Richard L.Varney, age 80, of Wilmington, died peacefully, Friday, January 15, 2010, at the Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Medford following a courageous battle with cancer.
Richard was born in Portland, Maine on March 6, 1929, he was the son of the late Francis D. and Elsie M. (Vaccaro) Varney. Richard was a United States Army Veteran during the Korean War. Richard met his future wife and the love of his life Helen Harris over 64 years ago and they married on July 2, 1952. The couple lived in Melrose, where Richard was a well established painter with his own business for over 35 years. They moved to Wilmington several years ago.
Richard will be remembered as a hard worker, a devoted family man, and a good friend who was always willing to lend a hand. He was not only a loving and caring father to his daughters, but also to his grandchildren he was a father figure. Richard was a mentor to many and he created special bonds with those he loved. He will be greatly missed.
Richard was the beloved husband of 57 years to Helen M. (Harris) Varney, devoted father of Donna M. Overbeck & her husband Joseph M. of Texas and Patricia A. Varney of Melrose, loving grandfather of John W. Blocksidge, Jr. & his wife Suzette F., and Michelle M. Medeiros all of Wilmington, Matthew R. Nelson and Nicole A. Nelson both of Melrose, and great grandchildren Angel M. and John W. Blocksidge III, brother of Dorothy Dunnigan of Missouri, brother in law of Betty & Al Jones of Everett, Bill & Helen Harris of Stoneham, Florence & Robert Holmes of Wilmington, John & Carol Harris, Virginia & the late James McGrath all of Billerica, Linda & William Gray of Salem, NH, Dennis & Marion Harris of Florida, Susan & Steven Robbins of Wilmington, Dorothy & Joseph Balestrieri, Jr. of Billerica, and the late Kendall B., Jr. & Helen Harris, Richard is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews.
Visiting hours were held at the Nichols Funeral Home, Inc., 187 Middlesex Ave. (Rte. 62), Wilmington, on Wednesday, January 20th from 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. followed by a Funeral Service at 1:00 p.m. Interment took place in the Veterans Lot at Wildwood Cemetery, Wilmington.
Memorial donations in Richard’s name may be made to Hallmark Health VNA & Hospice, 178 Savin St., Suite 300, Malden, MA 02148.
DEAR DAD, I KNOW, I SAID I LOVE YOU A MILLION TIMES/ BUT I DO LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH. I AM HAPPY YOU ARE NOT SUFFERING IN PAIN/BUT MY PAIN IS HERE AND WILL NEVER GO AWAY/ I MISS YOU MY BEST BUD MORE THAN YOU WILL EVER KNOW. IT HAS BEEN EXACTLY 48 HOURS SINCE YOU TOOK YOUR LAST BREATH I HAVE NOT STOPPED CRYING YET! YOU WERE MY FATHER AND MY BEST FRIEND WHAT DO I DO KNOW WITHOUT YOU. I AM DEAD INSIDE I FEEL LIKE I AM TRAPPED IN A NIGHTMARE THAT I CAN NOT WAKE UP FROM YOU WERE THE BEST DAD AND GRANDFATHER ANYONE COULD ASK FOR. MY KIDS ADORED YOU AS YOU DID THEM/ DAD I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH. LOOK OVER ME AND MATTHEW AND NICOLE HELP ME THREW THIS DAD I CAN NOT DO THIS ALONE BYE BYE YOUR DAUGHTER AND BESTFRIEND XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
I am so sorry for your loss, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
I love you so much Papa and I know that you will be with me everywhere that I go. This is not goodbye, this is see you later <3 I am so lucky that I had you in my life. I couldn't have asked for a better grandfather. This all happened so sudden and I miss you so much, I can't even put it in words. I miss your jokes as well, you always made me laugh. You will never be forgotten papa. All of this is so painful but I am so relieved that you are no longer in pain and are no longer suffering <3 I am so jealous of heaven because they have you <3 You'll always be in my heart.
Love always,
Your grandaughter – Nicole <3<3<3
To Helen and the girls and the rest of Rit’s Family — both Dennis and I loved Rit like a brother and we will miss him more than you will ever know.
