Tewksbury Funeral Home

01/22/2026

01/19/2026

James G. Hajjar, attorney of Lawrence, MA, passed away peacefully after a short illness on January 17, 2026. Born in Brooklyn, NY on July 22, 1929, he moved with his family at age 5 to Lawrence where he remained until his passing at 96 years old.

James was educated at Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1946, and was a member of the first graduating class at Merrimack College in 1951. He started law school at Boston College before interrupting his studies to enlist in the Army’s Counter Intelligence Corps in September 1952. Upon his return from service in Germany during the Korean War in August 1954, he completed his law degree at Suffolk University Law School. He was sworn into the Massachusetts Bar in 1959 and followed his passion of helping others through the practice of law for an amazing 56 years, retiring at 86 years old. He will be remembered for his empathetic approach to serving his clients, especially those who could not afford his services.

He always felt a close connection to boyhood memories in Brooklyn and visited there often as a youth. His personal hero was Jackie Robinson, and he reminded anyone who would listen that he saw him play. He was an avid reader and Boston sports fan.

He was an active member of both the Lawrence Lions Club and Lawrence Elks Club, contributing to their respective charitable efforts and in various leadership roles for almost his entire adult life. James also served as the first and only board president of American Training, Inc. located currently in Andover, MA since its founding in 1979.

James was the son of a blue-collar laborer, James M. Hajjar, and seamstress, Victoria Hajjar, and is survived by his younger brother, Robert F. Hajjar, a dentist. He was especially proud that he and his brother achieved such high levels of education for the first time in the family’s history.

He is also survived by his three children, Todd Johnson (and wife Andree of Methuen, MA), Amy Perreault (and husband Steve of Plaistow, NH), and Lynne Hajjar (of Burlington, MA). He also was the proud grandfather of Monica Morancy (and husband Brian), Adam Johnson (and wife Juliana), Nick and Maiya Perreault, and two great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday January 22, 2026, at Immaculate Conception Church, 144 East Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA (a side entrance with no stairs is located on Fayette Street). Visitation will be held at the church from 10AM to 11AM, followed by a Mass at 11AM. Burial will be held privately at a later date.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in James’ memory to American Training Inc., a non-profit organization providing specialized support and housing to people with disabilities located at 6 Campanelli Drive, Andover, MA 01810.

01/16/2026

John M. Priest

John M. Priest, of the Belvidere section of Lowell, passed away on January 14, 2026 at the age of 87 with his family by his side after a period of declining health. He was a devoted Husband, Father and Grandfather.

John was the beloved husband of Constance M. “Connie” (O’Donnell) Priest with whom he shared 62 wonderful years of marriage on August 17, 2025.

John was born on July 6, 1938, in Lowell, to Erle Nathaniel and Mary (McGagh) Priest. He was raised in the Acre section of Lowell and attended St. Patrick Grammar School and Keith Academy. He continued his education at Lowell Technological Institute before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, where he proudly served until his honorable discharge in 1965. Following his discharge from the US Marines, John served as Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force Reserve as an aircraft mechanic at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, MA. He was honorably discharged in 1967. His exceptional military aircraft mechanic skills led to a career with Eastern Air Lines at Logan Airport in Boston. John went on to enjoy a long and successful career at Xerox Corporation based in Lexington MA, where he served as a Field Service Manager until his retirement.

John loved classic cars, motorcycles, and anything mechanical. He could fix just about anything! He passed those skills on to his two sons and their friends. They fondly referred to him as "MacGyver".

John and Connie purchased a home on Lake Arrowhead in North Waterboro, Maine where they enjoyed all four seasons for over 40 years. An avid outdoorsman, he loved swimming, bass fishing, canoeing, boating, jet skiing, snowmobiling, snow skiing, skating, ATV rides and ice fishing with Connie, his sons, grandkids, friends and neighbors. John especially loved being Captain of his pontoon boat (with his dogs as first mates) and taking family on cruises while giving boat driving lessons to his grandkids. When back on land he would take them on fun adventures on the ATV through the beautiful woods of Maine to help them build an appreciation of birds, wildlife and nature. He was a quiet and gentle man who, above all else, adored the time he spent with his family. Later in retirement John and his wife escaped the cold New England winters and traveled to sunny Cape San Blas Florida. John and Connie truly enjoyed nature and loved to explore the wildlife during their travels. Their mutual love of dogs produced many happy experiences and memories. Their furry friends included Binky, Knuckles, Molly, Annabelle and Patrick who survives him.

In addition to his wife, Connie, he is survived by his sons, John “Jack” Priest Jr. and spouse, Chris Yester of Salem, MA, Michael Priest and spouse, Mary Carlino Priest of Tewksbury; grandchildren, Dr. Amanda Priest Toomey and spouse, Evan of South Easton MA, and Daniel Priest of Tewksbury. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Bagley of Lynn; his sister-in-law, Barbara Windmoller of Tifton, Georgia; and many beloved nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews.

He was predeceased by his brother Thomas Priest, brother-in-law John Bagley and brother-in-law Werner Windmoller.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to: St. Judes Children's Hospital at: https://www.stjude.org/donate/ or to: The American Cancer Society at: https://donate.cancer.org/?campaign=default&lang=en

According to John’s wishes there will be no calling hours.

On Saturday 24 January 2026 all are welcome to attend his funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. William of York Parish on Main St. in Tewksbury, MA 01876

Private burial services will follow at St. Mary Cemetery in Tewksbury MA.

Find us on Facebook or visit http://www.tewksburyfuneralhome.com to leave the family a message of condolence at any time.

01/11/2026

We have increased our presence in the area of North Main Street and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

Our goals:

Visibility to prevent and reduce crime, such as shoplifting and theft at our stores (Wal-Mart, Home Depot, etc.).

