D - E - F

Terrence E. Dougherty, 73 years old, of Leominster, died Tuesday, March 31, 2015 in HealthAlliance-Leominster Hospital after an illness. He is survived by his wife of 56 years Nancy L. (Wilson) Dougherty, 3 daughters Michelle A. Gardner and her husband Richard of Athol, Maureen L. Petit and her husband Robert of Grafton and Melanie L. Dandini of Leominster, a son Sean P. Dougherty and his wife Theresa of Rye, NY and 11 grandchildren and a great granddaughter. He was predeceased by his brother Thomas A. Dougherty. Terrence was born April 16, 1941 in Johnstown, PA, son of Thomas and Cecilia (McGuire) Dougherty and had lived in Leominster for the past 45 years. He had been a luxury coach driver for the past 20 years after leaving a career in plastics which brought his family to the Leominster area in the early 1970’s. He was a member of the Wilder Lodge of Masons in Leominster and the Leominster United Methodist Church where he enjoyed singing in the choir. Terry was an avid historian, enjoying the wealth of original documents and significant sites that the Boston area and New England had to offer as a whole. Terry had a unique ability to weave historical facts and sites of significance into every venue his family traveled to and made it a point that his children understood the importance of understanding their relevance in the times and sentiments of the present day. Throughout his life, Terry enjoyed his dogs, extended summer camping trips and watching his two favorite area sports teams (Boston/Pittsburgh) in between countless days with his wife absorbing all that the City of Boston had to offer on many fronts. Having four adult children with families of their own, Terry cultivated deep and loving relationships with his 11 grandchildren, attending many of their activities and religious milestones, while more importantly continuing a day-to-day direct dialogue with them which allowed his grandchildren to count on his perspective and counsel to help navigate their daily lives. He was a man of simple pleasures and was always a perfect gentleman. As a young man, and in the early years of marriage, Terry played the drums in a band with his brother, Thomas, while both sang to the pleasure of their crowds who invited them. Decades after his playing days, Terry could be expected to be found tapping his hands, feet or other objects in perfect time and in unison with other musicians on stage. As a father in middle age, Terry changed careers as the plastics industry in Massachusetts evolved and watched his four children develop strong roots in the Leominster area. While many colleagues in his previous profession in plastics returned to their places of origin when the industry contracted, Terry and his wife made a conscious decision to maintain the stability of their children’s relationships and schooling with the understanding that his next job opportunity was less important to him than the potentially unsettling affects of uprooting his family at that stage in their adolescence. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2015 at 2 pm in the Leominster United Methodist Church, 77 Hall Street, Leominster. There are no calling hours. The Silas F. Richardson & Son Funeral Home, 106 West Street, Leominster is assisting the family with arrangements."We wish to acknowledge the wonderful team at Mass General Hospital who cared for Terrence E. Dougherty and to support advances in cancer research. Gifts in memory of Terrence can be made in support of the Mass General Hospital Cancer Center. Checks may be made out to Massachusetts General Hospital c/o Development Office, Attn: Mary McQuillen, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 1310, Boston, MA 02114. In memo line or in accompanying note, "in memory of Terrence E. Dougherty".

Larry Dean DeFrances, 71, of Export, died peacefully Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, at his home with his family at his bedside. He was born April 27, 1941, in Lauffer Mine, son of Arthur and Vera (Livengood) DeFrances. Prior to retiring, Larry was employed by AMI Doduco Inc., Murrysville, as a facilities engineer. He traveled and facilitated in five different plants located in Puerto Rico, Lancaster, Delmont, Murrysville and Plum. While working for AMI Doduco, he designed mini robots, which his fellow worker, Bob Buczak erected, saving the company mega dollars. He was honored by Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Ridge for being selected as the winner of the 1997 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. In March of 1999, the US Patent of America organization recognized Larry as the inventor of the "Closed Multi-Loop Water to Water Heat Exchanged System and Method" and granted the patent to AMI Doduco. This invention saved the company many gallons of water. He was a member of the Antique Car Club of Latrobe. Larry was the proud owner of a 1924 Buick Touring car and participated in many parades and car cruises claiming multiple first place trophies. He also enjoyed helping friends to raise funds for "Share the Joy," an organization to spread joy to needy children in the Delmont/Export area at Christmas time. He was a "go-to-guy" when a problem occurred with an appliance, lawn mower, motor, etc., in the family and neighborhood. "Just ask Uncle Larry" or "take it to Larry," give him the symptoms and he would diagnose and fix it. He was predeceased by his father, Arthur; sister-in-law, Mildred DeFrances; and brother-in-law, Harold Anderson. Larry is survived by his mother, Vera DeFrances, of William Penn Care Center, Jeannette; sisters, Betty Anderson, of Delmont, Harriet (William) Eidem, of Greensburg; brothers, Harry DeFrances, of Greensburg, and Errol (Debbie) DeFrances, of Forest Lake, Minn.; and many nieces, nephews and good friends. Family and friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the VAIA FUNERAL HOME INC., 463 Athena Drive, Delmont, 724-468-1177. Services will be conducted at 10:30 am. Saturday in the funeral home by his friend and fellow AMI Doduco worker, Bobby Buczak, now known as Father Robert Buczak, a Greek Orthodox priest serving in the Homestead area. Interment will follow in Eastview Union Cemetery, Delmont. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to be made to Share the Joy, 248 Trees Mill Road, Greensburg, PA 15601, Westmoreland County Food Bank, PO Box 599, Murrysville, PA, 15668, or Medi-Home Hospice, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15235.