Joseph H. Sexton Jr.

Beloved father, grandfather, brother, and friend;

Joseph H. Sexton Jr. 95, of Lowell, Massachusetts, a well-known local educator, passed away peacefully on Tuesday September 14th, 2021 at the D’Youville Senior Care Center in Lowell.

Joseph was the loving husband of the late Catherine M. (Bonadei) Sexton.

Born on May 15th, 1926 in Lowell, Massachusetts, the son of the late Joseph H. and the late Agnes G. (Casey) Sexton, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School.

A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Joe proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Navy.

Following his service in the war, Joe returned to school and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Lowell State Teacher’s College and later earned his Master’s Degree in Education from Lowell State Teacher’s College (nka as U/Mass Lowell).

Prior to Joe’s retirement, he was a schoolteacher for over 30 years with the Lowell Public school system at the McAvinnue Junior High school.

Joseph enjoyed spending time with his family, and amongst his friends at the Lowell Lodge of Elks, and he found great pleasure in golfing. Joseph had a love of reading, particularly novels that were history based.

Joseph is survived by a son, Joseph H. Sexton III and his wife Mealea of Lowell, MA; a daughter, Ann M. Sexton, of Lowell, MA; his two grandsons, Patrick K. Sexton and Dominic T. Sexton both of Lowell, MA; his niece, Noella Byam, of Chelmsford, MA, who was like a second daughter to him, and several other nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his Funeral Mass to be celebrated Saturday morning September 18, 2021 at St. RITA’S CHURCH in Lowell at 10 o’clock followed by his burial at St. Patrick Cemetery. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to Autism Awareness. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O'Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

Margaret P. Burns

Beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother;

Margaret P. “Peg” (Cutress) Burns, 96, of Dracut, Massachusetts, passed away on Sunday September 5, 2021 at Northwood Rehabilitation and Health Center in Lowell.

She was the loving wife of the late John E. Burns who died in 1997.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, September 12, 1924, the daughter of the late William and the late Annie (Higgins) Cutress. Peg attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Keith Hall in Lowell.

Prior to her retirement, she was a Collator for the Courier Citizen where she worked for over 30 years.

Peg had many interests including baking, cooking for the holidays, gardening, sewing, trips to Foxwoods, and being with her favorite dogs, Trigger and Burnsey.  Her greatest joy, however, was the time she spent with her family, especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She is survived by two daughters Gail Motyka of Dracut and Ann Marie Enos of Nashua, NH; five grandchildren Kelli Motyka of Phoenix, AZ, Eric Motyka and his wife Jill of Sturbridge, MA, Shawn Motyka and his wife Alicia of Apex, NC, Robert Enos, Jr. and his wife Shauna of Deering, NH and Allisa Landsteiner and her husband Phillip of Nashua, NH; ten great grandchildren Ashley Enos of Merrimack, NH, Brittany and Casey Enos of Deering, NH, Bailey, Broden, and Briley Landsteiner of Nashua, NH, Alex and Madeline Motyka of Apex, NC, and Emilie and Ayden Motyka of Sturbridge, MA.

All Funeral Services will be held privately for the family. E-condolences at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to St. Jude. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – MA – (978) 458-876

Patricia A. Witts
Beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend;

Patricia A. (Dinsmore) Witts, 73, of Dracut, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully at Lowell General Hospital on Sunday September 5th, 2021 after a brief illness.

She was the loving wife for over 53 years of Thomas J. Witts, who survives her.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Roland and the late Rose (Gray) Dinsmore, Pat attended St. Michaels Grammar school and was a graduate of Lowell High School Class of 1966.

A hard and dedicated worker prior to her retirement, Pat was a Tax Examiner with the Internal Revenue Service in Andover for many years.

Previously she was a longtime Correctional Officer with the Massachusetts Department of Corrections at both MCI - Concord and MCI – Shirley and also worked with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office.

Pat enjoyed gardening, collecting antique dolls and antiques but was most happy when she was with her family, especially her grandchildren.

Besides her husband, Pat is survived by her daughter Holly Witts and her fiancé John Hannon of New Hampshire; three grandchildren Tamryn Myers, Liam Myers and his fiancée Amber Murphy and Patrick Myers all of New Hampshire; her brother Roland Dinsmore and his wife Connie of Lowell; a sister-in-law Lauran Witts of Orange, MA; and many nieces and nephews; and a great group of lifelong friends from the LHS Class of 1966.

Friends may call at the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME 276 PAWTUCKET ST. in LOWELL on Sunday September 12th, 2021 from 2 to 5 P.M. Relatives and friends are invited to attend her Funeral Mass to be celebrated at ST. FRANCIS CHURCH in DRACUT on Monday at 10:30 A.M. followed by her burial at St. Mary Cemetery in North Tewksbury. E-condolences/directions at www.odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in her memory to Cancer Center Lowell General HospitalPhilanthropy Department, 295 Varnum Avenue, Lowell, MA 01854. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O’Donnell, Jr. (978) 458-8768.

Lou Leakeas
Beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend;

Lou Leakeas, age 70, a longtime resident of Lowell, passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday September 1, 2021.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts on January 10, 1951 to the late James and the late Sophie (Sirmopoulos) Leakeas, he attended Lowell schools and was a graduate of Lowell High School. Lou continued his education at Northern Essex Community College and Franklin Pierce University.

Lou retired from a successful career as a professional Photographer for major corporations including Mitre, Litton, Itek, Xinetics and Northrop Grumman. He also had a private photography business where he captured the happy moments of countless weddings and people celebrating major events and milestone in their lives.

He is survived by his two daughters April Bouras and her husband Harry and their daughter Alexa of Pelham, NH, and Natalie McCaffrey and her husband Tim and their daughter Corinna King of Dracut, MA, and their mother Manon Aalto (Leakeas) of Dracut, MA; his two sisters Debbie Matos of Dracut, MA, and uncle to her sons Jim Matos of Hudson, NH, and Edwin Matos of Ludlow, MA, and great uncle to Edwin’s son Logan and Sandy Leakeas and her husband Brian Dunkle of Huntsville, AL; his loving girlfriend Jean Strong, with whom he shared many years of happiness, countless outdoor adventures, and cherished memories.

Lou was an avid car enthusiast and enjoyed attending car shows, races, and was always on the hunt for an exciting new ride. He enjoyed the outdoors immensely and could be found hiking or snowshoeing in the mountains, relaxing at the beach, cycling along the Charles River, swimming at Walden Pond, riding his motorcycle as well as exploring new destinations. Some of his favorite trips included New York City, Colorado, Florida, Arizona, South Carolina, and Greece.  He organized many hikes for L.L. Bean and was a member of many local hiking and photography clubs. You could always count on him to show you the best restaurant in town after your outdoor excursion.

Lou will be sadly missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Celebration of Life in his memory on Sunday September 12, 2021 at 2:00 P.M at 5 Wilshire Lane, Pelham N.H. E-condolences at odonnellfuneralhome.com. Those wishing may make contributions in his memory to the Walden Woods Project: https://www.walden.org/get-involved/. Arrangements by the O’DONNELL FUNERAL HOME – LOWELL – MA – (978)-458-8768.