Joseph E. Hetherman, 68, of West Boylston, died Sat., Nov. 18 at St. Vincent Hospital. He leaves his beloved wife of 34 years, Joan M. (Safford) Woodard Hetherman, two sons, Ralph E. Woodard, Jr. of Daggett, CA and David L. Woodard of Rockford, TN; two daughters, Debora A. Cotrell of Rockford, TN and Julie A. Smith of Starke, FL. A daughter, Gloria J. Os’Good died in 1994. He also leaves eighteen grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, four brothers, Gerald Hetherman of Marshall, VA, Francis Hetherman of Leicester, David Hetherman of Cape Cod and James Hetherman of Leicester; two sisters, Ann Hetherman of TX and Mary Hetherman of Oxford, several nephews and nieces.

He was born in Worcester son of Joseph E. and Clare (Kneeland) Hetherman and raised in Oxford graduating from Oxford High School where he was captain of the Oxford basketball team. He was an Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War. Mr. Hetherman worked at Worcester Tool and Stamping for 35 years retiring in 2001. He was an avid Red Sox and Patriots fan and recently visited both the Basketball and Baseball Hall of Fame.

The funeral will be held on Saturday, November 25 from FAY BROTHERS FUNERAL HOME, 1 West Boylston St. with a Mass at 10 AM in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 111 Worcester St. Burial will follow in the Garden of Faith at Worcester County Memorial Park in Paxton. Visiting hours are Friday, November 24 from 6-8 PM in the funeral home. Flowers may be sent or donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701.