Foxborough Obituaries for the Week of June 15

The following are the obituaries for Foxborough for the week of June 15.

Joseph Francis DeCoste

Joseph Francis DeCoste, age 60 of Embden, ME, formerly of Foxborough, died Monday, June 11, 2012 at his home surrounded by the comfort of his loving family. He was the son of the late Joseph and Mary (Frazier) DeCoste.

Mr. DeCoste was born on July 9, 1951 in Quincy and was a graduate of East Bridgewater High School, Class of 1969. He and his wife Linda (Hayes) were married in Lake Tahoe, NV on May 15, 1995. He was a former industrial sales representative and was the owner and operator of Coin Shop Plus of Waterville, ME.

He was the founder of TeaPartyMaine.org and was the publisher of A More Perfect Union Newsletter. He was a long-time season ticket holder and fan of the New England Patriots and worked very hard to keep the Patriots in Foxborough.

He was interested in all politics and enjoyed discussing politics with friend and foe. Mr. DeCoste also loved the outdoors and he and his wife enjoyed discovering the beauty of Maine over the years.

Beloved husband of Linda (Hayes) DeCoste. Father of Sarah Daniels of Raynham and Ben Daniels of Middleboro. Brother of Joan DeCoste of Arlington, VA, and Carol DeCoste of Lanconia, NH and brother in law of Thomas Hayes of N. Attleboro. Also survived by many loving cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated June 16 at St. Mary’s Church, 58 Carpenter Street, Foxborough. Interment was at Shepardville Cemetery in Plainville. Arrangements were handled by Roberts and Sons Funeral Home at www.robertsandsonsfuneralhome.com. Donations in Mr. DeCoste's memory may be made to the Make A Wish Foundation, 1 Bullfinch Place, 2nd Floor, Boston, MA 02114.

Dorothy Pearl (Swift) Dow

Dorothy Pearl (Swift) Dow, age 90, of Nantucket and Foxborough died Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Massachusetts General Hospital. She was the daughter of the late Austin and Tessie (Engels) Swift.

Mrs. Dow was born in Foxborough on Nov. 9, 1921 and was a graduate of Foxborough High School, Class of 1940. She and her husband, Russell. were married in Foxborough on February 14, 1947. She enjoyed spending time in her home in Polpois, Nantucket. She was former secretary for the Sentry Company in Foxborough and a former cafeteria worker at Foxborough High School.

She was the wife of Russell B. Dow of Foxborough and Nantucket. Loving mother of Carol A (Dow) Haddad and her husband Rick Haddad of Foxborough and grandmother of Shawn M Haddad and Alicia M Haddad.

Funeral services were private and under the care of Roberts and Sons Funeral www.robertsandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Barbara Y. Baldwin

Barbara Y. Baldwin, age 90, died on Saturday, June 9, 2012 at the Maples Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Wrentham. She was the daughter of the late Gertrude (Boyden) and Clifford Young.

Mrs. Baldwin was born on May 24, 1922 in Foxborough, and grew up on the family’s “Bar-Mar-Cilla” farm, at the corner of Summer and Winter in South Walpole. She was a graduate of Walpole High School, Class of 1940 and Framingham State Teacher’s College, Class of 1944. She has been a Foxborough resident since the late 1940s.

Mrs. Baldwin was a former home economics teacher for Foxborough High School. She retired from a position in the test kitchens of Ocean Spray in Plymouth. She was a member of the South Walpole Methodist Church where she sang in the choir for many years, the Foxborough Garden Club, the Norfolk County Extension Program, The Side Splitters Square-Dancing Club, and was an actress with the Walpole Footlighters.

She was the beloved wife of the late Frederick Baldwin, loving mother of April O’Sullivan of Foxborough and Holly Coyle of Norton, sister of Priscilla King and the late Madelyn “Buzz” McKenzie and also survived by grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 10–11 a.m. Monday, June 18, at the United Methodist Church of South Walpole, 1886 Washington St/, South Walpole followed immediately by a Memorial Service. Arrangements are under the care of the Roberts and Sons Funeral Home, Foxborough at www.robertsandsonsfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers donations in Mrs. Baldwin’s memory may be made to the United Methodist Church of South Walpole, 1886 Washington Street, South Walpole, MA 02071.

