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John Getchell Obituary
A loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and great friend to many, heroically battled melanoma for four years. John lived his entire life with a positive attitude; he has taught us to do the same.
John graduated from Virginia Tech and continued on to become a successful business owner with his brother Ben. We all look forward to seeing Johnny G. again.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend calling hours from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, January 29th, in the Miles Funeral Home, 1158 Main St., Holden. The funeral service for John will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 30th in the First Congregational Church of Princeton, 14 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Burial will be in the spring. In lieu of any flowers, a scholarship fund has been established to help deserving students get to college - donations may be made to the John A. Getchell Scholarship Fund, c/o of Barre Savings Bank, P.O. Box 202, Princeton, MA 01541. Donations may also be made to the Mass General Melanoma Research Fund, care of the Cancer Center Development office, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Ma. 02214.
www.milesfuneralhome.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Getchell
Linda and Steve Griswold
January 22, 2024
Hard to believe John has been gone for 14 years. I was just looking at a picture of are LYAA football team and there was John with his blond hair looking back, So long ago but such a great memory.
I can only imagine how much his family misses him.
Ray & Phyllis DiPietro
February 21, 2010
Dear Ben & Sally,
We just received word of your sons passing. We hope that you and your family will accept our deepest sympathies and prayers during this time of sorrow. We wish you and your family peace and comfort.
February 10, 2010
Dear Kathy & Family,
You probably won't remember me but I met John at Malmstead Ins when he came to work there. I immediately fell in love with him as he was such a wonderful, funny, caring man. We spent many a good time with you and John along with the Malmstead Family. I was shocked and saddened at his loss. I will always carry him along with you and your family in my heart.
It has made me realize that you should not let time & a busy life get between you and the ones who are important in your life. This has taught me to reconnect with some of the people I have lost touch with. I just wish I had been smart enough to reconnect with John.
Please know you are in our thoughts and hearts.
Tina & Mark Hilton
Paul & Beth Mahoney
February 9, 2010
Dear Kathy and Family,
We were very sad to hear of John's passing. You may not remember Paul and I; we met you at Bob & Michelle's house on several occasions; we enjoyed our 'Sturbridge dinners' with you, many laughs and lots of fun! We extend our sincere condolences and wish all the best for you and your family! Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Maureen Vayette
February 2, 2010
Dear Kathy, Katelynn and Ryan (and Mr. & Mrs. Getchell and Ben):
I was so incredibly saddened to hear about John's passing. I have so often wanted to call you Kathy and catch up with you and John over the years. You were both an extraordinary couple and were great friends to me, both in high school and college! I just wish I could have known you these past several years as well. But seeing you on the recent videos and hearing about your life through Chuck, it makes me happy to see and hear about all of the great friends and neighbors you have there in Massachusetts. What a great support group you have there!
John will surely and sorely be missed -- he touched so many lives! He was a true gentleman and was such an upbeat, positive person. I loved his dry sense of humor! It was never a dull moment with John around. I will always cherish my memories of him (and you) and I will never forget him! I am so proud to have been able to call him my friend! I hope the memories you have of John will help comfort you in the times to come. Just know that my thoughts and prayers are with you and your entire family during these most difficult times.
With my sincerest condolences and heartfelt sympathy,
Maureen (Cogan) Vayette
Betty and Joe Sylvia
January 31, 2010
Dear Kathy, Katelynn and Ryan, We do not get the newspapers and no neighbor called us to let us know of the death of your wonderful loving husband,father and our kind,smilimg, wonderful neighborhood friend. Kathy you and I spoke over the phone within the last 2 weeks and being a private person that I am , I wanted to give all of you privacy to spend the precious time with your loving family members and very close friends and I expressed my positive ,loving feelings and thoughts for John, you and your children. John as you mentioned was keeping very positive as so were you and I in my heart with praying and prayer lines with some of my closest friends . Joe and Betty Sylvia are so saddened to read much later about our dear friendly neighbor John and express with sadness in our hearts much sympathy. We did not no of the services either until Sunday, but we will always have wonderful loving memories in our hearts as well as everyone of you of our dear John. Love and neighborhood freindship, Betty and Joe Sylvia
Wendy Rhoads
January 29, 2010
Kathy, my heart goes out to you and your family. You are such a strong woman and truly an inspiration to us all...as well as to all your family and friends. John will always be with you and the kids in your hearts and you will all be together again. His spirit will live on and on...We send our love and comfort to you and your children....Love, Wendy, Alee and Camille
Lisa Palavage-Benish
January 29, 2010
Please accept my deepest sympathy. I was saddened and shocked to hear of John's passing. I have many memories of John going as far back to grade school. My heart goes out to all of you at this time, and you will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Dianne Clapp
January 29, 2010
So sorry to hear the news about John. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Wishing you peace and God's blessings,
Joe Ehrline
January 29, 2010
I am surpised and saddened to hear about John. May God Bless you and your family in your time of overwhelming sorrow. I hope you are filled with wonderful memories of John, knowing he will always be with you in spirit. I knew John in high school and always thought so highly of him. I knew he'd have a great life and family. God Bless.
