Maryann J. (Kelley)Koller

Beloved mother, grandmother, aunt and friend;

Maryann J. (Kelley) Koller, 103, passed away peacefully at her home in Dracut on December 24th surrounded by her family.

Born in Lowell, MA on September 19, 1919, to the late John J and the late Margaret (Ryan) Kelley. Her father was born in Lowell and her mother immigrated from Limerick, Ireland. She was educated at St. Peter’s School and graduated from Lowell High School in 1938.

During the Great Depression, she went to work as a doffer at the Ames Worsted Yarn Mill. At the outbreak of World War II, she went to work at Hanscom Air Force Base and was later transferred to Washington D.C. in the Pentagon. After raising her children, she returned to work as a tax examiner at the Internal Revenue Service in Andover, MA.

A lifelong and devout Catholic, Mary attended mass regularly at the Immaculate Conception Church and the St. Joseph’s Shrine in Lowell. She was grateful to the St. Francis parish for providing services to her when she was no longer able to attend in person. Mary enjoyed reading, especially murder mysteries, classic TV and westerns. She liked to pass her time sewing, but most of all she loved spending summers at Salisbury beach with her family. She was the 2020 recipient of the Boston Post Cane Award as Dracut’s oldest resident.

She is survived by her son Brian and his wife Sandra (Chouprakos) Koller of Dracut, MA and her daughter Heather Koller of Las Vegas, NV. She also leaves behind her grandson Brian Koller of Salem, NH, goddaughter Maura A Faggart of Jupiter, FL, niece Beverly (McGowan) McDermott of Billerica, MA and many other nieces and nephews.

Maryann was predeceased by her husband Robert Koller, children Keith Koller, Roberta Koller, and Kevin Koller as well as her siblings: Sister Joseph Margaret, Sally (Kelley) McGowan, Francis Kelley, Margaret “Peggy” Kelley, Allison (Kelley) Faggart, Joan P. Kelley, and Jacqueline (Kelley) Dixon.

The family would like to express their sincerest thanks to the staff at Brighton Hospice for the comfort and care they provided to Mary.

Family and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass to be celebrated at the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CHURCH in Lowell on Friday December 30, 2022, at 10:00 A.M. Burial to follow at St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing, may make contributions in her memory to the Immaculate Conception Church of Lowell in Mary’s name. Arrangements by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME - LOWELL – MA - (978) 458-8768.

John F. “Trapper” Sheehan

Beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother;

John F. “Trapper” Sheehan, 78, of Lowell, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 18, 2022, at Regal Care in Lowell, MA.

Born in Lowell, MA, on February 13, 1944, the son of the late Thomas F. and the late Irene (Moran) Sheehan, he received his education in the Lowell school system.

Prior to his retirement, Trapper worked in construction industry as a roofer for many years.

Among his several interests, he enjoyed watching Horse racing and was an avid pool player, and spent many years playing a game he loved throughout his life.

Trapper is survived by two sons: Kevin R. Sheehan and his wife Donna of Dracut, MA, and Michael J. Sheehan of Lowell, MA; two grandchildren Hannah Sheehan and Alison Sheehan; a sister Donna Abisi and her husband Ronald of Hampton, New Hampshire; two brothers Robert Sheehan and his wife Diane of Lowell, MA, and James Sheehan and his wife Susan of Seabrook, NH. and his wife Karen (Clohesy) Sheehan, who survives him.

Trapper was the father of the late John F. Sheehan Jr. and the late Carrie Ann Sheehan. He was the brother of the late Sharon Witts and the late Thomas Sheehan Jr.

Relatives and friends may call for his Memorial Visitation at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL on Wednesday morning December 28, 2022 from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. followed by his Memorial Mass to be celebrated at ST. RITA CHURCH in Lowell at 11:00 A.M. Burial to follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Chelmsford, MA. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Lowell Humane Society- 951 Broadway St. Lowell, MA, 01854. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978)-458-8768.

Richard E. “Dick” Sleeper

Beloved Partner, father, grandfather, and great grandfather;

Richard E. “Dick” Sleeper, 88, of Methuen, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 2, 2022, at Lawrence General Hospital in Lawrence, MA.

He was the loving partner for 40 years of Therese of Methuen, MA, who survives him.

