InDepthNH.org scans the websites of New Hampshire funeral homes each week and selects at random some of our friends, relatives and neighbors to feature in this column. The people listed here passed away during the previous week and have some public or charitable connection to their community. InDepthNH.org is now offering obituaries through the Legacy.com service. We view this as part of our public service mission. Click here or on the Obituaries tab at the top of our home page to learn more. And if you know of someone from New Hampshire who should be featured in this column, please send your suggestions to NancyWestNews@gmail.com.
Scott Michael Reed, 57, of Sunapee, died May 1, 2023. He was an IT executive at The Hartford, MassMutual, and AIG, then in 2015, he and his wife Jennifer bought the Inn at Pleasant Lake in New London. In 2020, they purchased the New London Inn. He served on several boards and was a strong supporter of the Center for the Arts and the N.H. Food Bank. (Chadwick Funeral and Cremation Service)
Edmund M. LeBoeuf, 90, of Manchester, died April 28, 2023. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he began his law enforcement career in 1956 as a patrolman with the Manchester Police Department, rising through the ranks to deputy police chief of the detective division. He completed his degree in criminal justice at St. Anselm College in 1976 and completed the FBI Academy in 1973. He retired in 1985 and became an investigator for the New Hampshire Public Defender. (Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center)
Robert B. Tucker, 83, of Derry, died April 30, 2023. A former resident of Hampstead for 35 years, he owned The Dojo Karate School in Hampstead. He worked at Raytheon in Andover, Mass., for 30 years. In 1996, he ran as a write-in Independent presidential candidate. (Dewhirst & Boles Funeral Home, Methuen, Mass.)
Richard Brown, 60, of Henniker, died April 27, 2023. He was a member of Rolling Thunder NH Chapter 1 and spent many Memorial Day weekends on his Harley in Washington, D.C. He was a maintenance mechanic for the State of New Hampshire and was well known in the Walker building and New Hampshire Archives building. (Bennett Funeral Home)
Raymond A. Stauble Jr., 93, formerly of Tilton and Detroit, Maine, died May 1, 2023. A U.S. Air National Guard veteran, he was a self-employed finish carpenter in New York before relocating to Maine in 1973, where he established Sherwood Builders, specializing in residential construction and finish carpentry. Later in life, he pursued his artwork, painting human and animal portraits and landscapes in oil and pastels. (Farwell Funeral Home)
Brenda Jean (Straughan) Gabriel, 65, of Nashua, died April 29, 2023. She was a certified medical technologist and worked for 37 years in the laboratory at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, Nashua, retiring in 2020. She was past president of the Nashua Area Artists’ Association. (Farwell Funeral Home)
Charles Mark Bestick, 61, of Colebrook, died April 28, 2023. He was a volunteer firefighter for more than 22 years and a rescue diver. He and his cousin cared for several animals, including reptiles, and starred in shows to teach others about them. He was licensed by the state to care for alligators. He was proud of his Native American heritage as a member of the Cherokee nation and was as a long-haul truck driver and heavy equipment operator, working for the Alvin J. Coleman & Sons Co. for many years. (Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home)
Rose M. Carpenter, 103, of Newmarket, died April 30, 2023. A native of England, she was a war bride who with her husband John started a florist and greenhouse business in Newmarket. A member of the Newmarket Community Church, she made sure there were fresh flowers on the altar for more than 50 years. She was a member of Fireside Forum, Eastern Star, and a strong supporter of Newmarket schools, supplying flowers for graduation events for years. She retired from the florist business at the age of 94. (Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home & Crematory)
Rodney A. Mudgett, 59, of Concord, died April 30, 2023. A U.S. Army Airborne division veteran, he served as a medic and paratrooper. He owned and operated Rod’s Autobody and was a member of the Queen City Pool League. He was the 2014 state champion and was inducted into the hall of fame. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)
Mary Louise (Doucette) Taylor, 91, of Meredith, died May 2, 2023. She and her husband Gordon were foster parents to more than 100 children over 30 years. She dedicated time to St. Charles Borromeo Church in Meredith as a Eucharistic minister, a member of the craft group, and head of the bereavement committee. (Mayhew Funeral Home)
Michael J. Brien, 69, of Laconia, died April 29, 2023. He taught English, sociology, and creative writing at Southern New Hampshire University, New Hampshire College, Plymouth State University and Notre Dame College. He was a published short story writer and a long-time member of the New Hampshire Writers Project, publishing nearly 100 stories in small literary magazines and e-zines. He was past editor of Amoskeag, SNHU’s literary magazine. He wrote and performed his own compositions on guitar and piano. He volunteered for homeless shelters, as a prison ministry coordinator, and with veterans and families experiencing homelessness.
