Robert “Bob” Demeo, a long-time resident of Marion, MA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 30, 2025. Bob was born on October 3, 1931, in Boston to Sophie A. (Bucewicz) Demeo and Pasquale J. Demeo. He was predeceased by his cherished wife of 62 years, Patricia J. (Gannon) Demeo; his two half-brothers, Patrick Demeo and Rick Keith Rickson; and his half-sister, Candice Rickson.

As a teenager during World War II, Bob served in the Massachusetts State Guard, helping combat forest fires on Cape Cod. After graduating from Brighton High School in 1949, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served throughout the Korean War as a Petty Officer Second Class.

Following his military service, Bob earned his Associate’s Degree from Grand Rapids Junior College in 1955 and his Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1959.

Bob met his future wife, Patti, at a gathering of the “Hi Hubbers,” a social club for tall people in Boston. They married in 1961. Originally living in Peabody, they settled in Marion in 1963, where they built their home and raised their family.

Bob first came to Marion after joining Sippican Ocean Systems, and later continued his career at the Charles Stark Draper Laboratory in Cambridge, from which he retired in 1997. In retirement, he enjoyed woodworking, computers, and was also proud to serve as Commander of VFW Post 2425. He and Patti enjoyed attending numerous U.S.S. Destroyer Buck 761 reunions of “Tin Can Sailors” throughout the country where he rekindled old friends.

Bob is survived by his four children: Andrea (John) Adriany of San Diego, CA; Martha (James) Turner of Newbury, VT; Kristen Brown of Taunton, MA; and Paul (Michelle) Demeo of Merrimack, NH. He is also survived by his half-sister, Wendy M. Rickson of Grand Haven, MI. His legacy includes five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many dear friends and extended family members.

Visitation will be held at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett, on Tuesday, December 9th, from 4-7 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Rita’sParish, 113 Front St., Marion, on Wednesday, December 10th at 9:30AM. Interment will follow, with military honors, alongside his wife at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne. For directions and the online guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

Priscilla Stuart Smith-Trudeau Hevey, 77 of Fletcher, Vermont passed away suddenly on October 23, 2025 with the love of her life, Gerard Hevey, at her side.

            Born August 26, 1948 in Boston, MA she was the daughter of the late Henry Buckley Smith, Sr. and Annie Payson Provance Smith and the sister of the late Henry Buckley Smith, Jr. all of Rochester, MA.

            In addition to her husband, she is survived by her daughter, Lisa McDaniel, of Arizona, her sister, Anne Payson Smith Holbrook, two nephews, James Payson Smith Holbrook and his wife Sarah Lafrinere Holbrook all of Rochester, MA and Matthew Christopher Smith of Wareham, MA.  As well as three grand-nieces Stella V. Holbrook, Charlotte A. Holbrook, and Sloane L. Holbrook and a grand-nephew James Payson Smith Holbrook, Jr all of Rochester, MA.

            As a child Priscilla grew up in Rochester, MA and attended Rochester Memorial School and the Old Rochester Regional High School. She is remembered by her classmates as happy and fun loving. She graduated in 1966 and went on to obtain her LPN and RN Certifications.

            Priscilla and Gerard met while working on a nursing unit on the south coast of Massachusetts in 1989 and subsequently move to Vermont. They were married in Fletcher, Vermont on 23 August 2005. Together they built a life based on helping people in need and helping to improve their lives. As animal lovers they adopted and cared for many pets through the years that brought daily joy into their lives. She loved living on top of her mountain in Vermont and taking advantage of all the area had to offer, especially hiking the trails with her husband and enjoying nature.

            She was employed at the University of Vermont Medical Center as a Rehabilitation Nurse in Burlington, Vermont. She retired in 2023.

            Priscilla started her career as an LPN in the 1960’s and through the years attained the degrees of RN DC MSM BSN CRRN CCM HNB-BC. She was a graduate of Thomas Edison State College with a Masters in Management and Leadership and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of the State of New York. Her certifications included a Certification in Rehabilitation Nursing, a Certification in Holistic Nursing and a Certification in Conflict Resolution.

            She was a Founder of the Women’s Rape Crisis Center in New Bedford, MA which was a precursor of the Women’s Center of New Bedford as it is known today. Originally a volunteer organization, it was established in the same year that Roe vs. Wade protected abortion rights. She was instrumental in the development of the Women’s Health Clinic as one of the Center’s premier programs and in 1983 was a vocal advocate for the Big Dan Rape victim traveling the country talking about what happened and what was needed to be done to protect women from abuse. Sadly, fifty years later the fight to prevent abuse is still being waged on a national level.

            In 2001 she published a book “Peaceful Warrior Nurse. She reasoned that there were not “enough books written for nurses, by nurses and about nurses that enlighten, empower and encourage them to celebrate the diversity and spirit of nursing”.  She wrote the book is about “living, loving, learning and leaving a nursing legacy.

