Richard Chase a lifelong resident of Woburn passed away peacefully, August 21, 2016, at the Wingate of Reading Nursing Home following an extended illness. He was 87 years of age. Dick, as he affectionately known to his family and friends, was the beloved husband and best friend of Mary Brogan Chase and together they shared 32 years of marriage. Born in Woburn at the former Choate Hospital, Dick was the son of the late Walter and Mary Caroline (Butler) Chase.
Dick was raised and educated in Woburn where he attended the Goodyear School, Wyman School and was a member of the Woburn High School class of 1947. Following high school Dick enlisted into the United States Army. He was a proud Veteran of the Korean War and honorably serving as Corpsman at the Landstuhl Hospital in Germany. Dick came from a very proud military family with four brothers serving in WWII and two brothers that also served during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge from the Army Dick began his career and continued working in health care at the VA Hospital in Boston where he helped caring for chronically ill Veterans. He eventually moved to the VA Hospital in Bedford where he was a member of the Day Hospital Team Mental Health Associates helping Veterans adjust back to main stream life.
Dick had a strong Catholic faith and was an active parishioner of St. Charles Church. He served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years and also taught CCD for several years. He was very connected to the Sisters of Notre Dame De Namur and his home was always a welcoming place for them to visit and enjoy each others company. His door was always open to anyone, and he especially enjoyed letting people who were alone into his home during the holidays.
Dick had a very keen intellect and enjoyed people and learning about different cultures and languages. He was the family historian and was just loved engaging with people no matter where he was. Dick will fondly be remembered for compassion as a care giver to the elderly, disabled or mentally challenged people whom he came in contact with. He was always concerned for others. Dick also loved animals and over the years together with his wife Mary, they cared for and rescued neglected dogs. To honor Dick's memory please show some expression of kindness to an elderly person, a child or a pet in need.
Together Dick and Mary loved traveling. They took many cruises to Bermuda, trips to Hawaii, Italy, Canada and Washington D.C. to name a few. However, their favorite destination was Booth Bay Harbor, Maine, where every year they would renew their vows at the Our Lady Queen of Peace Church.
In addition to his beloved wife Mary, Dick is survived by his brothers, Arthur Chase of Tewksbury and Adrene Chase of Wilmington. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews. He is further survived by his loving family pets, Lady and Sophie. He is sadly predeceased by his sisters, Margaret Richards and Marie Muse, brothers, Walter, Fred, George and Frank Chase.
Funeral services will be held from the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Funeral Home, 60 Pleasant St., WOBURN, Friday, August 26th, at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass celebrated in St. Charles Borromeo Church, 280 Main St., Woburn, at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. Visiting hours at the McLaughlin - Dello Russo Family Funeral Home will be held on Thursday from 4 thru 8 p.m. Services will conclude with military honors and burial at Calvary Cemetery, Woburn. It has been requested that in lieu of flowers contributions may be made in Dick's memory to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or St. Joseph's Indian School, 1301 North Main St., Chamberlain, SD 57325 or The Humane Society of the United States, 1255 23rd Street, NW, Suite 450, Washington, DC 20037. To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.dellorusso.net