He was an active member of St. Charles Borromeo Parish and Music Ministry. (Mayhew Funeral Home)
Guenter Karl Mathoni, 92, formerly of Nashua, died April 28, 2023. A native of Germany, he became a master technician and received degrees in automotive engineering and business. He became assistant general manager for the Volkswagen distributorship in Germany and helped organize Volkswagen of America Inc. He opened Gateway Motor Company in Nashua in 1962, later adding the Mazda franchise. He was chairman of the New England Volkswagen Dealer Council, served on the Mazda Dealer Council, served on the Nashua High School Advisory Committee and N.H. Vocational Technical College and Technical Institute advisory committee, and served six years on the N.H. State Board of Education. He also served on the Governor’s Committee on N.H. Air Quality, was president of Nashua New Car Dealers Association, president of N.H. Dealers Association, a trustee of Daniel Webster College, and a member of Rotary and the 100 Club of New Hampshire. (Michaud Funeral Home & Crematory)
Kenneth J. Hall, 90, of Newport, died April 27, 2023. He and his wife Mary owned the “Sign Doctor,” making and selling wooded signs at craft fairs and festivals across New England. They opened a store on their property in Unity called “Santa’s Workshop.” Mary ran the store while Ken made the signs and wood products. He was a member of the Claremont Kiwanis Club and was given the Hixson Fellow Award by the club. He met President Barack Obama and introduced him in Unity during a campaign appearance. (Newton-Bartlett Funeral Home)
Richard J. Marelli, 87, of Hampton, died May 1, 2023. He was the long-time owner of Marelli’s Market at Hampton Beach. He began working in his family’s business as a young boy and greeted patrons for more than 80 years. (Remick & Gendron Funeral Home)
John D. O’Connell Jr., 96, of Milford, died April 29, 2023. A U.S. Navy veteran, he retired as a master chief petty officer after a 30-year career. He and his wife Janet were communicants of St. Patrick Church and volunteered at Thomas Moore College in Merrimack. He was a longtime member of the Nashua Choral Society and the New England Chapter of the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association. (Smith & Heald Funeral Home)
Irene Toni (Kochman) Gordon, 85, of Belmont, died May 2, 2023. A native of Germany, she was an occupational therapist for 52 years and specialized in autism spectrum disorders and developmental disabilities. She and her husband, Dr. Spencer Brody, founded the Jewish section of Laconia’s Union Cemetery. She was director of the St. James Nursery School in Laconia, president of the Nursery Guild of Lakes Region General Hospital, and Hands Across the Table, where she chaired the annual Soup-a-Thon. She was also a member of the Lakes Region Youth Hockey Association and Temple B’nai Israel, where she also chaired the annual New Hampshire Jewish Food Festival and served on the bereavement committee and cemetery board. (Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services)
Harriett (Waller) Thompson Coupal, 93, of Gilmanton, died April 29, 2023. She taught music in Massachusetts before coming to New Hampshire, spending many years as music director at Gilford Elementary School. She was an organist and choir director at churches in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. She was a member of the Music Education National Convention, Music Teacher National Association, and the American Guild of Organists for many years. (Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services)
WORDS OF WISDOM: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Winnie the Pooh, as relayed through Author A. A. Milne, Jan. 18, 1882, to Jan. 31, 1956