David E. Lajeunesse, 71, of Dartmouth died May 21, 2022 peacefully at Good Samaritan Medical Center.
Born in New Bedford, son of the late Ernest G. and Ann M. (Stone) Lajeunesse, he lived in Dartmouth most of his life.
He was formerly employed by Brayton Point Power Plant for many years until his retirement.
He enjoyed sailing.
Survivors include his 2 sons, Scott Lajeunesse and his wife Beth of Lithia, FL and Brian Lajeunesse and his wife Alison of Medway; his girlfriend, Nancy Mak of Dartmouth; and 7 grandchildren.
His funeral services will be private. Arrangements are with the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Michael W. DiCroce, 73, of Rochester, died May 9, 2022 at Tobey Hospital, Wareham. He was the husband of Linda E. (Tousignant) DiCroce. They were married for 51 years. He was the son of the late William and Shirley (Stubbs) DiCroce.
He was born in Brockton and live in Rochester for 18 years. He graduated from Cardinal Spellman High School and attended Curry College.
Mr. DiCroce worked as an assistant store manager for Victory Grocery Store in Kingston for many years before retiring in 2004.
He enjoyed gardening, trains, Civil War and Revolutionary War history, talk radio and he was a fan of the Boston Red Sox. He loved his family especially his grandchildren. He was a faithful man.
Survivors include his wife, Linda E. (Tousignant) DiCroce of Rochester; a daughter, Marianne Martinkus and her husband Roger of Hanscom Air Force Base; a son, Michael W. DiCroce, Jr. of Rochester; a brother, William DiCroce of Falmouth; a sister, Anne D'Urso of Chatham; his grandchildren, Lucia, Lukus and Victoria Martinkus; several nephews.
Visiting hours are from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2022 at Chapman Funerals & Cremations - WAREHAM, 2599 Cranberry Hwy., Wareham.
His funeral will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, May 16, 2022 from the funeral home followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima, 282 Vaughan Hill Rd, Rochester. Burial will follow in St. Mary's Cemetery, Middleboro.
To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, visit: www.chapmanfuneral.com.

Beatrice D. Pires, of Marion, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 surrounded by her family. She was the wife of the late Lucien F. Pires, Sr. and recently celebrated her 100th birthday.
A lifelong resident of Marion, she was the daughter of the late Mary (Correia) and Vincent Pina.
During World War II, Mrs. Pires worked in the Hingham Shipyard building destroyer escorts for the U.S. Navy. She was also a longtime supporter of the March of Dimes, served as registrar for the Town of Marion, and was Past-President of the Benjamin D. Cushing Post # 2425 Ladies Auxiliary. Mrs. Pires was a private caregiver for local families until her retirement. She was an excellent cook and loved to bake. She enjoyed going to Foxwoods and playing Bingo with her friends.
She is survived by her children, Glenda "Penny" Alves and her husband Domingo "Bobby" Alves of Marion, Mary Lou Rose of New Bedford, Donald Pires of New Bedford, Lynn Silva and her partner Joey Roderick of Marion, and Wendy Lee Barnes of Wolcott, CT. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great great grandson. She was predeceased by her sons, the late Lucien F. Pires, Jr. and Melvin Pina, and her siblings, the late Julio Nunes, Lawrence Pina, Anne Nunes Fernandes, Joan Gabouriel and Dominga Sequeira.
Relatives and friends are invited to visit on Wed., May 11, 2022 at Chapman Funerals & Cremations, 2599 Cranberry Hwy. (Rt. 28), Wareham from 8:30 to 10:30 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow in St. Patrick's Church, High St., Wareham at 11 AM. Interment will be in Mass. National Cemetery, Bourne.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Mary E. Roberts, of Rochester, passed away May 1, 2022 at the age of 69, after a long illness.
