Joseph M. Brooks

Beloved husband, brother, step-father and friend

Joseph M. Brooks, 68, a member of a well-known Greater Lowell family, passed away Tuesday August 11, 2020 at Lowell General Hospital with his family by his side.

He was the loving husband of Michele (Fantasia) Brooks, whom he married on Friday August 7, 2020, after sharing over 30 years of life together.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, February 3, 1952, he was a son of the late Gardner F. and the late Helen T. (Mangan) Brooks.

Joe attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School Class of 1969 where he was Co-Captain of the varsity basketball team.

Prior to his retirement in 2010, after 32 years of service, Joe was a Sergeant and Correctional Officer with the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department in Billerica and served as the Head of the Recreational Department.

In addition, he was a bartender at Cappy’s Copper Kettle in Lowell for many years.

Joe was very active in and loved all sports. He was a longtime umpire with the American Softball Association and also served as a referee for regional varsity high school basketball games for many years.

A season ticket holder for the Celtics and Patriots, he attended many of Bob Cousy summer basketball camps in Pittsfield, NH and was also a member of the BoSox Club.

Joe was a talented sports statistician, spending many hours at Shedd Park with friends, and enjoying his passion for all sports.

He also enjoyed vacationing in Las Vegas, Saratoga, Florida and Wells, Maine with family and friends.

Besides his wife, Joe is survived by his two sisters Allyson Carling and her husband Gary of Westford and Laurel Kapala and her husband Dick of Lowell; a step-son Evan Fantasia of Haverhill; several cousins and many friends.

He was also the stepfather of the late Ashleigh Higson.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions, all services were held privately for the family. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Jimmy Fund, c/o Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave. West, Boston, MA 02215 or https://dana-farber.org/. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL- MA (978) 458-8768.

Cynthia J. Conroy

beloved wife, mother, grandmother. sister and friend;

Cynthia J. (Howes) Conroy, 66, of Tyngsborough, Massachusetts, died Wednesday August 5, 2020 at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston after a brief illness.

She was the loving wife for 48 years of Richard R. Conroy, who survives her.

Born in Winchester, Massachusetts, January 25, 1954 a daughter of the late Hobart C. and the late Ethel W. (McKee) Howes, she attended Stoneham schools and was a graduate of Stoneham High School.

Prior to her retirement, Cynthia was an Insurance Agent with Tonry Northwest Insurance Agency in Lexington, where she worked for over 41 years.

Besides her husband, Cynthia is survived by two sons Michael P. Conroy and his wife Jennifer (Smith) Conroy of Goffstown, NH and Joseph C. Conroy and his fiancée Natasha Schofield of Manchester, NH; six grandchildren Elyssa, Patrick and Jakob Conroy of Goffstown, NH and Jaycee, Holly and Kylie Conroy of Derry, NH; her former daughter-in-law Crystal (Coulter) Conroy of Derry, NH; a sister Sandra Barrett of Somersworth, VA; a niece Carolyn Barrett and a nephew Shaun Barrett and his wife Lauren all of Somersworth, VA.

In addition to crocheting, she was an avid Boston sports fan, especially the Bruins and Patriots.

At her request, all services were private for the family. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME - LOWELL, MA (978) 458-8768.

Efthemia I. “Effie” McKenna

Beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend;

Efthemia I. “Effie” (Regopoulos) McKenna, 77, of Nashua, NH but formerly of Lowell, passed away Monday August 3, 2020 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Nashua, NH.

She was the loving wife of the late William T. McKenna, who died May 31, 2013.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Mach 16, 1943, a daughter of the late Angelo P. and the late Mary (Rigopoulos) Regopoulos, she attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School Class of 1960.

Prior to her retirement, Effie was a customer Service representative for Walmart in Hudson, New Hampshire. Previously she was an Inspector at Honeywell Corporation and a sale’s clerk at Anton’s Cleaners in Nashua, NH.

Effie was a special person who loved spending time with family, traveling, Greek music, dancing and most of all, being the life of the party. She will be missed by many.

She is survived by her two sons Thom P. McKenna and Michael A. McKenna both of Nashua, NH; a granddaughter Avery Rose McKenna of Nashua, NH; and a sister Myra Spirou and her husband Arthur of Nashua, NH; her aunts Alice Koumpouras and Penny Rigopoulos both of Lowell.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions, Private Funeral Services were held for the family followed by burial in the Westlawn Cemetery with her family. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN, 38101. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL, MA (978) 458-8768.

Ronald J. Tello

Beloved brother, uncle and friend;

Ronald J. “Ronnie” Tello, 80, of Stoneham, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday July 28, 2020.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, July 13, 1940, a son of the late Frank and the late Leonilda (Albano) Tello, he received his education in Boston schools and was a graduate of the Boston Trade school.

For most of his career, Ronnie was a general contractor and was the owner and operator of R. J. Tello Construction. He was a constable in the City of Boston in the late 1970’s and also served as a Notary Public.

Ron was a member of the Knights of Columbus and was an active fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN.

Ron enjoyed outdoor sports, including snowmobiling and hunting, and would attend snowmobile races and rallies with his nephews.  He was also quite proud of his Italian heritage, and would visit Boston’s North End daily, enjoying a cappuccino, cannoli or dinner on Hanover Street with his friends and family.

He is survived by his two brothers Joseph “Buster” Tello and his wife Lorraine and John A. Tello and his wife Catherine all of Tewksbury; seven nieces and nephews; and many grandnieces and grandnephews.

Ron was also the brother of the late Francis J. Tello who died in 2014, and a loving father to his late son Jamie, who passed away as a young child in 1965.

Due to Covid 19 restrictions, private Funeral Services were held for the family and Ronald was buried with his family at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to St. Jude’s Research Hospital Memorial Fund, www.stjude.org/give  Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL, MA (978) 458-8768.