Barbara Marie Hammond, 81, of Chesterfield, formerly of Lexington, MA, passed away Friday, May 15, 2026, at Friendship Village in Chesterfield. Barbara was born on July 19, 1944, in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of James and Gertrude (Frolke) Flynn. On December 2, 1972, in Lexington, Massachusetts, she was united in marriage to William (Bill) Lewis Hammond. He preceded her in death on September 5, 2023. Barbara met Bill in Okinawa, where he was stationed with the United States Air Force and she was teaching at a Department of Defense school. During his military career, they lived in many different communities throughout the United States. During those years, she faithfully served in leadership roles within the Officers’ Wives Clubs at the various Air Force bases where they were stationed, creating lasting friendships and offering support to military families. Above all else, Barbara was devoted to her family and took great pride in raising her children. She spent 20 years serving as an elementary school teacher, touching the lives of countless students with her kindness, patience, and caring nature. Even after retirement, Barbara continued giving of herself by volunteering at local elementary schools. Barbara enjoyed quilting, sewing, crafting, and baking for those she loved. She also enjoyed spending time playing board games, especially Mahjong, with family and friends. Her warm heart, gentle spirit, and dedication to others will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Survivors include two sons, Christopher Hammond (Natalie), of Wildwood, MO, and Gregory Hammond (Christi), of Fort Collins, CO; a sister, Carol Flynn of Lexington, MA; three grandchildren, Jacqueline, Daniel and Henry. In addition to her parents and her husband she was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Heather Marie Hammond, who passed away in 1975. Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday May 26, 2026, at Heckart Funeral Home in Sedalia. Prayers of the Rosary will begin at 10:40 a.m. with funeral services starting at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery. Memorial contributions are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Alfred S. Cavaretta, Jr. of Kent, Ohio died unexpectedly on December 24, 2025. He was born on June 16, 1944 at the Chelsea Naval Hospital in Massachusetts and was the son of Eva and Alfred Cavaretta Sr. Alfred was raised in Lexington, Massachusetts, graduated from Lexington High School in 1962 and Dartmouth College in 1966. He enrolled at the University of Wisconsin in 1966 and continued his studies under a NASA Traineeship. In 1968 he began working in various aspects of classical analysis and approximation theory under the guidance of Professor Isaac J. Schoenberg of the Army Mathematics Research Center at Madison, Wisconsin. After earning his Ph.D. in mathematics in 1970 he went on to teach at Middlebury College in Vermont, California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, CA and settled at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio for 39 years. Alfred’s work was widely published in various math journals throughout his career. Mathematics and music were his life; he loved teaching and was a wonderful piano player and enjoyed playing for others. He particularly enjoyed traveling and exploring new cultures and people and had many wonderful stories of his experiences. He enjoyed swimming, playing golf and tennis. Alred was most defined by the love and care he gave his family and friends. He was vivacious and outgoing with a natural ability to connect with people and lift their spirits with his humor, kindness and wonderful smile. He will be sorely missed by those who were fortunate enough to know him. Alfred is survived by his sister Karen Napoli of Acton, MA.; his two brothers Phillip Cavaretta of Ogunquit, ME. and John Cavaretta of Wells, ME.; one niece and five nephews. There will be a celebration of life in Kent, OH and in the Boston area in the Spring. Memorial gifts in his memory could be made to the Kent State University Orchestral Society, 210 Overlook Drive, Kent OH 44240. To Share a Memory, Send a Condolence or Light a Candle, please visit the Tribute Wall at www.bisslerandsons.com.