Mary grew up in Bridgewater and graduated from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School, Class of 1970. She was an active alumna and helped plan many of her class reunions. After high school, Mary became a Hair Stylist. Mary later went on to attend Fitchburg State University ('96) where she received a degree in Occupational and Vocational Education and taught in several schools in the area. Working in Cosmetology at the Island Terrace Nursing Home became the career for Mary who later became a CNA, as well as retired from a Massachusetts state-run group home for women with disabilities. Mary was a compassionate care giver to all she knew. She enjoyed going out to eat, taking trips especially to Maine, and time on the beach. Her main passion in life was her family. Planning family reunions and gatherings was an essential part of Mary's life. Mary will be remembered for her caring and positivity personality. She will be sadly missed by all those who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Loving wife of 43 years to Lee Roberts of Rochester. Beloved daughter of Madeline Moore (Roque) of Bridgewater and the late James "Ken" Moore. Cherished sister of David Moore and his wife Wendy of Bridgewater, James "Peter" Moore and his wife Cheri of Florida and Kathleen Flaherty and her husband Shawn of Bridgewater. Adored fur mom of her dog Julie. Also survived by many nieces, nephews and extended family and dear friends.
Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend the Visiting Hours on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 from 4-7 pm in the Chapman Funeral Home, Bridgewater. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at 10:30 am in St. Basil Chapel, Bridgewater. Burial service to follow in St. Thomas Cemetery, Bridgewater.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mary may be made to the MSPCA.

Conrad "Slim" Omer Bernier, 90, of Rochester, passed away on Sunday May 1, 2022. He was the spouse of the late Anita (Babineau) Bernier, son of the late Omer Bernier and Aurea Poirier, and brother of the late John Bernier and Louis Bernier. Slim was born in Acushnet and lived all his life in the South Coast area.
Slim was a veteran of the United States Army where he trained military working dogs at Fort Carson, Colorado. After completing his military duties, Slim returned to the area, married, and found work with New England Telephone. He remained with the Telephone Company his entire career.
Among his many friends, Slim is perhaps best remembered for his avocations. He was a volunteer fireman for over 70 years, starting at age 12 as a junior member of the Acushnet Fire Department. When he moved to Rochester in the early 1960's, he joined the Fire Department there. He remained a member for decades. is 50th anniversary with the Rochester Fire Department was marked with the presentation of a gold-plated, fire axe.
Slim had a passion for blacksmithing. He introduced many to the historic craft by demonstrating metalworking techniques at local festivals and by founding the blacksmithing program at the Freetown Historical Society. Slim will also be remembered as a presence at the New Bedford Airport where he taught ground school to aspiring pilots. He led a boy scout troop and coached youth hockey, a sport he learned when he attended Mount Saint Charles.
More recently Slim made the Rochester Council on Aging a priority. He loved the comradery of the weekday breakfasts. He appreciated the French Club and the variety of services offered to seniors. More importantly to Slim, staying active in the C.O.A. honored his late wife, Anita who had been active in bringing the Council to Rochester.
Survivors include his five children: Judith Brandau (Jeffrey) of Sneads Ferry, NC; John Bernier (Lynne) of Rochester, MA; Janet Cote (Rick) of Tampa, FL; Edward Bernier (Karen) of Stuttgart, Germany; and Steven Bernier (Julie) of Tampa, FL; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Claude Bernier of Glendale, Arizona and a sister, Diane Whitehouse of Denver, Colorado.
Visitation will be Friday morning 8:00 am to 9:00 am at Rock Funeral Home followed by a Funeral Mass at Saint Rose of Lima Church in Rochester at 10:00 am. Interment Sacred Heart Cemetery, New Bedford.
While it is true Slim always had a list of five chores written on the back of envelopes for his kids to do after school, the family is limiting his final list to three items. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made in Slim's memory to any of the following organizations:
1. The Rochester Fire Fighter Association, Attn: Memorial Fund, In Memory of Slim Bernier, 10 Neck Rd, Rochester MA 02770
2. The Freetown Historical Society, Attn: Memorial Fund, In Memory of Slim Bernier, PO Box 251, Assonet, MA 02702
3. Rochester Council on Aging, Attn: Eric Poulin, Director, In Memory of Slim Bernier, 67 Dexter Lane, Rochester, MA 02770

Shirley (Zavalcofsky) Brustin, 89, of Marion, formerly of Brockton died peacefully on Sunday, April 24, 2022 at Sippican Healthcare in Marion with her loving family by her side.