            Around the same time, she established her consulting firm “Wealth in Diversity Consulting” of which she was the Founder and President. She developed “A model for Creating and Sustaining Positive Change which acts as a framework for guiding organizational change as a vital resource leading to increased creativity, innovation and enhanced leader and team effectiveness.”

            Her life was dedicated to developing a deep understanding about the strength of differences and an appreciation of shared humanness.

            She will always be remembered by her family as a person who lived her dreams, cared for her grandmother and mother in their later years and encouraged her nephews to “live their dreams”.

            Priscilla should be remembered not only for her love and dedication to nursing but also her love of animals and supporting animal rights groups.

            Arrangements by A.W. Rich funeral home to leave a message of Condolence visit https://awrichfuneralhomes.com/

Joan E. (Grassetti) Lagunowich, 79, of Mattapoisett, formerly of Longmeadow, MA died November 29, 2025 peacefully at St. Luke’s Hospital surrounded by her loving family.

            She was the beloved wife of Paul G. Lagunowich, with whom she shared 57 years of marriage. Born in Springfield, MA, daughter of the late Venicio and Shirley (Green) Grassetti. She raised her family in Longmeadow, MA before moving to Mattapoisett thirteen years ago.

            She was known by many names-Joan, Joannie, Mom, Grammie, and Auntie Joan. The oldest of Venicio and Shirley’s ten children, she grew up on Bartels Street in a house always filled with laughter, love, and delicious food.

            Joan and Paul met in junior high school, where he was determined to win her heart. They married in 1968 and lived in Longmeadow for 40 years.

            Joan graduated from Springfield Hospital School of Nursing, now Baystate Medical Center. She spent the majority of her nursing career working in Labor and Delivery. Joan cherished helping families welcome their babies into the world and was deeply honored whenever friends or relatives asked her to assist when their own little ones were due.

            Family and especially her grandchildren were the center of Joan’s life. Some of her fondest memories came from large holiday gatherings at Woodlawn Place, where the house overflowed with joy, warmth, and laughter. Ogunquit Beach was her favorite place to relax with family and friends. She loved soaking up the sun and walking the Marginal Way at the “Beautiful Place by the Sea.”

            Though Joan’s passing leaves an ache in the hearts of those she loved, her warmth, generosity, kindness and unwavering love will continue to guide her family. Her legacy lives on in our hearts.

            Joan is survived by her husband Paul; daughter Kate Butler and her husband Todd of Mattapoisett; a son, Nick Lagunowich and his wife Elena of Chatham, NJ; her sister-in-law Jane Grassetti (Joseph Grassetti deceased) of Ludlow and 8 siblings, James Grassetti and his wife Debra of East Longmeadow, Jeffrey Grassetti and his wife Mary of Hampden, John Grassetti and his wife Gail of Mashpee, Jerry Grassetti and his wife Cheryl of East Longmeadow, Jack Vincent Grassetti and his wife Sheila of Longmeadow, Judy LaValle and her husband Gary, of East Longmeadow, Christopher Grassetti and his wife Lisa of Agawam and Charles Grassetti and his wife Ann of Gloucester; and her six grandchildren, Mary Clare, Sally and John Butler, Luke, John and Nicholas Lagunowich; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. Joan will also miss the company of her brother-in-law John and sister-in-law Ellen Lagunowich, especially enjoying their favorite “Treasure Chest Lobster.”

            Her Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, December 6th at 11:30 am in the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Road (Rt. 6), Mattapoisett. Her family will receive guests on Saturday from 9:30-11:30 am prior to her service. For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.

            In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in memory of Joan Lagunowich may be made to My Brother’s Keeper, P.O. Box 70273, Dartmouth, MA 02747.

Robert B. Caldeira, 88, of Marion passed away at home on Friday November 28, 2025. He was the husband of Susan A. (Giard) Caldeira.

            Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Celestino and Georgiana Caldeira, he lived in Marion for most of his life.

            Robert, a tireless Teamsters Union advocate, served as a former Trustee of the Teamsters Union Local 59 from 1992 until 2001.

            Robert is survived by his wife Susan; his children, Cheryl A. Caldeira Green, Mark A. Caldeira, and Charlene A. Caldeira; his sister, Sally Lemos; his grandchildren, Joshua Knox and Rachel Caldeira; and three great-grandchildren.

            He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Megan Caldeira and his sister, Patricia Rullison.

            Visiting hours will be on Tuesday December 2nd from 4-7 pm at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Route 6, Mattapoisett. His funeral service will be held on Wednesday December 3rd at 10 am at the funeral home with the burial immediately following at Old Landing Cemetery, Marion. For online condolence book, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.