Obituaries

The Acton Exchange publishes obituaries of current and past residents of Acton, Massachusetts, and of people who have a connection to the town. For information, please consult our Obituary Policy.

Obituary: Catherine (Kate) Keleher

August 1, 2026

by Family

Catherine Elizabeth Keleher, known to most as Kate, died peacefully at home in Acton, Massachusetts on June 26, 2026, at the age of 80. Born in New York City and raised in Melrose, Massachusetts (with deep family roots in Winthrop), she lived for more than 30 years in…

Obituary: Eleanor Anderson

July 18, 2026

by Family

Eleanor Irene Hayward Anderson, our bright and peaceful light, left us unexpectedly on July 10, 2026, and the world will never be the same. She came to us on September 14, 1996, in the earliest hours of the day, and has been a beacon of light and joy…

Obituary: Lillian A. Jaehnig

July 18, 2026

by Family

Lillian A. Jaehnig, 102 years and 11 months, a resident of nearly 60 years in Boxborough, MA passed away on July 14, 2026. Born in Boston (Roxbury) at home on Aug. 8, 1923, she was the daughter of the late Frederick Brennan and Lena (Henson} Brennan. Besides her…

Obituary: Michael Barton

June 13, 2026

by Family

Michael Earl Barton of Sandwich died at Tufts Medical Center on May 24. He was 79. Born in Weymouth, Massachusetts in October, 1946, to Velma and Donald Barton, he graduated from Acton-Boxborough High School. Michael studied voice at the University of Colorado. Although his career led him to…

Obituary: Martin Osman

June 6, 2026

by Family

Dr. Martin Osman of Newton Highlands, Massachusetts, an applied physicist, World War II veteran, and blind inventor, died peacefully at home on June 4, in his sleep. He was 101 years old. The cause was old age. As a blind carpenter, Marty whistled through his teeth as he worked…

Obituary: Stephen Robert Noone

May 9, 2026

by Family

Stephen Robert Noone, 78, of Acton, Massachusetts, passed away suddenly on April 27, 2026, at his summer home in Antrim, New Hampshire. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Linda Farley Noone; his three daughters: Stephanie Oliver, Caitlin Tompkins, and Lesley Noone; sons-in-law Justin Oliver and…

Obituary: Caroline Nichols Stevens

April 1, 2026

by Family

Caroline Nichols Stevens (formerly Moss), 77, of Sudbury, MA passed peacefully on 27 March 2026 due to Parkinson’s Disease. Caroline was born on 14 October 1948 in Boston, MA and grew up in Lexington, MA. Her first job was with her best friend at the Lexington Public Library.…

Obituary: Rocco “Rocky” Brienzo

February 21, 2026

by Family

Rocco “Rocky” Brienzo, of Maynard and a former longtime resident of Lynn, died peacefully Jan. 30, 2026 at his home. He was 106 years old. He was the beloved husband of the late Marguerite H. (Sindoni) Brienzo to whom he was married 75 years at the time of…

Obituary: Richard Mark Golembeski

February 19, 2026

by Family

Richard Mark Golembeski, 84, formerly of Acton, MA, passed away surrounded by family on January 27, 2026 after a valiant battle with cancer. Born on January 14, 1942, in Needham, Massachusetts, he was the son of Stanley and Sally (Olbrys) Golembeski. Richard grew up in Needham and graduated…

Obituary: Roger A. Wallace

February 14, 2026

by Family

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Roger Wallace, a man whose laughter was contagious and whose generosity knew no bounds. Born on January 30, 1964, in Bath, Maine, Roger spent his life filling the world around him with warmth, humor, and kindness. He passed away on…

Obituary: Vesu Kuosmanen

February 7, 2026

by Family

Vesa Martti Kuosmanen, age 93 of Acton, MA, passed away peacefully at Elderwood of Scallop Shell in Wakefield, RI, on January 15, 2026. Born in Muuruvesi, Finland, on May 2, 1932, Vesa was the son of the late Konrad and Amanda (Pitkanen) Kuosmanen. He was the youngest of…

Obituary: Paul Alfred Turner

January 31, 2026

by Family

Paul Alfred Turner passed away unexpectedly on January 13, 2026 in Acton, Mass. He was 68 years old. Paul was born in Boston on May 1, 1957 to Donald Frank Turner and Joan Pearson Turner. He spent most of his early years in Lexington, graduating from Curry College…

Obituary: Janis Ossmann

January 27, 2026

by Family

Janis Louise Bestul Ossmann of Acton, Massachusetts died peacefully on January 23, 2026 following a year-long battle with cancer. She was 71 years old. Janis Louise Bestul was born in Washington, D.C. on June 15, 1954 to Alden Bestul, a scientist at the National Bureau of standards (now…

Obituary: Marvin D. Pope

January 24, 2026

by Family

Marvin Delford Pope of Acton, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 9, 2026, at the age of 93. Marvin was born in 1932 in Hill City, Minnesota, during the Great Depression. The son of Kenneth Frances Pope and Azalba Merle Stengel Pope, he grew up…

Obituary: Earl C. Van Horn, Jr.

January 21, 2026

by Family

Earl C. Van Horn, Jr., aged 86, of Acton, MA passed away peacefully at Tufts Medical Center on Jan. 15, 2026, with his step-children, Mark and Lia Spitzer, by his side. Earl was born on January 24, 1939 in Cincinnati, OH, to Earl Sr. and Agnes Van Horn.…

Obituary: Carol Lake

January 10, 2026

by Family

Carol Lake of Acton, MA, passed away on December 6, 2025, at the age of 89. Carol was born on April 21, 1936, in New Haven, Connecticut, to Dorland and Wanda Taylor. She attended Connecticut College for Women. She married her life partner, Norman Lake, in 1958. After…

Obituary: Rosemary Szafran

December 27, 2025

by Family

Rosemary (Larkin) Szafran, 81, of Pembroke, formerly of Acton, MA, passed away peacefully on December 23, 2025. Rosemary was born and raised in Braintree, MA and graduated from Archbishop Williams High School. She continued her education at Stonehill College, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics. Rosemary went…

Obituary: James (“Jim”) Patrick Connolly

December 13, 2025

FamilyandThe Acton Exchange Team

James Patrick Connolly passed away peacefully at Boston Medical Center on Nov. 20, 2025, with his nephews Sean and Timothy Connolly at his side. Born Feb. 27, 1936, to Michael and Margaret Connolly, Jim grew up in Waltham, where he graduated from Saint Mary’s High School in 1953.…

Obituary: Harriet Jean DiLuzio

December 10, 2025

by Family

Harriet Jean DiLuzio, age 79, of Acton, MA passed away on December 6, 2025, surrounded by friends and family at Lahey Hospital in Burlington, MA. She died from injuries caused by a tragic accident that occurred on December 3, 2025. Harriet was born in Springfield, Massachusetts on August…

Keith Karkane Obituary

November 15, 2025

by Family

On his 57th birthday, November 15, 2025, Keith David Karkane of Westminster, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends. Born in Concord, Massachusetts, on November 15, 1968, to parents William and Dona Karkane, Keith was a man of exceptional integrity, character, and warmth. He was a…