Deter those who wish to come to this transient area to commit crimes. We are watching and being pro-active, including live monitoring of the Motel 6 cameras.

Quick response to calls for service in the area during peak times.

Enforce traffic violations.

Pedestrian safety. (We have witnessed pedestrians placing themselves in danger by not using sidewalks, or cross walks, and waiting for proper signaling).

Engage with our businesses. Very productive meetings with Motel 6 and Wal-Mart about implementing crime reduction strategies, and technology.

Engage with the homeless population and continue to offer services through our Behavioral Health Unit. (Unfortunately, most decline services, but we will continue to monitor this).

Pro-active policing + Community Engagement = Safer Community.

01/08/2026

01/06/2026

Jo-Ann Marie McNaught
December 29, 1944 - January 3, 2026

Jo-Ann Marie (Mortelliti) McNaught, 81 of Franklin, MA, passed away after a brief illness on Saturday, January 3, 2026 at UMass Memorial Hospital in Milford, MA. She was the widow of the late Thomas D. McNaught who passed away in 2023 after 60 years of marriage.

She was born in Boston and was a daughter of the late Sue (Desimone) Mortelliti. She was raised in the Cambridge area, where she attended school, graduating from the Latin High School. After high school she got married and began their family.

She loved traveling, especially on cruises, and shopping. Above all else, she cherished time spent with family, making memories.

Jo-Ann is survived by her four children, Nancy A. Bourget and her husband, Arthur of Salado, TX, Thomas D. McNaught, Jr. and his wife, Penny of Columbia, SC, Brian J. McNaught and his wife, Christine of Tewksbury, and Laurie A. McCahill and her husband, John of Franklin; her eight grandchildren, Erin Bourget, Brian J. McNaught, Jr., Sophie Ortega-Torres, Collin McNaught, Dean Bourget, and Maryann, Shelby and Jack McCahill; and three great grandchildren, Lucy and Arthur Bourget and Emilie Ortega-Torres.

She is also survived by her sister, Mary Jackson of Mansfield.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her brothers, Ronald Kurtzer and Joseph Kurtzer.

On Friday, January 9, 2026 all are welcome to attend her calling hour from 8 - 10 a.m. at Tewksbury Funeral Home, 1 Dewey Street, Tewksbury 978-851-2061. Her funeral mass will be offered at 11 a.m. at St. William's Church, followed by burial at St. Mary Cemetery.

12/29/2025

Andrea Lazzara
Formerly of Medford
Age 76

Andrea Lazzara, age 76, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at Bear Hill Rehabilitation in Wakefield.

Born in Boston, Andrea was one of four daughters of the late Anthony and Vivian (D’Ippolito) Lazzara. She was a former resident of Medford and Malden and spent much of her life living in adult group homes, most recently in Wakefield, where she was well cared for and surrounded by those who knew her best.

Andrea participated for many years in the day program at Project Triangle, a place she truly loved. She also enjoyed the friendships she formed with her housemates and staff at the Communitas community where she lived for many years.

Andrea is survived by her sisters, Mary Sturzo of Wilmington and Lana Testa and her husband Ronald of Maine, as well as several nieces, nephews, and many friends through Communitas who will miss her dearly. She was predeceased by her sister, Francis Orrino of Chelmsford, and her brothers-in-law, Santo J. Sturzo and Gennaro Orrino.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Communitas - https://communitasma.org

Her Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at St. William’s Church, 1351 Main Street, Tewksbury. Burial will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford.

12/24/2025

A big thank you to Vinny Fratalia and his family for stopping by today with a home-cooked meal of lasagna and meatballs for the crew. Your generosity is truly appreciated!

12/23/2025

Marlene Ann Robarts, 58, passed away on December 6, 2025, leaving behind a world that was brighter and more human because she was in it.

Born Marlene Ann McNulty on May 9, 1967, to Gerald and Mary Ann McNulty, she was raised in Woodstock, Connecticut, where her love of sunshine, warm summers, and barefoot days first took root. She carried that sense of warmth with her throughout her life. Marlene had an expressive spirit and an unmistakable presence her laugh was familiar and full, and it had a way of easing the space around her.

She found joy in simple pleasures- sunshine, the beach, flip-flops, reality TV, and every gloriously trashy celebrity gossip magazine she could get her hands on. Music was a constant companion, and she sang along enthusiastically and unapologetically-to Jon Bon Jovi, Jimmy Buffett, and the Zac Brown Band. She was deeply sentimental, collecting small treasures as if each one held a story worth keeping

A longtime resident of Haverhill, Massachusetts, Marlene made her home a place of comfort and familiarity. She enjoyed hosting others, opening her doors, and creating spaces where people: could linger, talk, and feel at ease. She loved traveling to the islands, making cherished memories on trips to Disney, and cheering on the New England Patriots with unwavering loyalty.

Football Sundays were sacred, her opinions were strong, and her legendary nostril flare could spark laughter or surrender depending on who you were rooting for.

Her greatest joy and life's purpose was her beloved son, Aidan. Every corner of her home reflected how fiercely she loved him, how proud she was of him, and how deeply she believed in the man he became. To Marlene, he was everything.

She dedicated more than 30 years of her professional life to working with individuals with developmental disabilities, a calling that reflected her compassion, patience, and fierce advocacy for others. She was deeply proud of her academic accomplishments, graduating magna cm laude from Bradford College, and carried that pride quietly but confidently.

She is survived by her cherished son, Aidan, and a wide circle of friends who loved her deeply and will miss her greatly.

A celebration of Marlene's life will be held at the beginning of summer, when the sun is warm and the days are long just the way she loved them. Details will be shared at a later date.

Together, those who loved her will remember her, honor her life, and hold close the many moments she gave so freely.