Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, congregational rabbi at Temple Israel of Natick for 24 years and author of the book “When Bad Things Happen to Good People,” has died at the age of 88. Rabbi Kushner is listed as Rabbi Laureate with Temple Israel.

The New York Times obituary for Rabbi Kushner reads in part, “Several of Rabbi Kushner’s 14 books became best-sellers, resonating well beyond his Conservative Jewish congregation outside Boston and across religious boundaries in part because they had been inspired by his own experiences with grief, doubt and faith.”

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency described Rabbi Kushner as “one of the most influential congregational rabbis of the 20th century whose works of popular theology reached millions of people outside the synagogue.”

The funeral will be held on Monday, May 1, at 1pm at Temple Israel of Natick, 145 Hartford St. There will be livestream access for the service. Burial will follow at Natick-Framingham Jewish Cemetery, Fairview St. in Natick.

Rabbi Kushner’s wife, Suzette (Estrada) Kushner, passed away last year.

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Rosita M. (Silva) Andrews, 72, a longtime Chief of the Massachusett Natick Praying Indians, passed away Sunday, April 2. She was the wife of Lyn C. Hovey.

Since 1995, she was the Chief of the Massachusett Natick, Ponkapoag and Nashoba Praying Indians, and was the Pastor of the Indigenous services at the Eliot Church in Natick. Caring Hands was also an accomplished author.

Caring Hands was a frequent participant in area events involving her people, from the early discussions of Natick changing its town seal and Natick High mascot to a land acknowledgement last year at MassBay Community College in Wellesley.

Read her complete obituary.

We share our condolences with family and friends.

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We welcome the publishing of obituaries and remembrances from the Natick community. Please reach us at natickreport@gmail.com

Natick and beyond are mourning the passing of Gloria Cullati, a longtime resident who passed on Feb. 1 at the age of 101.

Cullati is survived by 3 of her children, as well as grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

The Natick Sons & Daughters of Italy recalled Cullati as its longest-serving lodge member, joining at the age of 15, enjoying dances and more along the way.

“Gloria loved the Lodge and brought her charm, wit, encouragement, intellect and servant’s heart to every meeting, committee, event, dinner, dance and pasta night she attended. She worked tirelessly on behalf of the Lodge, with joy and enthusiasm, and loved welcoming new members and student volunteers,” wrote Cathy Washburn in a note to the organization’s members and followers.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services at the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park Street in Natick  on Tuesday, February 7, at 9 a.m. Followed by Funeral Mass at St. Linus Church, 119 Hartford St., Natick at 10 a.m. Interment at St. Patrick Cemetery, Natick. Visiting hours are Sunday February 5 from 5-8 p.m. and Monday February 6 from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Gloria Cullati’s memory may be made to Francesco DeSanctis Lodge #1411, 37 Washington Ave., Natick, Mass, 01760, Attn: Scholarship Committee

Read the full obituary for Gloria Cullati.

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Mary Laurette Murdock Thompson of Natick and Wellesley died on November 10, at Mary Ann Morse (rehabilitation center) in Natick.

Her hundredth year was passed comfortably at Heritage (assisted living facility) of Framingham.

Mary Thompson grew up at Harvard University, where her father, Kenneth Murdock, was a dean and house master. After college at Vassar she married Cameron Thompson and they moved to two boarding schools, the second of which was Phillips Exeter Academy, in New Hampshire. Her husband then became a teacher at Pine Manor, first in Wellesley (a junior college on the campus of Dana Hall until 1964), and then at Pine Manor’s new campus in Chestnut Hill, Newton. The Thompsons remained until 1977 in Wellesley, where they raised three children.

Mary obtained an M.A. degree during this time and started teaching in the Special Education department at Wellesley High School. This was her career until 1982, and she was beloved by students and colleagues for her patience, insight and good humor.

Her lifelong gift was humor and the elegant craft of words.

This period encompassed her important contributions to the book Philosophy and Literature; her husband’s retirement; and their move to South Natick. There she was active in the Natick Historical Society, the Shakespeare Club, and the Eliot Church. At the latter she was a deacon and diligent committee member. She continued on in South Natick after her husband’s death in 1989, finally moving back to Wellesley in 2001, where she participated in that town’s German Club, along with a book club.

Mary’s heart was always drawn to the members of her family, no matter how distant, to language and its riches, to many charities, and to New Hampshire where the old Murdock place was her summer home. She also felt the pull of her birthplace, Boston, where her mother, Laurette Potts Murdock, lived until 1994.

She leaves her children, Gordon, Peter and Sarah, and her grandchild Cawley. Her passing was peaceful, surrounded by family.

Services will be private; gifts in memoriam may be sent to Habitat for Humanity.

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Let the Natick community know of your remembrances at natickreport@gmail.com

Joseph Indresano, a familiar name in the area from his well-known landscaping business and involvement in community activities, passed away at the age of 80 on July 17.

Services for the Natick resident will be held in his hometown of Mirabella Eclano, Avellino, Italy.

Read the complete obituary. 

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