Tewksbury Funeral Home

04/22/2026

04/17/2026

Mark R. Desharnais, 66 of Methuen, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 surrounded by his family after a long period of declining health. He was the husband of Margaret T. (Muse) Desharnais with whom he shared 44 years of marriage.

He was born on June 1, 1959 in Lowell and was a son of the late Roger Jean Guy and Eva (Turner) Desharnais. He was raised in Tewksbury, attending the area schools and graduating from Tewksbury Memorial High School.

Mark had a deep love for cars, whether working on them, attending car shows, or helping others with their vehicles. He was often the first person people called for help, whether it was a car issue or something around the house. He was always there for those around him, wore his heart on his sleeve, even if he rarely wore sleeves. He also enjoyed doing crafts with his sisters and cherished time spent in Maine with his family, especially along the seacoast.

For several years, Mark worked as a security guard.

In addition to his beloved wife, Margaret, he is survived by his three children, Mark Desharnais II and his wife, Karen of Wilmington, Robert Desharnais and his partner, Jessica Bowen of Methuen, and Sarah Petty and her husband Alexander of Billerica; and his grandchildren, Jose, Xavier, Lorenzo, Jackson, Ethan, Joshua, Wyatt, Jayden, AJ, Jocelyn, and Gavin.

He is survived by his siblings, Roger Desharnais and his wife, Kittie (Nolan) of Lowell, Sandy Mackay of Methuen, Robin Dembkoski and Dana Desharnais both of Tewksbury; and many nieces and nephews.

On Monday, April 20, 2026 all are welcome to attend his calling hours from 10 a.m. - 12 noon at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury. His funeral service will take place in the funeral home at 12 noon followed by burial at Tewksbury Cemetery.

04/14/2026

John E. McLaughlin, 67 of Methuen, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, MA.

He was born on September 15, 1958 in Northampton, MA and was a son of the late George and Anna (Sullivan) McLaughlin. He was educated in Amherst, MA and earned his high school diploma.

In 1976, John enlisted with the United States Army serving for three and half years during the Vietnam War until his honorable discharge.

After returning home, he owned his own landscaping business.John enjoyed gardening and spending time outdoors, often working on his tan. He loved watching television, engaging in good conversation, and telling jokes. He also enjoyed traveling, fishing, and shopping at Home Depot and Walmart. His interests included NASCAR, bare-knuckle boxing, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

John is survived by his three housemates, Jeremy Hand and Richard Dubois, and his NFI Champy Lane family.

On Friday, April 17, 2026 all are welcome to attend his graveside funeral service with United States Army Honors at 12:30 p.m. at Massachusetts National Cemetery at Bourne, Connery Ave, Buzzards Bay, MA 02542. Please meet directly at the cemetery by 12:20 p.m.

04/11/2026

Last evening, Lt. James Williams and Sgt. Peter Murray of the Community Engagement Unit attended the Wilmington Tewksbury Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of the Town event at the Hilton Garden Inn.

They had the opportunity to mingle with local business owners, strengthen community partnerships, and of course, sample some delicious food from restaurants across the area.

Events like this highlight the strong connection between the Tewksbury Police Department and the local business community that helps make Tewksbury such a great place to live and work.

Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce and all the participating restaurants for hosting a fantastic evening.

-TPD121

04/08/2026

04/04/2026

Gerald Lee “Jerry” McCarthy, 86, of Hampton, NH, passed away after a brief illness at home with his family by his side. He was the widower of Carol A. (Lynch) McCarthy who passed away in 2011 after sharing over 48 years of marriage together.

He was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, a son of the late Henry Patrick McCarthy and the late Margaret (Shriner) Miller. He was one of 16 children and he was a graduate of O’Fallon Technical High School in St. Louis. Following his education, he enlisted in the United States Navy where he served 4 years stationed at Naval Station Newport in Rhode Island. Following his honorable discharge he began his career with the New England Telephone Company which later merged with AT&T where he worked for over 32 years retiring in the early 2000’s.

In his retirement he enjoyed spending summers at Hampton Beach and especially enjoyed his daily walks along the coastline. He, along with his beloved wife, Carol, also spent their winters in Gulfport, FL.

He is survived by his 2 sons, Gerald and his wife, Linda, of Tewksbury; Stephen and his wife, Amy, of Tewksbury; and two grandchildren: Rebecca McCarthy of Tewksbury and Evan McCarthy of Tewksbury. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

A private burial will be held for immediate family only. An informal gathering, to honor him, will take place on Friday, April 10th at 3pm at TJ Callahan’s Pub in Tewksbury. Family and friends are welcome to attend.In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please consider a memorial donation in his name to Save A Lab Rescue at savealabrescue.org/donate or Larry Toth Memorial Foundation (LTMF) for Small Cell Lung Cancer Research at http://because.massgeneral.org/LTMF2026

Please contact the Tewksbury Funeral Home with any questions or concerns at any time and send your condolences at TewksburyFuneralHome.com or on our page whenever you can.

04/04/2026

Richard (“Dick”) Forsyth, one of the last true family patriarchs, passed away at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy of love, laughter, and unwavering devotion. He will be remembered for his captivating stories, his commanding yet warm presence, and the unmistakable twinkle in his blue eyes.

Dick was raised in Ithaca, New York, alongside his four sisters Thelma, Phyllis, Patricia, and Dianne, by his parents, Wallace and Dorothy Ross Forsyth. From his father, he inherited a lifelong passion for cars—especially Ford—which remained a constant source of enjoyment throughout his life.

He served in the U.S. Army, where he met the love of his life, Mary (O’Toole), while stationed at Fort Devens, sharing sweet early memories over Kimball’s Ice Cream. Dick and Mary celebrated a remarkable 62 years of marriage, beginning their life together in Ithaca before settling in Tewksbury, MA, which would be their home for 55 years.

