Obituaries were reported for Carl Schwalbe, 71, of Wrentham, Pauline Conti, 54, of Mansfield, and Michael Starzak, 94, of Attleboro.

Carl Schwalbe, 71

WRENTHAM - Carl W. Schwalbe, 71, of Taunton Street, Wrentham, died on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at the Milford Whitinsville Regional Hospital in Milford. He was the loving companion of 26 years of Gail Pratt.

Born in Franklin on April 8, 1937, he was the son of the late Alfred J. and Mary M. (MacDonald) Schwalbe.

Carl was raised and educated in Wrentham, graduating from the Wrentham Centre School in the Class of 1955. He then entered the U.S. Marine Corps, serving proudly and honorably until his discharge in 1958. He attained the rank of sergeant. Following his stint in the service, Carl was apprenticed as a plumber to the late Harry Shepard, and became a master plumber himself on May 1, 1980. He was the proud owner of Schwalbe Plumbing and Heating for many years.

Carl served the Town of Wrentham as a plumbing and gas inspector for over 25 years, and had been involved in service to the Wrentham Council on Aging and various other committees as well.

He was a member of the Robert W. Topham Post 9658 American Legion Post in Wrentham, and was a striking figure in full dress uniform at Post events and in the annual Memorial Day exercises within the town.

In addition to his dear companion, Carl is survived by and was the loving father of Jill and her husband Richard McComb of Foxboro, and Carol and her husband Stephen Thomas of Wrentham. He was the dear brother of Paul Schwalbe and his companion Judy Kamon of Wrentham, and Virginia and her husband Frank Slyker of Bel Air, Md., and the devoted grandfather of Victoria, Benjamin, and Harrison McComb, and Dominic and Christian Thomas.

Relatives and friends are invited and may call Friday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at the RJ Ross Funeral Home, 135 South St., Route 1A, Wrentham Center. His funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Church, 140 South St., Wrentham Center. Burial with military honors will follow in Wrentham Center Cemetery.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Old Fiske Library Museum Gallery Committee, c/o Wrentham Cooperative Bank, PO Box 250, Wrentham, MA 02093. This project was of great interest to him for the past several years.

Arrangements are in the care of Richard Ross and the RJ Ross Funeral Home, Wrentham.

Pauline Conti, 54

MANSFIELD - Pauline "Polly" (Eckler) Conti of Mansfield died Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Caritas St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton. She was 54.

Born in Boston's West End on June 23, 1953, Polly spent her early childhood there before moving to Mattapan for her high school years at St. Claire's. Thirty-five years ago, she moved to Mansfield. She was married in St. Mary's Church in 1975 and then graduated as an LPN from the Southeastern Regional School of Nursing in 1983.

She devoted her life to raising her three children and caring compassionately for her patients throughout the Boston area. She inherited her deceased father Casimir's sense of humor and wit.

The last years of Polly's 54 years were marred with chronic illness and pain. She suffered silently and privately. Miraculously, she was able to see her twin sons graduate from Mansfield High School and her daughter receive her master's degree from Suffolk University and then marry.

She enjoyed cooking shows, an occasional rare trip to the slot machines and yard sales where she bought for others, Dunkin' Donuts, and the company of a few close friends, along with her visiting nurses.

Polly is survived by her daughter, Kristin Conti Murphy and her husband Kevin of Worcester; her twin sons, Charles Conti, a junior at Framingham State College and Christopher Conti, newly licensed EMT, of Mansfield; her mother, Frances M. Eckler of Mansfield; and her sister Marie "Rere" Eckler of Mansfield.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, May 9 from 4 to 8 p.m. in the Bolea-Amici Funeral Home, 115 North Main St., Mansfield.

Funeral services and burial will be private.

Michael Starzak, 94

ATTLEBORO - Michael Starzak, 94, of Tiffany Street, Attleboro, a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. He was the beloved husband of the late Ida D. (Bielagus) Starzak, who died in September 1995.

Born in Bellingham on Jan. 29, 1914, Michael was a son of the late John and Mary (Zawada) Starzak. He was raised in Bellingham and was a graduate of Franklin High School, Class of 1932. He furthered his education with the completion of many collegiate evening classes.

Mr. Starzak was the president of the former Premier Plastics Inc. in Attleboro for over 30 years, and later was employed as a vice president at Matrix Corporation in East Providence, R.I. for 10 years until retiring at the proud age of 75.

Years ago, Michael was employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Woonsocket, R.I., and was a superintendent at the former Taft-Pierce Company, which later became Liberty Tool Company in East Providence.

Michael's lifelong interest in golf developed as a youth when he caddied during the Great Depression to earn money for his family. A skilled and talented golfer, Michael was a life member of Highland Country Club in Attleboro.

He also enjoyed dancing and traveling, and especially enjoyed traveling to visit his children throughout the country.

Mr. Starzak is survived by three sons: Michael E. Starzak, Ph.D and his wife Anndrea of Vestal, N.Y., Robert J. Starzak, M.D. and his wife Diane of Oak Park, Calif., and Richard J. Starzak and his wife Claudia of Los Angeles, Calif.; a daughter, Carol A. Martell and her husband Gary of Clearwater, Fla.; a sister, Frances Haczynski of Smithfield, R.I.; grandchildren: Jocelyn Starzak Pedersen, Alissa Starzak Ferguson, Mark Starzak, Richard Starzak, Linda Livingston and her husband Thomas, Amanda Starzak, Christina Starzak, Nikolai Starzak and Dimitri Starzak; a great-granddaughter, Katrina Livingston; and many nieces and nephews.

Michael was the beloved brother of the late Walter Starzak, Edward Starzak and Velma Trudeau.

Family and friends are kindly invited to attend visiting hours on Friday, May 9 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, 20 Peck St., Attleboro.

A funeral will be conducted on Saturday, May 10 at 8:30 a.m. from the Duffy-Poule Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph's Church, 391 High St., Central Falls, R.I. Mr. Starzak will be laid to rest beside his beloved wife, Ida, in St. Stephen's Cemetery, Dodgeville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in his memory may be made to: the American Heart Association, 20 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01701 or at: www.americanheart.org.

An online guest book for family and friends to express condolences may be found at www.duffy-poule.com.