Richard J. Furmanick

STERLING – Richard J. Furmanick, Sr., age 84, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 15, 2022 at his home in Sterling. Born in Clinton, he was the son of the late John and Hedwig (Sulkoski) Furmanick.

Richard graduated from the former Saxton Trade High School in Leominster before serving his country honorably in the National Guard. He met the love of his life, Elizabeth “Betty” L. Kush in 1960, and the two were married the following year.

He worked in maintenance at Table Talk Pies in Worcester, before finishing his career as the head custodian at the public schools in Sterling. Throughout his career, he also owned Richard’s Finished Carpentry, where he leveraged his skills in remodeling and refinishing.

Richard was a devout Catholic, a former member of Our Lady of Jasna Gora Parish in Clinton and current member of St. Richard of Chichester Parish in Sterling, where he taught CCD for many years. He and his wife also volunteered with the Father Ralph DiOrio Healing Ministry for 25 years.

He is survived by his loving wife, Betty; his daughter, Betty Pekkola of Warwick, RI; three sons, Richard Furmanick Jr. and his wife, Laura of Raymond, NH, Roger Furmanick and his wife, Linda of Nashville, TN, Randy Furmanick and his wife, Teresa of Harvard; his sister, Elaine Brown; five grandchildren, Jessica Nason, Nicole Pekkola, Christopher Furmanick, Jacob Furmanick, and Alexis Furmanick; and three great-grandchildren, Eddie Nason, Sammy Nason, and Calla Nason; many nieces and nephews. Besides his parents, he is predeceased by his brother, John Furmanick, and a sister, Joan Kush.

Relatives and friends are invited to visit with Richard’s family from 9:00 to 11:00 am on Thursday, April 21st, at the Miles-Sterling Funeral & Tribute Center, 100 Worcester Rd., Sterling, before leaving in procession for a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in St. Richard of Chichester Parish, 4 Bridge St., Sterling. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Sterling. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. Richard of Chichester Parish, P.O. Box 657, Sterling, MA 01564, or online to VNA Hospice & Palliative Care, https://vnacarenetwork.ejoinme.org/VNACare . To share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.milesfuneralhome.com