Joseph Hoey O'Donnell

Joseph Hoey O’Donnell was born on April 4, 1932 in Houlton Maine to G. Christopher and Florence O’Donnell. He was the oldest son to a family that would grow to 15 children.

He moved to Foxboro in 1946 attending Foxboro High School forging friendships that remain strong to this day. There he met Helene Barry and they married in 1955, eventually having seven children together.

His father, Chris, was a respected stable owner of O’Donnell’s Farm and from there grew his passion for horses. Joseph O'Donnell became one of the youngest harness racers in the sport and showed great talent winning over 100 races in his short career.

He was so popular that when drafted during the Korean War, the Boston Herald American wrote an article on the loss to harness racing.

Upon his return from the service he began his career at O’Donnell’s Express, “The Pioneer Line.”  A trucking company founded by his father in Houlton Maine, which grew to 12 terminals servicing the Maritimes and New England. He was the youngest president of the Maine Truck Owners Association, serving 3 successful terms. He worked closely with business and government leaders on transportation issues local, national and international.

In 1973, in the wake of deregulation of the transportation industry, the decision was made to sell the family business. He then went on to have more successes with his warehouse/distribution companies, actually, being the first distributor of Reebok Sneakers.

Upon his retirement from the transportation field, he settled in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, and worked as a realtor agent for Sand Castle Realty. He became more involved in A.A. which he joined in 1974. He was instrumental in expanding the Big Book Step Study Program in the Portland Maine area and was a mentor, friend and lifeline to many in the program. He felt strongly that A.A. had saved his life and wanted to give back.

He moved to New Hampshire in 2004 and remained very active in A.A. until recent years as his health declined. In his final years, he found great comfort in the company of his family and they will miss him dearly.

Mr. O'Donnell was the former husband of the late Helene (Barry) O’Donnell, beloved son of Evelyn O'Donnell, loving father of Mary O’Donnell of Charlestown, NH, Anne Marie Niethold and her husband, Richard of Sharon, MA, Kerry Binney and her husband Jonathan of Walpole, N.H., Barry O’Donnell and his wife Sherri of Windham, ME, Erin Sheedy of Attleboro, MA, Alice(O’Donnell) Dryden of North Attleboro and Christopher O’Donnell and his wife Michaela of Attleboro, MA. Brother of Lawrence, Patrick, Shawn and Michael O’Donnell, Colleen Broughton, Bridget Bordeiri, Evelyn O’Donnell and Theresa Creedan. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and five great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated June 13 at St. Mary's Church and arrangements were handled by www.robertsandsonsfuneral.com.

Helen Frances (Florest) Owen

Helen Frances (Florest) Owen, age 87, died Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Serenity Hill Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Wrentham. She was the daughter of the late Richard and Nellie (Peterson) Florest.

Helen was born on Oct. 15, 1924 in Rehoboth. She and her husband William were married in Wrentham on Nov. 6, 1948. She was a long time resident of Morse Street in East Foxborough.

Mrs. Owen was a cashier for Wal-Mart in Walpole and during the winter months in Daytona, FL. She was a former teacher’s aide for the special education program at the Robinson Hill Elementary School in Foxborough. She loved horses, sailing with her husband and going on cruises with her family. Her life was all about spending time with her family.

She was the devoted wife of the late William K. Owen, beloved mother of William and his wife Phyllis of North Attleboro, Marie Gaughran of Warwick, R.I. and her late husband, Joseph, Kathleen Bellisle and her husband Roger of Foxborough and the late Linda Gately, loving grandmother of William, Joseph, Kenneth, Patricia, Michelle, Nicole and Russell. Great grandmother of James, Mathew, Joshua, Maria, Brandon, Trent, Jaedin, Hailey and Mark.

Funeral services were private and were under the care of the Roberts and Sons Funeral Home, Foxborough www.robertsandsonsfuneralhome.com.