January 29, 2010
Kathy, Katelynn and Ryan,
Ron, Amanda and I are so deeply saddened and shocked. We are praying for you and will always remember his smile and happy-go-lucky attitude. As our neighbor and friend, he reached out. We were a family on Clearings Way. We will celebrate his life which was always with a smile.......
Ron, Nadine and Amanda
Cis Klauder-Otwell
January 29, 2010
Kathy,
Walt and I were very sorry to hear about John and would like to send our deepest condolences to you and your children. I remember when you both started dating in high school, you made such a cute couple. You were very fortunate to have eachother to love and grow with. John was a nice guy and a true gentleman. We are praying for you and ask God to give you strength.
Cis & Walt Klauder
Lisa Walton
January 28, 2010
Kathy,
Please accept my heartfelt sympathy for you & your family. We all have so many wonderful memories of John during our high school years. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Sharon
January 28, 2010
To all of you,
The loss of your brother, son, husband, father and uncle must be overwhelming. Know that my sympathy and prayers are with you. I will miss John.
Teri & Wayne Pace Fisher
January 28, 2010
Please accept our most heartfelt sympathies for your loss…our thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow,
May looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.
~Author Unknown
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Getchell and Schulte families.
Tab Bruner
January 28, 2010
Kathy, My deepest sympathies to you and your family with John's passing. As you may know, I so enjoyed playing golf and basketball with John during our four years together at Shawnee. My prayers are with him, you and your children.
Lisa Wright
January 28, 2010
We are all deeply saddened to learn of John's passing. He will be remembered fondly on the golf course and at wine dinners. This is surely a tragedy and loss for the family of Sterling National Country Club. We extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to your family.
Lisa Wright
and all of the Staff at Sterling National National Country Club, Sterling, MA
Linda & Steve Griswold
January 28, 2010
Linda, and I are very sorry to hear of your loss of a father, husband and friend. I haven't spoken or seen John in many years, but i have thought of him often. John and i were inseparable friends in early grade school, playing sports catching turtles, and fishing in Birchwood Lakes. We drifted apart with time doing different things. But I always thought of John as a great guy, and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.
Carolyn DiSilvestri
January 28, 2010
I'm so very sorry. I worked with John and Ben many years ago. I always remember John as a soft spoken man with a smile on his face, and a positive attitude. He was funny, smart, and always happy. This is a tragic loss. My prayers are with the entire family.
Rest in peace, John.
Eileen Morgan
January 28, 2010
Dear Kathy, Katelynn and Ryan,
No words can express your great loss, but we are thinking of you, praying for you and you are in our hearts. Katelynn, I wasn't much older than you when I lost my Dad to melanoma,know that our family is here for you now and always. With love/peace and prayers. Mike, Eileen, Haley, Jack & Rylie
Leslie Joyce
January 28, 2010
Dear Kathy, Ryan, Katelynn & Ben
We were so sorry to hear of John's passing. John was such a great guy he will be sorely missed by everyone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this very difficult time. I know we will think of John often with fondness and hopefully your memories of him will comfort you as well.
With heartfelt sympathy,
Leslie & David Joyce
Beverly Swift
January 28, 2010
I am so saddened today but, when I look at this photo of John I remember the happy wonderful person he was and that is the person I will always remember. He was the best! I will never forget him. To Kathy and the family my sincere condolences.
Myriam Marsh
January 28, 2010
Dear Kathy, Kathelynn and Ryan,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during these difficult times...
I lost my dad 2 years ago and I know he is with mw everyday and he makes me stonger.... My mom who is in Belgium thinks he spends more time here than with her...
allison remembers having played a round at the tennis tournament with him as her partner and had a great time... she told me that e was funny and they lost but he took it very well...
I remember one night at school on a monday..a few years ago at TPS. kids were at school later on a monday and they had religeous Ed. We were laughing at the fact that Ryan and my Brien were not to much in a hurry to go there...we actually had to yell at our kid to hurry up knowing well they did not want to go...
At church on sunday while my kids were fooling around....yours were nice and quiet....
those memories are not much but this is the way I remember you all.
I am thinking about you... I miss my dad everyday so is my mom. but he is always there....
I love you all....
Myriam Marsh and family
[email protected]
P.O.Box 1239
Princeton, MA
Hope you will call me if you need some help.
774-276-2955
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