Together, Dick and Mary raised 10 children, creating a lively and loving home. Dick cherished family adventures, especially camping trips to Fish Creek on the Saranac Lakes, where he famously packed everyone in—often traveling in an extended limo outfitted with a camper to accommodate his large brood. He also found joy in flying his Piper aircraft, whether embarking on cross-country trips or simply taking his grandchildren up for unforgettable rides.

Professionally, Dick spent 28 years as an auto mechanics teacher at Quincy Vocational School. His expertise inspired generations of students, and his love for the trade was proudly passed down to several of his sons and grandsons. Even after his teaching career, he continued working out of pure enjoyment, driving trucks and buses.

A man of deep faith and generosity, Dick was a reliable pillar for his loved ones and a dedicated member of the St. William’s parish community. A gifted conversationalist, he was never shy about sharing his opinions or proudly speaking about his family. His holiday traditions were legendary—most notably making dozens of batches of fudge for the parish Christmas Fair and personally delivering or shipping packages to loved ones across the country.In retirement, Dick and Mary traveled extensively, often with family and friends (the "Bus People"). During their travels, he developed a deep appreciation for Irish culture. Above all, he treasured the time they spent exploring the world together. In his later years, he was surrounded by the care, attention, and love of his children.

While his presence will be deeply missed, there is comfort in knowing he has been reunited with the “best (only) wife he ever had.”

Dick is survived by his children and their spouses: MaryAnn (Gerry) Laferriere, Robert Forsyth, Kathleen (Raymond) Laferriere, Beth (Brendan) Byrne, Thomas (Corinna) Forsyth, Teresa (Michael) Kirby, James Forsyth (Joanne), Peggy (Brad) Davidson, and Maureen (Iggy) Baran. He also leaves behind 22 grandchildren and an ever-expanding 20 great-grandchildren. His legacy also includes much extended family, all of whom he loved dearly.

He is reunited in heaven with his beloved wife Mary, his son Ricky, and his grandson Tim.

You are welcome to attend his calling hours from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8 at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, MA. You are also welcome to attend his funeral mass which will be offered on Thursday, April 9 at 10 a.m. at St. William of York Church in Tewksbury, immediately followed by his military honors in recognition of his service to our country. His burial will be held privately at a later date. In Dick’s memory, the family asks you to consider a memorial donation in his name to the Gary Sinise Foundation, PO Box 40726, Nashville, TN 37204. Please visit www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com or find us on Facebook to send the family a message of condolence.

04/03/2026

Marilyn C. (Noreika) Rubino, 87, of Hudson, Florida, formerly a longtime Tewksbury resident, passed away at her Florida home on Sunday, March 29 after a brief illness with her family by her side. She was the widow of the late Donald F. Rubino, who passed away in 2017 after 59 years of marriage.

She was born on April 19, 1938 in Boston and was a daughter of the late John Noreika and the late Charlene (Russis) Noreika, she was raised and educated in that area. Along with her husband John, together they raised their family in Tewksbury. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, word searches and watching her soap operas. She was also a big fan of John Wayne.

She is survived by her children, Linda Harte and her husband, Brendan, of Tewksbury, Donald Rubino of Hudson, Florida, John Rubino and his spouse, Tak, of Spring Hill, Florida, and Charles Rubino and his wife, Michelle, of Litchfield, NH, her 4 grandchildren, Donna Hureau and her husband, Paul, of Tewksbury, MIchael Rubino of Austin, Texas, Janelle Palmer and her husband, Christopher, of Northfield, NH and Jason Rubino of Manchester, NH, her 2 great grandchildren Ryan and Jonathan Hureau and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was also a sister of the late Lorraine Wood.

On Tuesday, April 7 all are welcome to attend her calling hours from 4 pm until 7 pm at the Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury, MA. On Wednesday, April 8 her funeral will be held at the funeral home at 10 am followed by burial in Tewksbury Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to please consider a memorial donation to the American Cancery Society at www.cancer.org/donate at any time. To send the family your condolences please use Facebook or www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com at any time.

03/31/2026

Debra “Debbie” Leborgne, age 70, of Lawrence, MA passed away peacefully on Saturday, March 28, at Boston Medical Center after a long battle with cancer.

She was a beloved sister, aunt, wife, and daughter, known for her deep love of family, quick wit, and spicy sense of humor. Debbie had a way of making people feel comfortable and cared for, often through laughter, candid honesty, and her unmistakable personality.

She is survived by her siblings, Diane Fortier and her husband, Richard, of Barnstead, NH; Cindy Cunningham and her husband, Timothy, of Middletown, RI and Thomas Meuse and his wife, Debbie, of Gilford, NH. She also leaves behind her cherished nieces and nephew: Natalie Fortier of Belmont, NH; Richard Fortier of Alton, NH; Courtney DeWolfe of Arlington, MA; and Kristin Cunningham of Redwood City, CA; as well as her beloved great-nieces and nephews: Haley, Billy, Emma, Isabelle, Zoe, Zander, Elvina, and Philip.

Debbie especially treasured time spent with her family—whether during holidays, casual visits, or a good family party. She made the best macaroni salad, kept track of every birthday, and never missed a chance to send a sweet card or a note reminding those she loved that she was thinking of them. She showed her love in quiet, thoughtful ways that meant so much to those closest to her.

Born in Massachusetts, Debbie was the daughter of the late Joseph and Lorraine Meuse. She was predeceased by her husband, Barry Leborgne.

Funeral services will be private; the family appreciates your kind thoughts and support.

03/22/2026