I have met many people in my life but never met anyone like Richard.He was a very loving caring father and grandfather.I only knew him for a short time but have never met anyone any better.He was always smiling and kept anyone around him smiling.Thank u for being in my life Richard,u made a difference in my life U will be missed dearly by your family,myself and all the people in Texas that loved u
GOOD MORNING DAD, THIS IS SO HARD WITHOUT YOU, I AM HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME WITH OUT YOU HERE WITH ME. I NEED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT SO MANY THINGS / I WENT TO CALL YOU THE OTHER DAY TO TELL YOU I THINK WE NEED TO SEE THE GUY ABOUT MY CAR CAUSE I THINK IT’S MY MUFFLER THEN I SAID NO NO NO HE’S NOT HEAR YOU WERE GOING TO TAKE ME TO BUY A NEW CAR NOW I GUESS ME AND MATTHEW WILL ——————————————–WELL I HAVE TO GO TO BE WITH MOM NOW SHE WANTS US UP THERE WITH HER TODAY!!! I LOVE YOU SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MUCH AND GOD I MISS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMUCH!!!! LOVE YOUR DAUGHTER PATTY AND BEST BUD/FRIEND XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
i love you pa. i miss you so much already you were more of a father to me than a grandfather you taught me how to be a real man. a gentlemen,respectful.i’ll never forget the times we had i love so much bye dad.
I love u and miss so much and miss you so much love Penny
To The Love Of My Life Richard, My heart aches without you here by my side, but knowing I had you in my life for over 60 years is such a joy and comfort to me. We had a wonderful life together, you gave me such happiness and love! Until we meet again I will always have you in my heart and in my thoughts. I Love you Richard. Love your wife Helen
So sorry Helen and girls about Richard. we have know him for so long it is hard to believe he is gone . Bill remembers trip to Maine and NH when they were just kids so long ago. I remember naming BillY’s middle name Richard after him. Love Helen and Bill
i didnt know him,but jimmy love him and will miss him very much. our thought and prayers are always with but especially now love the jones
to auntie helen:
im sorry for your loss and to uncle richard i will always remember you especially when you stole my show. those are things i will never forget for the rest of my life and i hope all is wel uncle richard i miss you soo much .
your great niece,
Amanda Reis
RICHARD I LOST THE BEST BROTHER AND FRIEND WHEN YOU WENT, I CAN ONLY BE THANKFUL YOU ARE OUT OF THAT AWFUL PAIN NOW. WE WILL SEE EACH OTHER AGAIN AND WHAT A HAPPY REUNION THAT WILL BE, I LOVE YOU AND I WILL REMEMBER ALL OUR GOOD TIMES AND TALKS/
You will be missed Uncle Rich. The family functions won’t be the same without you & your great jokes & laughter!!!
I Love You !
Neesi
I am sorry for your loss Auntie. Uncle Richard will be missed so very much.He will always be in my prayers i love you very much Uncle Richard.
Uncle Rich,
I love you so much. You were like another father to me. I will miss you very much. I will always remember the times I stayed over your house. Especially the horses eyeballs that will always be a special thing of ours. Whenever i see Lake George I will remember the great time we all had there and the times in NH at the camp. I will miss the talks we would have. There will always be a special place in my heart for you but I think you always knew that.
Love you always
Debby
My heart goes out the Varney Family. My thoughts and prayers are with all.
Uncle my most memorable moment is our song we always sang together Wasted Days and Wasted Nights and for you i left my behind. your love and our sing will be in my heart forever.
I Love You Uncle Richard
Thank you Uncle Rich for the smiles, laughter and fond memories you have provided us. I will cherish them forever. RIP
Patty and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Love,
Lori
Helen & Family,
I was so shocked to hear about your loss. We love you and will be holding you in our thoughts and prayers.
Hele and Family,
I am sorry to hear about Richard. During his long life, he touched so many and made their lives fuller for it. I know he will be missed as much as he was loved. We will keep him and all of you in our prayers.
