Gone but not Forgotten: Firefighter, Young Wife and Mother

Each week the Grafton Patch will list the passing of local residents. If you know of someone not listed here, please list them in the comments.

Tracy B. Army, 46, passed away March 30, 2012 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center following an illness. She is survived by her parents Gail (Davis) and Walter Army, her daughter Shawnessy Army, her sister Deborah Janney and her husband John, her uncle and aunt Jim and Diane McFadden along with several aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Funeral services and burial will be private at the convenience of her family.

Richard Brophy, 91, of Grafton 91, passed peacefully Monday April 2 with family at his side. His wife of 54 years Helen (Rudy) Brophy passed in 1996. He is survived by his three sons, Richard F. Jr. and his wife Paula (Villatico) Brophy of Grafton, Dennis M. and his wife Lynda (Wilkinson) Brophy of Boylston, James J. and his wife Bianca (Chronowski) Brophy of Summit N.J.; five grandchildren, Matthew Brophy of Melbourne FL, Erin (Brophy) Gates and her husband Matthew of Milford, Maggie Brophy of Brooklyn NY, Meghan Brophy of New York City, Christopher Dixon of Pittsburgh PA; Seven nieces, Judy Lucas, Janet Bibinski, Maureen McLaughlin, Christine Rudy, Susan, Maggie, Sheila McKaig and one nephew, David McLaughlin.

Mr. Brophy was born and raised in Worcester the son of the late James F. and Josephine (Hetu) Brophy and has lived in Grafton many years.

He was a World War II veteran serving as a Technical Sgt. in The Army Air Force in The European Theatre in France and The Rhineland. He was awarded The EMMETCR with 3 Battle Stars and was honorably discharged in October of 1945.

The funeral will be held Tuesday April 10 from The 152 Worcester St. North Grafton followed by the celebration of his Funeral Mass at 11 am at , 17 Waterville St. North Grafton. He will then be laid to rest next to his beloved wife Helen with military honors at Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester. All are invited to visit with his family from 9:30 am to 10:30 am Tuesday April 10 at The Roney Funeral Home before going to St. Mary's for his Funeral Mass.

Norman W. Prout, Jr., 82, passed away on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 in Pembroke Pines, Florida after an illness. He is survived by his wife Yolanda (Ustamanti) Prout; a brother, Robert Prout and his wife Caroline of Grafton; a sister June (Prout) French Whitney and her husband Stewart Whitney of Grafton; and several nieces and nephews. Norman was preceded in death by his former wife Esther (de la Cuesta) Prout.

He was born June 22, 1929, son of Norman and Myra (Horton) Prout. Norman graduated from Grafton High School and Coyne Electrical School in Chicago. He was a Korean War Veteran and served in Okinawa. He served on the Grafton Fire Department for several years. He worked for a Grafton electrician, Nelson Pratt, before working for the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company. In 1958, he transferred to Florida and Southern Bell where he was employed for several years. The rest of his life was spent in Florida.

A memorial service will be held at the located at 1 South St., Grafton, starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 14, 2012. Arrangements are under the care of Roney Funeral Home in Grafton. Directions and an online condolence book to share memories of Norman are available at:
www.RoneyFuneralHome.com

Stella Mae (Turpin) Mastrogiovanni, 88, of Shrewsbury passed away very suddenly, Friday, March 30 2012 in her home. Sadly, Stella leaves her devoted daughter, Jeannie Hebert and her companion Peter Zipfel, of Shrewsbury with whom she lived, her two beloved sons, Howard A. Vosburg, Sr. and his wife Carole of Clinton and William V. Vosburg, Sr. and his wife Sandra of Williamsburg, VA. Her loving husband of 56 years, Patsy, passed away in December of 2008. Stella also leaves her dear sister and brothers, Lorraine Young and her husband Frederick of Leicester, R. Earl Turpin of Swindonwilts, England, George Turpin and his wife Nancy of North Grafton and Raymond Turpin and his wife Doris of North Brookfield. She was predeceased by two brothers, William and John Turpin.

Also left behind are nine adored grandchildren, Tracie Hebert Boyd and her husband Geoffrey of Sturbridge, Howard A. Vosburg, Jr. and his wife Mindy of Clinton, Brian Vosburg of Douglas, Wendy Elder and her husband Dwight of Cumming, GA, Pamela Redlon and her husband Eric, William Vosburg, Jr., Michelle Leach, Laura Andrews and Vickie Stiger all of New Hampshire. She received much joy from her 17 great-grandchildren, Eve and Jackson Boyd of Sturbridge, Howard III, Joseph, Amanda and Nicholas Vosburg of Clinton, Andrew, Adam and Evan Elder of Georgia, Hayden and Emily Redlon, Nicholas, Chelsie and Morgan Leach, Rebecca, Mackenzie and Hunter Ledoux of New Hampshire.

Born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, the daughter of Ashton Calvin and Viola Belle (Acker) Turpin, Stella and her family emigrated from Canada, sailing on the ship the “Blue Nose” to the United States in 1926. Settling in Worcester, she liked to recount that the family was welcomed to the community through All Saints Episcopal Church where she has remained a faithful member for over 80 years. She was a graduate of the former Classical High School and became a wife and mother shortly thereafter. 

Finding herself a single mother when her boys were quite young, Stella worked very hard to make ends meet and keep her young family together. In the early 1950’s she met and married the love of her life, Pat, while employed as a hostess at Mickey Green’s Night Club in Shrewsbury. Stella enjoyed being a homemaker but continued her independence, working in the manufacturing industry at Dapol Plastics and Handy Pad Supply Co., Worcester. A talented homemaker, she was a quick study at mastering Italian cooking, a talented seamstress, crafter, Girl Scout Leader, PTA mother and immaculate housekeeper.

A strikingly beautiful woman, “Stel”, as those close to her referred, always looked and dressed beautifully. Gardening was a favorite hobby and she grew lovely roses, gladiolus, lilies and irises. She and Pat always grew a large vegetable garden that they shared with family and neighbors. Stella was a true animal lover and never wavered when the boys or especially Jeannie, brought an orphaned animal home to stay. Stella’s faithful friend and companion animal,” Trixie Kitty”, is very much missing her Mum.

A loyal Anglophile, she was an avid follower of the Royal Family and very much respected Queen Elizabeth. However, a landmark event for her was in 1963 when she became a naturalized United States Citizen. Stella proudly carried her citizen card and was filled with great pride when her two sons and grandson, Howard III, served in the military, defending “her” country in the Vietnam and Iraq Wars.  Stella will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure to meet her.