Born in Plymouth, she was the daughter of the late David and Esther (Bilsky) Zavalcofsky. Shirley was born on May 24, 1932 and would have turned 90 next month.
She was a longtime volunteer for 25 years at Good Samaritan Hospital. She lived each day with kindness for everyone, especially the babies in the nursery.
Shirley loved the ocean and sitting by Swifts Beach in Wareham.
She is survived by children, Richard Cudworth and his wife Donna of Wareham and Douglas Cudworth of Wareham; her brother, Sheldon Zaval of E. Bridgewater; her grandsons, Stephen Cudworth of Boston and David Cudworth of NY and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her children, the late Donna Cudworth and David Cudworth, and her sister, the late Diane Eubanks.
Funeral services and burial will be private.

Helen (Rapoza) Couto, formerly of Mattapoisett, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, died at home April 20, 2022, at the age of 91, surrounded by her loved ones.
She was the wife of the late Abell Couto. Born in New Bedford, the daughter of the late Mariano and Francesca (Borges) Rapoza. She is survived by her daughter Audrey Fiocchi and her husband Paul of Plymouth, her daughter Linda Ferreira and her husband Dan of Rochester, and her son Michael Couto of Pawtucket, RI. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Bethany Fiocchi Root and her husband Jason of Danvers, Brett Fiocchi of Quincy, Benjamin Ferreira and Nicholas Ferreira of Rochester; a great-granddaughter Emma Root and many nieces and nephews. The last of her generation, she was the sister of the late Hilda Days, Olivia Martin, Georgiana Nobre, Mary Gomes, Antone Rapoza, Manuel Rapoza, John Rapoza, and Mariano Rapoza.
As the matriarch of her family she was innately kind, gentle and loving. Helen had such a positive outlook in life that she was an inspiration to everyone who knew her and in turn they were drawn to her.
She was the youngest child of 9 and was adored by all her siblings. When her husband Abell joined the military, she learned to be resilient and adjust to military life. While in the service they lived in Spain, California and New Jersey. Eventually, Helen and her family settled in Mattapoisett. She loved to garden and was an active member of the garden club.
Most of all, Helen was happiest being surrounded by her family. Her grandchildren and great-grandchild brought her the most joy. She was an avid reader and loved shopping, eating out and long car rides. Her laughter and smiles were infectious and plentiful and she shared them often. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Helen's Funeral will be held on Tuesday, April 26th at 9 am from the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd. (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett, followed by her Funeral Mass at St. Anthony's Church, 26 Hammond St. Mattapoisett at 10 am. A private burial service will be held at a later date. Visiting hours will be on Monday April 25th from 4-7 pm. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the American Heart Association, 300 5th Ave., Waltham, MA 02451 or www.heart.org. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Shirley M. (Plummer) Cowell, 97 of Marion died April 17, 2022 peacefully at Sippican Healthcare Center in Marion. She was the wife of the late Arthur Cowell.
She was born in South Portland, Maine, the daughter of the late Alfred and Sarah (Adams) Plummer. Shirley was a graduate of South Portland High School.
Shirley married Arthur Cowell, USCG, and they built their family home in Marion. They were members of the First Congregational Church of Marion and the Congregational Couples Club. In addition to serving on many church committees, Shirley was a dedicated choir member for over fifty years. She especially enjoyed performing solos during her time with the choir.
She entered the workforce after being widowed at a young age. For over twenty years Shirley worked for Dr. Earland Briggs of Marion. Later in her career, she became a real estate agent. She was an active member of her community all the while raising her two sons.
Shirley's love of singing led to a long association with the Sippican Choral Society that spanned over fifty years. In fact, she was one of the founders and became it's first president.
Other hobbies included attending concerts, playing piano, tennis, walking, knitting, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Survivors include her son, Scott Cowell and his wife Cathy of Marion; her daughter-in-law Ann Cowell of Mattapoisett; four grandchildren, Michael, William, Adam and Robert; seven great-grandchildren, Jason, Alex, Jackson, Connor, Lucas, Lincoln and Emily; and several nieces and nephews.
Shirley was the mother of the late David Cowell and the sister of the late Robert Plummer, Beatrice (Plummer) Levisee and Vernon Plummer.
