Obituaries

Obits: Tall Ship Sailor, Navy Vet. and Engineering Specialist

We list area obituaries.

By Sam Bonacci

Westborough — Frances Mango-Thompson, 63, of Westborough, died peacefully on Monday, August 12, 2013 at her family home.

Most recently, Fran was a one-on-one aide at Mill Pond Elementary School in Westborough. Previously, she worked as a speech language pathologist for the school systems in Portland, Ore.; Burlington, Billerica, Quincy and Monterrey, Calif.

Marlborough — Howard S. Johnston, 82, of Marlborough, formerly of West Barnstable, died Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013.

A graduate of Harvard College and member of the ROTC program, he later served in the US Navy during the Korean War.

He had been co-owner of Estes and Johnston Insurance Agency in Worcester with his late cousins, Charlie and Bob Johnston for many years before retiring on Cape Cod. He crewed aboard the tall ship Larinda and served with the Coast Guard Auxiliary on Cape Cod.  

Natick — Joseph E. Lienhard, Jr. of Natick died on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013 at the Tufts Medical Center of Boston. He was 82 years old.

Joe was raised in Cambridge and a 1950 graduate of Cambridge Rindge & Latin High School. He then enlisted in the United States Navy and served our country proudly during the Korean War. Mr. Lienhard learned plumbing while in the Navy and continued this trade as a journeyman plumber with the Plumbers Union, Local 12 for over 60 years. He was a skilled UA craftsman, loyal to his union and proud to be an American.  

Shrewsbury — Kenneth E. Hokanson 75, of Shrewsbury, died Sunday, Aug. 11, 2013 surrounded by his loving family after his long and courageous battle with prostate cancer.


Ken was born and raised in Worcester, son of the late Elo R. and Edith G. (Bleauvelt) Hokanson. He graduated from Worcester Boys Trade and served two years in the Navy on the DD709 Hugh Purvis. 

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Ken spent the majority of his work career as a manufacturing manager with Culver-Stearns in Worcester.


Natick — Eileen M. (McCarthy) Dennis of Natick died on Monday, Aug. 12, 2013 at the Massachusetts General Hospital of Boston.  

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She was a resident of Natick, a very active and faithful member of St. Patrick’s Church of Natick and was a eucharistic minister to people in area hospitals. Eileen enjoyed dancing and watching sports especially baseball and football.


Shrewsbury — George H. Dubois, 67, of Shrewsbury, died Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2013 after an illness.

George was an electronics engineering specialist for Raytheon in Sudbury for over 45 years. In his spare time George enjoyed spending many hours outdoors, playing with his dog “Bobby," woodworking, listening to music and watching the Boston Red Sox.

Grafton — Simone (Bourque) Bourgeois-Roberts, 71, of Wells, Maine died  peacefully in her home on Friday, Aug. 9, 2013 with her family by her side.

She was past treasurer, vice president and president of the St. Mary's Women's Guild of North Grafton and past secretary of the Treasurer's Club of the Boston Harvard Club. She worked for the Household Finance in Moncton and Worcester, also at the Grafton Credit Union in North Grafton and Bose Corporation in Framingham.


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