With our deepest symapthies, Goc Bless
Love
John & Merle Pontius (MacLean) and Family
Helen & Family,
I was shocked to hear of your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
DEAR DAD, I GUESS THIS IS REALLY GOOD BYE NOW/ IT WAS HARD TODAY I SAID I WOULD STAY STRONG BUT I LOST IT WHEN I TRIED TO SAY MY SPEECH. YOU KNOW EVERYONE TOLD ME TODAY IT IS GOING TO GET BETTER BUT, IT IS NOT UH? WHO DO I TALK TOO, WHO IS GOING TO MAKE EVERYTHING OKAY THE WAY YOU ALWAYS DID FOR ME I AM SO SCARED WITHOUT YOU HERE! I HAVE TO GET A GRIP, AND STOP ACTING SO IMMATURE HERE. I KEEP ON TELLING MOM I AM OKAY BUT, I AM REALLY NOT. I MISS YOU AND LOVE YOU AND R.I.P. DAD GOODBYE MY BEST FRIEND UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN……………..
DEAR DAD, YOU KNOW THIS IS NOT GETTING ANY EASIER EACH DAY I STRUGGLE HARDER AND HARDER…THIS TIME OF YEAR I AM NOT USE TO SEEING YOU CAUSE YOU ALWAYS WERE GONE FROM THE DAY AFTER CHRISTMAS TIL BEGINNING OF MARCH/I WISH YOU WERE IN FLORIDA AND TEXAS AND YOU WERE COMING BACK TO SEE US ALL… BUT, I KNOW THIS NOT THE CASE/DAD I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LIVE WITHOUT YOU IN MY LIFE, YOU REALLY WERE MY BEST BUD THIS IS SO HARD NOT HEARING YOUR VOICE EVERYDAY ON THE PHONE. I USE TO LOVE OUR DAILY TALKS. PLEASE SEND ME SOME HELP TO GET THREW THIS I REALLY REALLY MISS YOU I AM SO LOST WITHOUT YOU MY WHOLE LIFE IS SO EMPTY YOU WERE THERE FOR ME FOR EVERYTHING I LOVE YOU DAD SO MUCH AND I MISS YOU SO MUCH XOXOXOXOXOXO IT HAS BEEN A WEEK SINCE I HAVE SEN YOU AT ALL AND 9 DAYS SINCE I HAVE HEARD YOUR VOICE//// GOD I LOVE AND MISS YOU BYE BYE!!!
uncle richard:
everyday i think of the christmas parties i spent with you and all the laughs you had with us the memories are something i will cherrish. im glad you can be a free soul and can no longer hurt or suffer. we all love you and miss you soo much.you will always be in my heart uncle richard no matter what happens you will be the one who stole my shoe!. im glad i got to know you and have you in my life uncle richard. and to my auntie helen, i know times are hard, we are all here for you, you are not in this alone. i promise you things will get positive. even though sometimes it may not seem it but it will. you are a very strong woman and you will pull through this and not alone you have a whole family who loves you and we are all behind you. i love you both. auntie helen and uncle richard. take care auntie
To Helen,
I am so so sorry for your loss. Richard was a great man. Even though I didn’t see him often over the years, he treated me special like family each and every time. He made me laugh and that takes a mighty funny person. You both were great great friends to my mother for over 60 years. And for that, I thank you. My thoughts and prayers are with you now and forever.
Love,
Michele
Dear Helen, we are sorry to hear about Dicks passing. We will always remember him for his wit and strong Boston accent. I know mom appreciated Dick taking the time to drive you to New York so that she could see her best friend. He will be greatly missed by all of us here in
upstate New York. With sorrow, Donna & Ed Gilson
Dear Dad,
I love you and Miss you so much!!! It has been 3 week’s since you left us and it feels like a long time ago i saw your face or, heard your voice/ It has been a long hard 3 week’s / and i don’t know what the days and months ahead are going to be like…..I still have a good cry everyday and i am so lonely without you here. I needed so bad on wed. i cried and cried and screamed for you. I needed you so badly I did not know what to do—Dad i love you and miss sooooooooooooooooo much love your best bud your daughter Patty xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Dear Helen:
I am here with (mom), she is in a rehab center with a broken hip and would like to say a few words.
Helen I am so sorry to hear about Dicks passing. Donna just told me about your loss. I am thinking about you and hope you are taking care of yourself under the circumstances. I wish I could be there with you.
