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.
Commander Joseph J. Vinciguerra Jr., USN, Retired, 83, of Rye and a native of Portsmouth, died June 17, 2023. He entered the U.S. Navy in 1960 and during his naval career, he served on the USS Shasta (AE-6) as a junior officer, on the USS Spartanburg Country (LST-1192) and USS Charleston (LKA-113), and as operations officer and executive officer on the USS Arcturus (AF-52). He assumed duties as commander of Military Sealift Command in Southwest Asia in 1990. He was also an instructor at Naval Officer Candidate School; deputy inspector general of the U.S. Naval Recruiting Command; board member of the Naval Discharge Review and Physical Review Boards; operations officer, and later chief staff officer on the staff of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Southern Command; and several other posts. (J. Verne Wood Funeral Home – Buckminster Chapel)
John D. Sears, 72, of Keene, died June 14, 2023. A veteran of both the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Air Force, he worked in the Registrar’s Office at Keene State College and in 2008 became a certified lay minister for the United Methodist Church. He served the Richmond United Methodist Community Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Keene. (DiLuzio Foley And Fletcher Funeral Homes)
Ralph (Bud) Booth, 91, of Wolfeboro, died June 14, 2023. After graduating from UNH, where he studied agricultural engineering, he established his own farm, Green Dream Farm, in Lee. He served on the board of directors of the American Jersey Cattle Club. In Wolfeboro, he co-founded the Lakes Region Curling Club. (J.S. Pelkey and Son Funeral Home)
Daniel Stephen Riley, 49, of Chester, died June 18, 2023. A 35-year employee of Demoulas supermarkets, he was store director of the Market Basket in Epping. He was known as Big Red and was the “neighborhood dad” to many. (Carrier Family Funeral Home)
Anna M. (Soule) “Maizy” Jacobsmeyer, 89, of Sunapee, died June 18, 2023. She was an active member of Dalton’s Charter Commission and was chairman of the Finance Committee. She and her husband Bill were regulars at area ski slopes in the winter months. (Chadwick Funeral and Cremation Service)
Nancy Ray Plantinga, 93, of Plymouth, died June 15, 2023. She was instrumental in establishing the first homeless shelter in Plymouth. She also served on the board of Tri-County Community Action (CAP), a social services organization, where she helped people with fuel assistance and other needs. She was a member of the Eastern Star and a member of the Emmanuel Episcopal Church (the former St. Marks) in Ashland. (Dupuis Funeral Home)
Patricia Ann Shackford, 90, of Madison, died June 16, 2023. She served as postmaster in the Madison post office, where she worked for over 20 years. She also worked for A&P Grocery in Conway and drove a school bus in Madison for several years. After retiring, she worked at Purity Springs Resort. (Furber Funeral Home)
Audrey May (Mercier) Pray, 83, of Dover, died June 14, 2023. From 1977-1980 she worked as a school nurse at North Hampton Elementary School. In 1980 she became the school nurse at the Seacoast School of Technology and Exeter High School, working there until retirement in 2001. (Tasker Funeral Home)
Normande Y. (Simard) Aubin, 93, of Bedford, died June 20, 2023. She was a registered nurse at Notre Dame Hospital and Catholic Medical Center for more than 30 years. She volunteered for many years at Sacred Heart Church on the Bereavement Meal Committee and Boy Scout Troop 135. She also volunteered at New Hampshire Food Bank and Mom’s Place at Catholic Medical Center. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)
Jacob Dunnell, 89, of Meredith and formerly of Holderness and North Andover, Mass., died June 19, 2023. A U.S. Navy veteran, he taught English at the Rectory School in Pomfret, Conn., and then at Fay School in Southborough, Mass. In 1965, he accepted a position at the Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Fla., where he taught English until 1968, when he joined his brother in the English department at Brooks School in North Andover, Mass. He taught there until his retirement in 1994. He was a counselor for many years at Camp Pasquaney in Hebron. (Mayhew Funeral Homes)
Doris Verge, 97, of Concord and formerly of Enfield, died June 15, 2023. She was active in the Enfield United Methodist Church and served as president of the United Methodist Women, chair of the administrative board, and financial secretary. She taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and was an active leader of the youth group. She was also a Cub Scout den mother. She was also a member of the Lebanon chapter of the Emblem Club and was selected as Sister of the Year in 1974. (Ricker Funeral Homes & Crematory)
Diane M. (Cloutier) Bonenfant, 75, of Amherst, died June 17, 2023. A native of Quebec, she co-founded Living and Learning Preschool and was a substitute teacher in the Merrimack School District. At St. John Neumann Parish, she led the Day Away Program. (Rivet Funeral Home & Crematorium)
Devere C. “Lee” Engelhardt, 83, of Gilford, died June 15, 2023. He was the owner of Economy 2-Way Distributers, Inc. and Engelhardt Associates, both wireless communication companies. He also owned Engelhardt Enterprises Rental Properties. (Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services)
WORDS OF WISDOM: “That as long as we are being remembered, we remain alive.” – Carlos Ruiz Zafon, Sept. 25, 1964, to June 19, 2020