Paul C. Rogers and Sons

It is with deep sadness and disbelief, we announce the sudden passing of Mario Joseph Ragusa on January 6, 2023 at his winter home in The Villages, Florida. He was 75 years old. Born in Grammichele, Sicily, July 6th 1947, to the late Marion and Joseph Ragusa, he later immigrated to the United States with his family. Mario attended school in Revere, MA and then enlisted in the US Navy in 1966, serving on the USS Grand Canyon. Upon completion of his service he married the love of his life, Donna Marie (Earley), with whom he shared 51 years of marriage. They began their life together in Groveland, MA, ultimately raising their children in West Newbury. Mario attended Northeastern University...

Barry Thomas Sheppard passed peacefully at home on November 14, 2022 after a courageous battle with cancer. This was his third cancer fight, all of which he so bravely and positively fought. He was the loving husband of Susan (Woodsum) Dow and adoring father of Rachel Sheppard. The oldest of three children of Sandra (Tatosian) Sheppard and Michael Vermette, Barry was born in Lowell, MA on May 23, 1963 and raised in Hudson, NH. After he graduated from high school, he proudly joined the military in 1983. He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force and flew F-16 Fighter Jets, of which he was extremely proud. He was honorably discharged in 1993 following his first battle with cancer. After the...

Priscilla Guild Nichols, just 7 months and 10 days shy of her 100th birthday, passed quietly at her home in Bedford, New Hampshire, with her loving family by her side. She was the loving wife of the late Victor E. Nichols. Born in Dracut, MA, November 23, 1922, she was one of five children of the late John H. and Elsa (Tholander) Guild and was a graduate of Andover High School. Priscilla had worked as a quality controller in the electronics industry. As a devoted wife and an attentive mother, Priscilla prided herself in the care of three daughters and her step-son and keeping a welcoming home for her family and for all their friends as well. Her love of family was all important, and she...

John T. "Chip" Sheehan, age 65, of Raymond, NH, passed peacefully Thursday afternoon, June 10, 2021, with his wife and children by his side, at the Leonard Florence Center for Living in Chelsea, MA after a 5-year struggle with complications of a rare tick bite, which caused Powassan Virus, paralyzing his entire body. The second child of five, he was born in Norwood, MA on November 8, 1955, to the late John T. Sheehan and Eileen (Costello) Sheehan Hurley. He grew up in Merrimac, MA, attended Pentucket Regional High School in West Newbury, and graduated from Whittier Vocational Technical School in Haverhill. Since he was a young child, Chip has always loved to work with his hands. In his...

Josiah Hale Welch, 90, died peacefully on a beautiful, sunny day at his beloved cottage on Plum Island. One of Newburyport's business and institutional leaders during the second half of the 20th century, Josiah was a proud native of Newburyport. Born at the Anna Jaques Hospital on January 16, 1930, he was the son of Richard Edwin and Helen Pauline (Hale) Welch. He was the brother of the late Professor Richard E. Welch, Jr. and leaves his beloved sister Pauline Helen Lemmon of Corona del Mar, California. He was lovingly married for 58 years to the late Donna M. (Oberlin) Welch. Together the couple raised their children Jonathan Hale and Amy Susan at the family's home on High Street. Josiah...

Bruce M. Georgian died early Saturday morning, July 18, 2020, at Brigham and Women's Hospital, from complications following surgery for esophageal cancer. Bruce was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He spent his early childhood years in Cranston, Rhode Island, where he enjoyed playing on the banks of the Pawtucket River. When he was a teenager, he and his family moved to Nashua NH. He earned a B.A. in Sociology at the University of New Hampshire and an M.B.A. from Northeastern University. Bruce met his wife, Bernadette Lucas, on a blind date and it was love at first sight. They were married on October 1, 1977 and moved to Amesbury, MA to raise their family. Bruce loved the outdoors...