her favorite companion.

Maggie is survived by two daughters Connie Martin and Leslie Martin and her husband Matthew Fleming all of Lowell; a sister-in-law Mary Sayer of Lowell; and a sister-in-law Ruth Martin of Hudson, NH. She was a favorite aunt to her many nieces and nephews. She will also be mourned by the Hurley/Waddell family and most especially by Ann Marie Hurley, her lifelong friend.

The family held a private ceremony on Tuesday, March 9th. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Maggie’s name to D’Youville Senior Care, 981 Varnum Ave., Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME - LOWELL - MA (978) 458-8768.

Pauline G. Cushing

Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend;

Pauline G. (O’Brien) Cushing, 98, of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Monday March 1, 2021 at the Palm Center in Chelmsford, MA.

Pauline was the wife of the late Gerald T. Cushing, Sr. who died in 1973.

Born in Billerica, Massachusetts, July 2, 1922, the daughter of the late James E. and the late Gertrude (LeLacheur) O’Brien, she attended Billerica schools and was a graduate of Howe High School. Class of 1941.

Prior to her retirement, Pauline was the secretary to the Sitting Judges at the Lowell District Court for over 25 years. Previously, she was with the law firm Donahue and Donahue.

Among her many interests, Pauline loved to travel, play golf, play cards and was a talented seamstress and an avid pizza maker. A former member of Mt. Pleasant Golf Club, she was active at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish, the Blessed Virgin Sodality and Keith Hall.

She is survived by two daughters Sharon L. Cushing of Watertown and Patricia A. Davidson and her husband John of Lowell; two sons Gerald Timothy Cushing, Jr, and his wife Martha Shadan of Westboro and Michael J. Cushing and his wife Jay Rushel of Lowell; six grandchildren Rachel J. Cushing of Los Angelos, CA, Sarah J. Sheehan and her husband Daniel of Wilmington, Steven C. Davidson and his wife Ashley of Lowell, Andrew C. Davidson of Lowell, Dr. Tucker J. Cushing of Houston, TX and Sydney E. Cushing of Southie; three great grandchildren Jeremy J. Sheehan, Welles P. Davidson and Luke C. Davidson;  a brother Daniel O’Brien  of North Billerica; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins.

She was the longtime devoted companion of Paul Holmes, who survives her.

She was also predeceased by her siblings James E. O’Brien, Kathleen Connors, Dorothy Meyers, Rita Burgess and Faith Collinge and her son-in-law Stephen T. Barry (Sharon’s husband).

Pauline’s family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the staff of Palm Center and Compassus Hospice for their care of Pauline especially during the past year under the extra difficult times.  Their care and compassion will always be remembered and appreciated.

Due to gathering restrictions, all Funeral Services were held privately for the family including a Mass at St. Margaret of Scotland Church and burial in St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to the Lowell Association for the Blind, 169 Merrimack St., Lowell, MA 01851. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – MA (978) 458-8768.

Shirley Marie Stagnone

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother

Shirley Marie (Bouchard) Stagnone, of Lowell, passed away peacefully in the presence of her children, February 24, 2021 at the age of 90. She was the beloved wife of Louis J. Stagnone, who predeceased her in June 2020 after 67 years of marriage.  Shirley was a lovely and elegant, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who adored her husband and family. She was generous with her love, will be missed always and cherished in memory.

Shirley was born in Lowell, MA on September 23, 1930 the second child of Thomas and Ethel Bouchard.  She graduated from Lowell High School in 1948 where she achieved the honor of being elected to the Girl Officers service group and her innate fashion sense was recognized when she was voted “best dressed”.

Following high school, Shirley attended St. Joseph School of Nursing in Lowell, where she earned her certification as a Registered Nurse. At that time, student nurses wore the Florence Nightingale uniform of starched apron and cap; were supervised carefully by the watchful eyes of nuns; and were not allowed to marry. Thus, when Shirley’s high school sweetheart and life-long love, Lou, was deployed to Korea, they married in a small secret ceremony just two weeks before her graduation. She embarked upon her nursing career while Lou was overseas, continuing until the birth of their first child.

Shirley and Lou built a home in Tewksbury where she became a stay-at-home mother, busy raising five children, born within seven years of each other. Her children will always remember her laughter and her beautiful singing voice filling the air as she went about her household tasks. Her kids were her priority and her proudest moments were centered around their achievements. They are grateful for her constant interest and encouragement, her willingness to listen, the loving home she created and her deep concern for everyone.

As a book lover who married an enthusiastic athlete, above all else, Shirley will be remembered as being a good sport. She constantly organized the many details of the hikes, ski trips, beach days and excursions the family embarked upon, assuring everyone had the food, clothing and supplies needed to make it a success. Her efforts and participation in activities which were often outside of her own comfort zone resulted in a wealth of happy shared memories for her family.

Shirley loved people and was interested in everyone’s “story”. She embraced the large family she married into and her own expanding family with the addition of sons and daughters-in-law.  Shirley returned to nursing once her children were grown, working for many years in the oncology department at St. John’s Hospital, in Lowell. She cherished the long-lasting friendships she formed with her close colleagues throughout her career.

Eventually, Shirley and Lou returned to their hometown of Lowell to live in retirement and became grandparents to seven grandchildren. Shirley was an enthusiastic fan intent on being equally present at her grandchildren’s many sporting, school and religious events.

In addition to her loving husband Lou, Shirley was predeceased by her brother George Bouchard and her in-laws, Daniel Stagnone of Dracut, MA and his wife Patricia, James Stagnone of Albuquerque, NM and Joseph Stagnone of Plantation, FL. Shirley is survived by her five children, their spouses, her seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Immediate family includes Mary Lou and Paul McCarthy of Georgetown, Joseph and Susan Stagnone of Exeter, NH, Thomas Stagnone of Cranston, RI, Mark and Heather Stagnone of Litchfield, NH and Beth and Gordon Stockwood of Amesbury. Grandchildren include Brenna McCarthy and her husband Greg Sulser, Kelly McCarthy, Leah, Hayden and Sarah Stagnone, Gordon and Sam Stockwood and great-grandchildren Maeve and Callan Sulser. Shirley is also survived by her brother- in-law Frank Stagnone and his wife Tish of Chelmsford, and her sister-in-law Marjory of Plantation, FL.

Shirley’s final months were spent living with her son Mark, his wife Heather and their family. We are so grateful for the loving support offered to her during that time.

A summer memorial is planned to celebrate Shirley’s life along with that of her husband Lou’s. Please visit www.odonnellfuneralhome.com to send the family a message or a condolence. Throughout her life Shirley prayed to Saint Jude for her special intentions. Those wishing may make memorial donations in her honor to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: www.stjude.org/donate. Arrangements by O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME, LOWELL – MA - (978) 458-8768.