Earl Finne

Earl B. Finne passed away peacefully in his home on Dorothy Pond in Millbury in the early morning hours of September 10, 2021 after a long and well lived life of 94 years. His Earthly journey has ended and he is now with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Earl was born in Worcester, MA on November 13, 1926 to the late Godfrey O. Finne and Gertrude E. (Jansson) Granland and spent his early years in Quinsigamond Village. He later moved to Millbury and attended the Dorothy Manor School which he fondly remembered.

Earl’s childhood was filled with tragedy as his father died when he was just eight years old and his mother died when he was thirteen years old. He luckily had his grandmother, Louise, who took him in and his aunts and uncles who helped raise him. Earl, or “Benny” as he was affectionately called by his aunts and uncles, was especially close with his Uncle Hugo who often brought him fishing or down to the dog tracks along with Uncle Buck-O.

In 1945, Earl was drafted to serve his country during World War II. He was stationed in Korea, where he and his fellow servicemen helped ensure the surrender of Japan and thus the end of Japanese rule in the Korean Peninsula.

When he returned from Korea, Earl got a job with Christie & Thomson Inc. and later he started a career in the steel industry at Lodding Engineering in Auburn. He then began his journey to build a family. On January 14, 1950, he married his beloved first wife Rose. They would then settle into their home on West Boylston Street in Worcester and together they had four children.

Tragedy would strike again when Rose passed away in 1962 after a battle with cancer. Earl, left with four young boys, knew the importance of perseverance and knew he would have to carry on.

After meeting a young widow from Pennsylvania, Delores Zimage, they married on February 16, 1963 and Earl also became a step-father to seven young children.

Earl and Delores would settle into their new home on Shore Terrace in Millbury, where together they would have four more children. Soon enough they became grandparents and they created a loving atmosphere for all of their children and grandchildren. Grampy was a kind and compassionate grandfather that his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were so very lucky to have in their lives.

Earl loved his home on Dorothy Pond and he would often spend days looking out at the pond admiring the ducks, geese and other wildlife that made the pond their home. He also enjoyed looking at his day lilies and his many bird feeders as well.

Earl was an animal lover and often enjoyed reminiscing about all of the pets he owned over his lifetime. Whether it be his three-legged dog Jake, his most recent cat Gracie, his beloved cat Matilda, or his childhood dog Brownie, he always had a smile on his face when talking about his beloved pets.

Earl was the most loyal fan of the New England Patriots and supported them even during their darkest days. He was proud to have watched them win six Super Bowl Championships in the past 20 years. Earl also enjoyed spending his time completing puzzles and reading his favorite author Janet Evanovich.

For many years, Earl enjoyed camping near the sea coast most notably at Tidewater and Adams Campgrounds. He enjoyed his frequent trips to Hampton Beach and Old Orchard Beach.

On Saturday mornings, Earl could be found at the Corner Lunch in Worcester and later Friendly’s in Auburn as a part of his “Breakfast Club”. For many years on Sundays, Earl could be found at the Rietta Ranch Flea Market in Hubbardston where he enjoyed buying and selling his different yard sale finds. He would of course be home to root on the Patriots by early afternoon.

Earl was predeceased by his parents, his first wife of twelve years Rose A. (Perrone) Finne, his second wife of fifty-eight years Delores M. (Robertson) Zimage Finne who passed away July 9th, his son Robert B. Finne and step-son Daniel W. Zimage. Earl was also predeceased by his daughter-in-law’s Twyla M. “Cissy” (Hribar) Zimage and Hollie K. (Cristo) Finne, his grandson Derrick J. Finne and step-grandson Scott E. Longbook, his beloved maternal grandmother Louise B. (Hällgren) Anderson and her husband G. Oscar Anderson, his maternal grandfather Levin W. Jansson, and his paternal grandparents Alfred O. Finne and Anna M. (Söderkvist) Finne. He was also predeceased by his dear aunts and uncles, Mary A. Finne and her husband Fred, Alfred “Buck-O'' Finne Jr., Alphild T. Bergstrom and her husband Elmer, Hugo C. Finne and his wife Vilma, Anna Thorn and her husband C. Ivar, Harry W. (Hagerstrom) Finne, Kurt Hällgren, and Sonja V. (Hällgren) Andersson. The family takes comfort in the fact that Earl has so many loved ones greeting him within the Kingdom of Heaven.

Earl leaves seven children, Rodney L. Finne and his wife Patricia, Kenneth C. Finne and his wife Sherry, Thomas A. Finne and his wife Angela, Earl A. Finne and his significant other Susan, Scott C. Finne, Rebecca L. Fancy and her husband Mark, and Robin J. Finne and her significant other Steven. He also leaves six step-children, his caregiver, Elaine C. Zimage, Katherine L. Person and her husband Richard, Bernadette M. Longbook and her husband Samuel, Joseph R. Zimage, David M. Zimage and his wife Margaret, and James P. Zimage and his wife Ann. Earl also leaves daughter-in-law’s Anne E. Zimage Motil and Judith A. Loconto, thirty-five grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Earl’s VNA Care Hospice Team: nurses Michel Ann and Debbie, his aid Sharon, and Rev. Andrew, as well as his PCA Godfred for all of their care and support in the last month.

Earl was a member of the Hadwen Park Congregational Church in Worcester and was extremely blessed with years of spiritual guidance from Rev. Judith Hanlon. Following Earl’s wishes, there will be no calling hours. There will be a private graveside ceremony next to his first wife Rose at the Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester, MA.

A Celebration of Earl’s Life will be held Saturday, September 25th at 11 a.m. in Hadwen Park Congregational Church, 6 Clover Street, Worcester MA 01603.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to end Parkinson’s Disease through

The Michael J. Fox Foundation, P.O. Box 5014

Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.