Owen F. Gallagher

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and friend;

Owen F. Gallagher, 94, of Dover, New Hampshire, but formerly of Exeter, Nashua and Lake City, FL, passed away peacefully on Saturday December 21, 2019 at Portsmouth Regional Hospital with his cherished family by his side.

He was the loving husband for almost 68 years of Rita J. (Tucker) Gallagher, who survives him.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, December 6, 1925, a son of the late William H. and the late Alice F. (Smith) Gallagher, he attended St. Patrick Grammar School and was a graduate of Keith Academy Class of 1943.

A veteran of World War II, Owen enlisted right out of high school with the U.S. Army Air Force where he proudly served his country as Sergeant with 128th Division and was awarded the Victory medal.

Following the war, Owen continued his education at Merrimack College where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics in 1954.

For most of his career Owen was an electronics buyer with Raytheon Corporation and Sanders Associates.

He was also a Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus and was an adult leader in the Boy Scouts in Nashua for several years.

Owen was an active member of a group of Barber Shop singers who performed and entertained in the Lowell area. Owen was an avid golfer who dressed the part in his brightly colored clothes.

Owen’s most favorite times were those he spent with his wife and family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Besides his wife Rita, he is survived by four children Ellen (Gallagher) Berchtold and her husband Bruce of Deerfield, NH, Owen F. Gallagher, Jr. of Wynantskill, NY, Susan (Gallagher) Allard and her husband Mario of Manchester, NH and Maureen Gallagher and her husband Dennis Moulton of Portsmouth, NH; three siblings Charles Gallagher of Lowell, Mary Elizabeth Quinn and her husband David of Dracut, and Angela Lyons and her husband Jack of Dracut; six grandchildren Patricia DeCourcy and her husband Thomas of Bedford, NH, Joseph Berchtold and his fiancée Courtney Doyle of Manchester, NH, Kathleen Turner of Ravena, NY, Daniel Gallagher – Kats and his wife Michelle of Framingham, MA, Nicole Rissman and her husband Derek of San Diego, CA and Michelle Allard and her partner Ross Terrance of Vancouver, BC, Canada; six great grandchildren Miriam, Penelope, Evan, Autumn, Juniper and Frances; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was also the brother of the late William Gallagher, Walter Gallagher, Frederick Gallagher and Ellen Spear and father-in-law of the late Karen (Deiber) Gallagher.

Relatives and friends may call for a Memorial Visitation at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 1:00 to 4:00 P.M. Sunday December 29, 2019. Private Funeral Services will be held at a later date for the family. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

Viola J. Anderson

Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt and friend;

Viola J. (Handley) Anderson, 81, of Dracut, Massachusetts, cherished wife of Donald W. Anderson, passed away peacefully in her home of 76 years on Saturday December 21, 2019 with her loving family by her side after a period of declining health.

Vi was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 13, 1938, a daughter of the late Alfred F. and the late Gladys M. (Greene) Handley and was a 1956 graduate of Dracut High School.

A homemaker for several years while her children were young, she was also employed as a medical secretary for Doctors in Lowell and Chelmsford for over 30 years.

Viola’s main joy and happiness in life was her family. She dedicated her life to her family and loved nothing more than spending time with them while enjoying a good box of chocolates.

She and Don enjoyed many years of retirement, traveled extensively and spent several years wintering in Naples, Florida.

Vi had a close circle of beloved friends many of whom go back sixty or seventy years. She had a wonderful sense of humor, a quick wit and was able to make a new friend everywhere she went. 

Besides her husband Don, her devoted soulmate of 61 years, she is survived  by her loving children Donald W. Anderson, Jr. and his wife Antonette of Salem, NH and Carole Roberts and her companion John Philbrick of Dracut; her dear sister Carole (Handley) Aubut of Dracut; her adored grandchildren Kaitlyn Roberts and her fiancée Christopher King of Dracut, Michael Anderson of Boston and Stephanie Anderson of Bangor, ME; and great grandson Brendon King; her nieces Nancy Lafontaine of Florida, Betty Aubut of North Carolina and Peggy Osbaldeston of Amesbury; and many dear great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.

Viola’s family would like to thank the nurses and aides at Commonwealth Nursing Services and Merrimack Valley Hospice for their wonderful care and compassion during her illness as well as the Firefighters and EMT’s of Dracut Fire Dept. and Trinity Ambulance Service.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 3 to 7 P.M. Thursday December 26, 2019. Relatives and friends are invited to her Funeral Service to be held Friday morning at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME at 10:00 followed by her burial at St. Patrick Cemetery in Lowell. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital P.O. Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN., 38101. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. ODonnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.   

Noreen Austin

Loving sister;

Noreen (Flaherty) Austin, 75, of North Billerica, Massachusetts, died Friday, December 13, 2019, at Lowell General Hospital – Saints Campus.

She was the beloved wife of the late Gordon M. Austin.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, November 14, 1944, a daughter of the late Thomas J. and the late Eileen K. (Carney) Flaherty, Noreen attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School in the Class of 1963.

Prior to her retirement in 1991, Noreen worked as a telephone operator and then as an account clerk for the New England Telephone Company.

Noreen loved traveling with her husband to Aruba and Hawaii on vacations. She was a proud member of the “Sixties Chicks”, lifelong friends who socialized together for over 55 years.  Noreen was a kind and compassionate person who enjoyed shopping and walking at the malls. She was also active with the Lowell Senior Center.

She is survived by a sister Kathryn E. Ost and her husband John of Nashua, NH; two stepdaughters Lisa Galluccio and her husband John of Nashua, NH and Leanne Liberti and her husband Steven of Las Vergas, NV; a step grandson Austin Galluccio; several nieces, nephews and a grandnephew. Noreen was also the sister of the late Gail Cyr.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 3 to 7 P.M. Wednesday. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Service to be held Thursday morning at the Funeral Home at 10:30 A.M. followed by burial in St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to the American Heart Assn., 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.      

Beulah L. Spence

Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend;

Beulah L. (Solie) Spence, 94, of Tewksbury, Massachusetts passed away Thursday December 12, 2019 at Lowell General Hospital – Saints Campus.

She was the loving wife of the late George T. Spence who died in 1989.

Born on April 26, 1925, in Virginia, Minnesota, a daughter of the late Arthur and the late Videl (Dunlop) Solie, she was a graduate of Forest River High School in Forest River, North Dakota.

For many years, Beulah was a sale’s clerk at the former Macy’s in downtown Lowell until her retirement.

An avid Red Sox fan, she also enjoyed reading and bingo.

Beulah is survived by her daughter Helen Sussenberger and her husband William of Tewksbury; a son George T. Spence, Jr. and his wife Carol of Naples, FL and Dracut, MA; five grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was also the mother of the late Stephen M. Spence, grandmother of the late Michelle Spence and was predeceased by several brothers and sisters.

Relatives and friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL from 6 to 8 P.M. Thursday. Private Funeral Services will be held at a later date for the family. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or the MSPCA. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.