In lieu of flowers donations in Shirley's name may be given to the First Congregational Church of Marion, 28 Main St., Marion, MA 02738.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 14, 2022 at 11:00 am in the First Congregational Church of Marion, 28 Main St., Marion with a reception following downstairs. Visiting hours are omitted and burial is private. For online guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Richard D. Ouellette, 70, passed away at Somerset Ridge Skilled Nursing Facility on Friday, April 8, 2022, after a short illness. Richard was the son of the late Dona E. and M. Yvette (Jean) Ouellette. A life-long resident of Marion, Richard was the proprietor of Guaranteed Pest Control Company. A long-time family owned and operated company established by his father. He enjoyed his plants, birds and was a member of the Marion Social Club. He was always willing to help out a friend if he could.
He is survived by his three sisters, Donna Anderson, (John) of Mattapoisett, his twin sister Susan Charbonneau of Lakeville and Karen Ayres, (Joseph) of Marion. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews, great nieces, nephews, relatives and good friends. He was the brother of the late Gene E. Ouellette. His family is very thankful and would like to thank the caregivers of Somerset Nursing Home and Kindred Hospice.
Services will be private. Memorial gifts may be made to the Marion Social Club P.O. Box 763, Marion, MA 02738. To leave a message of condolence for the family please visit www.warehamvillagefuneralhome.com

John F. Hanson, D.M.D., 87 of Mattapoisett, MA formerly of Hinsdale and Pittsfield, MA passed away peacefully on April 8, 2022. Born in Machias, Maine he was the son of the late Dr. John and Mary Hanson.
John was educated at local Machias schools and received his B. S. degree at Tufts University. He received his D.M.D. degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. Since early childhood he was fascinated by the field of orthodontics and so attended and graduated from Boston University School of Postgraduate Orthodontics. John's desire was to practice in a relatively rural area and he pursued locations in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and MA. He had not considered locating in Pittsfield, until by chance he drove thru the city in early spring of 1964. Pittsfield instantly felt right for him and arrangements were made to establish his practice first in the Miller Building at 184 North St., with a later move to 435 South St.
John was respected among his peers and loved by his highly esteemed staff and his many patients. He found purpose in helping others as an orthodontist and his kind and compassionate care transcended the lives of those he touched. John was a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics and a charter member of the Foundation of Orthodontic Research. He was also a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, the Massachusetts Society of Orthodontics, the American Dental Association, the Massachusetts Dental Society and Berkshire District Dental Society. John derived great joy and satisfaction having the good fortune to form relationships with his patients and their families. He delighted in seeing patients develop a sense of well-being and a zest for life. His greatest wish for his patients and staff was that their life was enriched by knowing him as his life was so enriched knowing them.
John had an active interest in sports and ran the N.Y.C., Newport and Boston Marathons for many years. He participated in the Josh Billings with many of his friends and always smiled at the memory of those times. He then switched his sport to cycling and joined the USCF Cycling Association. He competed across the United States and Canada winning many races in his category. After John's retirement he continued to develop his painting skills and took great joy in spending time in his art room and with his faithful companion Charlie. He enjoyed worldwide travel adventures and was rarely found without a book in his hand.
John leaves behind his wife and best friend, Dorothy with whom he shared 43 wonderful years of marriage. He is survived by his beloved daughters Bethany Hanson and Steven Valleau and their son Ezekiel of Lamoine, ME, Susanne Hanson and Kurt Hiler of Boston and their three children, Trevor, Colton and Raleigh, and Anne Hanson and Tom Kafka of Los Angeles, CA and their children Helen and Fred. He is also survived by his sister Joanne Kostacopulos and his sister Sally Mulligan and her husband Raymond, Cathy and Brian Rounseville of Rochester, MA, Shaun and MaryEllen Murphy of Mattapoisett, MA, and many nieces and nephews. John was predeceased by his son Michael, his brother Mike and his sister Mary.
John's contribution to society and humanity were many. We will be forever thankful for his generosity, compassion, and gentle spirit. Memorial donations may be made to the Berkshire Humane Society or St. Mary's School in Lee, MA. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date and burial will be private.