Stoughton Obituaries: Alban C. Castro; Reta Jane (Lantz) Nickerson

Alban C. Castro

The following is from the Farley Funeral Home website: 

Alban C. Castro, 52, died unexpectedly April 20, 2013. He was born, raised and educated in Stoughton and was a graduate of Stoughton High School.

His love of the sea moved him to become a Merchant Marine which allowed him to visit many city ports throughout the world. In later years, he went back to school and attained a certificate in culinary arts. He enjoyed music, cooking, gardening and sports.

He was the loving father of Mandy L. (McCartney) Piotrowski and her husband Thomas of Quincy. He was close with his surviving brothers Joseph A. Castro and his wife Cindy of Hull, John M. Castro and his wife Giti of Newton and Charles E. Castroand his wife Karen of Taunton. 

Al was predeceased by his parents Abilio C. Castro and Maria O. (Martins) Castro. He was the uncle of Tina Tays, Joey Tays, Marcus Castro, Paul Castro and Alexandra Castro. He is also survived by several cousins.

A Funeral Mass will be held in the Immaculate Conception Church, 122 Canton St., Stoughton on Saturday, May 4 at 10:30 a.m. A visiting hour will be held prior to the mass at the Farley Funeral Home, 358 Park St. (Rt. 27) Stoughton from 9-10 a.m.

Donations in Al's memory may be made to National Parkinson Foundation, PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5018.

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Reta Jane "Bunnie" (Lantz) Nickerson

The following is from the Farley Funeral Home website: 

Reta Jane (Lantz) Nickerson, 85, died Tuesday, April 30, 2013 at her home in Stoughton with her family at her bedside.

Affectionately known as Bunnie, she was the beloved wife of the late Albert Nickerson and the loving daughter of Ernest & Georgia Lantz, who emigrated from Nova Scotia to Massachusetts. 

Born in Dorchester, she grew up in Hyde Park and was a graduate of Hyde Park Schools. As a teenager, she knitted mittens & balaclavas for RAF pilots, and worked at her uncle's bakery, serving the workers at the Fore River Shipyard.

She and Al moved to Stoughton in 1955, and were active in forming the West Stoughton Civic Assoc. & First Congregationalist Church. She was active in Scouts, PTA and was a member of the Rising Star Lodge.

A renowned seamstress, she operated Nickerson Drapery until retirement, and still kept her hands in, knitting 177 pair of mittens with her daughter Jane for the First Congregationalist Church Fair last year.

She loved being outdoors, and was equally adept at dropping a tree with a bucksaw as with creating a bountiful garden to feed her family. She had a special love for rhubarb. 

Bunnie never shied from hard work or difficult tasks. She dearly loved her family and friends, and will be forever remembered for her grace, patience, loyalty and insight.

She is survived by her four loving children, Barry Lance Nickerson, Susan Helen Lloyd and her husband James, Jeffrey Scott Nickerson and his wife Ann and Jane Leslie (Nickerson) Ormonde.

She was the loving grandmother of Meredith Lloyd, Douglas Lloyd, Elizabeth Vanderhoek and her husband Robert, Rebecca Ormonde, and great grandmother of Lana Vanderhoek. 

Graveside services will be held in the Milton Cemetery, 211 Central St., Milton on Saturday, May 4 at 11 a.m. Arrangements by Farley Funeral Home in Stoughton.

Donations in Reta's memory may be made to the First Congregational Church, 76 Pierce St., Stoughton, 02072.