Cassie-Leigh Stock

Cassie-Leigh Stock, age 34, died unexpectedly as she slept on the morning of July 15. She is loved by all who ever met her.

Cassie-Leigh was born in Framingham and grew up in Hopkinton. She graduated Hopkinton High School, where she met and adored her first and forever love, James Stewart. She attended Cape Cod Community College for a short time; but, her life force led her to the protection, saving and resourcing for abused or neglected dogs that just needed some help with guidance, training, trust and love. She attended numerous certification classes and studies to prepare herself and to mentor others. Her company, HEX Dogs (Higher Expectation) of Mendon, was founded, promoted and passionately loved by Cassie-Leigh. Her devotion to this cause will live on beyond her. We cannot underestimate the value of her contribution, and her partners’ contributions as she mentored them, in this cause.

Cassie-Leigh’s mother, Cheryl Ann Hutchinson Stock, passed away eight days after Cassie-Leigh. Cassie-Leigh is survived by Cheryl’s husband, William H. McGrath of Milford, her adoring sister and best friend, Randle Rae Stock Sbordone and her husband, Christopher, now of Worcester, her life companion and first and last love, James Stewart, of Bellingham, and his family of Hopkinton, as well as Spark Plugge, Patches, Dually and Daria. Also, her grandmother, Pauline M. Hutchinson of Hopkinton, her grandmother Shirley O. Stock of New Hampshire, her uncle Steve, cousins Ricky, Tera, Karie, Meghan and Nicole, her aunts Toni and Bonnie and their families, her uncle Mike and cousins Mikey and Katie and their families. She also is survived by innumerable friends she considered family and a community of humans and dogs whose lives she touched and who were so truly special to her. She loved each and every one unconditionally, as they love her. She is predeceased by her dad, Donald A. Stock, her uncle Richard Stock, and dear friend Christine Warren, all of whom have her now.

All those who loved Cassie hope that you will seek out safe places and loved ones, both two- and four-legged, at this most difficult time.

A memorial service was held at the Callanan Cronin Funeral Home in Hopkinton (callanancronin.com) on July 20. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the humane society of the giver’s choice. A celebration of life will be held around the time of what would have been her 35th birthday. Announcements will be made closer to that time in October.