Elizabeth (Brown) Flagg died peacefully on Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at age 93 She was born on September 20, 1932, in Auburn, Maine to Christine (Daniels) Brown and Donald Edwards Brown. Betty graduated from Bates College in 1954 with a BA in English. Later she earned her MA in Education from Boston University and over many summers she continued to broaden and widen her education through courses at Wesleyan University. From early on, Betty knew she wanted to teach, and she began her career in Manchester, Connecticut where she taught at the high school for 5 years before accepting a position in the English department of Lexington High School, Massachusetts. There she taught advanced English classes to juniors and seniors. Betty loved teaching and was especially proud of having mentored 18 student teachers during her twenty years at Lexington. As she liked to say, they kept her on her toes with their enthusiasm and fresh ideas. In those years, she won the admiration of her colleagues and was proud of the enduring friendships she had made. After she retired, she and her late husband Joseph Flagg moved in 1985 to Falmouth, where they had summered and sailed since 1968. Married for 43 years, Betty and Joe, an avid sailor, spent many happy times day-sailing and cruising. Besides being first mate, Betty also found time to become active in the community, serving on several committees and volunteering to tutor students who needed mentoring. She was also a devoted caretaker to her mother and later, over many years, to her husband. Betty spent her final years living at Southport in Mashpee and became a member of the Waquoit Congregational Church. Betty was an accomplished skier, a patient sailor, a passionate book and music lover, a lifelong fan of the Patriots, and a talented and tireless gardener. She earned several awards from the Garden Club to which she belonged and was justifiably proud of having helped maintain the beautiful gardens at the Falmouth Historical Society. She was also a lover of animals and was devoted to her pets, especially to Aussie and Tiny. Betty leaves no family but is survived by dear friends and the many caring nurses and aides who made her final days peaceful and comfortable. A celebration of Betty’s life will be held on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at 1 pm at the Waquoit Congregational church. Burial will be private. Contributions in her memory may be made to Caring Hospice Services of Cape Cod, 11 Vanderbilt Avenue, Norwood, MA 02062.

Carroll Ann Bottino, longtime Lexington music educator, dies at 87 Carroll Ann Bottino, a passionate music educator for more than six decades, died in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 23, 2025, at the age of 87, from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. Born in Wayland and raised in Lexington, Carroll Ann studied piano at the Longy School of Music and earned a degree in mathematics from Boston University. She dedicated her life to teaching classical and early music, welcoming generations of students to her home studio. Twice yearly, she hosted concerts and encouraged students to compete, perform, and approach music with discipline and passion. She saw music was a way to cultivate life skills and not necessarily a career Carroll Ann was also an avid volunteer, traveler, outdoorswoman, and civic activist. Known for her fierce independence and do-it-yourself spirit, she lived fully and inspired others to do the same. She is survived by her sons Sanford Bottino (Inez Ingles) of New Mexico and Michael Sheridan (Anuradha Desai) of Boston, as well as many cousins. There will be a remembrance of Carroll Ann’s life, followed by a reception, Saturday, November 1, 2025, 11:30am EDT, Follen Church, 755 Massachusetts Avenue, Lexington MA 02421. Please RSVP to carrollann@mac.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Carroll Ann’s memory to the Rogerson House Staff Appreciation Fund, Amnesty International USA, or the Boston Early Music Festival.

Leonard "Skip" Norman Jones, Jr., 81, of Lampasas, passed away on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. A Rosary will be recited for Skip at Sneed-Carnley Funeral Chapel in Lampasas on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 6 pm, with visitation to follow until 8 pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 11:30 am, with graveside services to follow at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at 2 pm. Skip was born on September 2, 1943, in Arlington, MA, to Leonard Norman Jones and Dorothy Mae (O'Brien) Jones. Skip served his country in the US Army, retiring in 1976 at the rank of SFC. After his time in the military, Skip worked at Oil States and was known to be one of the best at creating molds. He then went to work with the Lampasas Dispatch Record in their print office, retiring after over 20 years. Skip had many hobbies and was a jack of all trades and master of none. He enjoyed woodworking, ceramics, and photography. Skip was preceded in death by his wife, Nancy. Survivors include his children, Leonard Jones III, Cynthia Jones, and Suzanne Jones; his brother, Bryan Jones, and wife Luanna; his sister, Patricia Heafey; and his grandchildren, Jessica Jones and Megan Jones and numerous nieces and nephews.