Love, Lucille
Dear Dad, We missed you today a lot We all went out to eat Mom , Me, Matthew and Nicole———————Nicole was really upset because you were not there. She missed you driving us. Mom had Matthew drive. We went to Long horns in Reading…God it was not the same without you. We talked about you a lot how much we all loved you ,how much we missed you,. and how strong you were to hold on for us threw all your pain which we know was so , so painful for you ..Just so you could be here with us as long as possible. Dad…. I thank you for being the best Dad ever and will never forget you. I will carry you in my heart were ever I am. Love You Dad (my best bud) Love your daughter Patty xoxoxoxo
Hi Dad,
It has been a month today since you left us. It is so hard not hearing your voice everyday and, not spending Sunday out to eat lunches with you! I do not know how much longer, I can take not seeing you or hearing your voice. I feel so bad for Mom she miss’es you so I do not like leaving her alone up there, we took her out for Vaelntine’s Day and bought her a Yellow Rose with Baby Breathes We had a nice time but, we did not know how to get home from N.H. the long way you use to take us. We really missed you yesterday… Dad, I miss and Love You so much my heart gets a bigger hole in it everyday. I am trying to live a normal life with out you but it is so hard. I love you Dad so much love your best bud and daughter Patty…. God miss you and want to see you and talk to you…Bye Bye Dad xoxoxoxoxxo
Dear Dad,
I wanted to wish HAPPY 81 ST BIRTHDAY TODAY!!! I am sad you are not hear to celebrate with you. I still miss you so so much and love you very much. It has been so long since i saw you or heard your voice i miss it so much. We were best buddie’s you helped me, matt and nicole with everything it is so hard and different without. It is not getting any easier either i think it is getting harder….. Well Dad have a great Birthday I love you Your best bud and Daughter Patty xoxoxoxoxoxo
Hi Dad,
Tomorrow will be 2 months you have been gone… It seems like years to me! Me and Nicole, were saying it tonight how we feel we have not seen you for so, so long. Dad. how I miss your voice, your smile your kinds words your wisdom, and all the help you had given me. I want to say, I am sorry about you know I know you know / She will get over it she found out and my heart is broken Dad, I needed you so bad with me the other day, I do not know what to do with her. I am so sorry , I never break a promise but, it was not really me who did. sorry Dad love you miss you and everything like Nicole says it seems like it fell apart when you went home to heaven. I am so sad without you so, are alot of people love you my best – bud Your Daughter Patty xoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Dear Dad,
Here, I am 3 mos later to the day you passed away and, I still can not believe it is real. You are missed so much and loved so much. I still cry all the time. It is not getting any better. We went to visit you but we could not find you! Mom has to call and see if they will put something there so we know where you are still your stone comes in. I need to know there is somewhere we can sit and put flowers and be with you! Well, love you Dad got to go get ready for work. Love your best_bud your daughter Patty.
Hi Dad, Here it is 4 months tomorrow since you left us all! We are all still trying to cope with the loss of you. It kills me not to hear your voice or see your face in person. A lot, of things have changed since you left. Some good and some bad!!! You know , my heart still aches so bad , my kids especially Matthew is having a hard time without you. Dad, Please show me a sign you are still here with us looking over us. God, I just miss you so much and love you so much my Best bud you do not know how many times, I needed you since you left. Good thing was Dad me or Mom did not have cancer we both had to have some stuff checked. She is good Dad she misses you a lot but, we take care of her. Donna is doing Okay too. I am too, except for missing you so much. All, the grandchildren and great grandchildren doing great too. Everyone just misses you so much. I love you Dad Love Patty xoxoxoxoxoxoo
Well, Dad 5 mos have passed and now this dreaded day Fathers day coming up! I wish u were here it has not gotten any easier and I do not think it ever will. We all had a week were everyone was crying for u…..and talking about u from us to relatives all over! Dad, I want to say Happy Father’s Day to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And, I will come visit your grave and then go see Mom. I love you my best bud and miss you so much! Thanks for everything in life you gave me and taught me. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH BYE BYE!!!
Hi Dad, Happy Anniversary to you and Mom ! You would have shared your 58th anniversary together today… Me and Mom where thinking of you all day today she was so sad……She is living with Auntie Ginny she is a little happier but, misses you more each day like me and matt and nicole do!! I love you my Best Bud and miss you so much!!!!!!!!!!!!! Love your daughter Patty xoxoxoxoxoxxoxo
We all miss you rit,, but we know your up there with Jim and waiting for all o fus. Helen is doing odd, you’d be proud of her. Joe is keeping a eye out for her we all are. I can’t stand the idea of losing any more of my siblings, it hurts so much. Be good and remember we love you.
Dotty