Born in Lowell, MA, May 31, 1934, the son of the late Charles and the late Dorothy (Shugue) Sleeper, he was educated through the Westford school system and graduated from Westford Academy.

Prior to his retirement, Dick worked as an armored car driver for Dunbar Armored Car and previously Lowell Armored Car. He also worked for Murray Printing in Westford, MA.

Beside for his partner Dick is survived by six children Richard E. Sleeper and his wife Lauri of Townsend, MA, Marianne Brown and her husband Donald of Townsend, MA, Jacqueline Barger and her husband Robert of Townsend, MA, Charles Sleeper of Lunenburg, MA, James Sleeper of Fitchburg, MA, and Nanci Meluin and her husband Robert of Groton, MA; ten grandchildren, and fourteen great grandchildren; and Therese's children Tamara, Roger and John  and grandchildren Shannon, Joseph & Christina, also survive Dick.

Services were held privately for the family.E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by the O'DONNELL FUNERAL HOME - LOWELL – MA - (978) 458-8768.

Elsa Edith Stowell

curious, dutiful, exacting, kind-hearted, tough, hopeful

Elsa Edith (Nilsson) Stowell died on December 15, 2022, after a very long life and a very short illness. She was the daughter of Emil Alfred Nilsson and Johanna Ida (Guenther) Nilsson, the half-sister of Walter Gottlieb Wiede, the sister of Emil Oscar Nilsson, and for almost 60 years the wife of Robert “Bob” Stowell, who died on January 22, 2020.

Elsa was born on January 22, 1932, in the house her father built at 5 Yale Street in North Chelmsford--the only house she ever lived in. She grew up as an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church, which was then the center of the Swedish immigrant community in South Lowell. Elsa sang in the choir and played center forward on the girls’ basketball team.

When her mother died in 1942, young Elsa became the woman of the house, taking care of her father as much as he took care of her. When her half-brother was killed in action in 1945, Elsa fought to have Yale Street renamed in his memory as Walter G. Wiede Street. (Years later, Elsa often had to fight to get the street signs spelled correctly.)

Elsa graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1949. Her yearbook listed her interests as corny jokes, skating, and cooking, and described her as a “sweet and sincere friend.” Elsa then worked for 11 years as a clerk, stenographer, and bookkeeper at Pratt & Forrest lumber yard in Lowell, where her “duties were carried out efficiently, accurately, and neatly.”

When a Catholic guy from Lowell named Bob asked her out, Elsa said yes. When they wanted to get married and some disapproved, Elsa eloped with him. And after they were married, Elsa left her job to start a family. Elsa’s interest in history helped their son Stephen find a career in historic preservation; her interest in art led to their son Scott’s career in design. Elsa always made the best of things.

After Bob was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in 2013, Elsa dealt with everything Bob had always taken care of. Months later, she had a massive cerebral hemorrhage. Elsa not only survived but thrived, regaining all of her cognitive function and most of her mobility. Using a wheelchair, Elsa maintained a regular exercise regimen for the rest of her life.

Elsa repeatedly outlived everything from a broken neck to a COVID-19 infection. When Bob’s dementia progressed, Elsa decided to move into memory care together so she could keep an eye on him. Wherever they were, Bob and Elsa kept making friends. And whenever Elsa met somebody in need, she wanted to help them. Elsa tried to do her best.

Elsa leaves her son Stephen Stowell, his wife Alyson (Garland) Stowell, and their daughter Kathryne Stowell, all in Chelmsford; her son Scott Stowell and his wife Carmen Morais in New York City; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews; and all the family, friends, doctors, nurses, therapists, aides, and more who helped her “keep going,” as she would say.

She loved animals (especially cats), anything lemon, ballroom dancing, breakfast, flowers, free brochures, maple walnut ice cream, meeting new people, mornings, photography, pickled herring, salmon, sharing an English muffin with Bob, shopping, trying new things, Turner Classic Movies, and the word “wonderful.” She would also love it if you made a donation to help animals at aspca.org.

STOWELL--Everybody is invited to O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME at 276 Pawtucket Street in Lowell from 4 to 7 pm on Tuesday to celebrate Elsa’s life. Elsa’s funeral service will be at 10 am on Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chelmsford, with her burial afterwards at Pine Ridge Cemetery in Chelmsford. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.