Obituary

Notable New Hampshire Deaths: Several Who Served in Hospitality Passed Away This Week

By |
Print More

BOB CHAREST phot

This small stone in Nashua’s Proctor Animal Cemetery is hard to read. It states: “Creampot. A Victim of The Fire. May 4, 1930.” It sits at the front of the cemetery, which is located directly in front of the building housing the Humane Society for Greater Nashua on Ferry Road.  According to information on the humane society’s website, Proctor was New Hampshire’s first animal cemetery, located on land bequeathed in 1929 by Roscoe Proctor. The society was started years earlier, in 1900, by Mary Jane (Jennie) Kendall, whose own cat, Creampot, lost her life in the Great Nashua Fire of 1930. In the years since its inception, the cemetery has served as the final resting place for more than 3,000 animals, including everything from horses to birds.  The Great Nashua Fire, or the great Crown Hill Fire, started under a railroad trestle near the Jackson Mill on Canal Street on May 4, 1930. Nashua historical records indicate a lumberyard and several industries were destroyed. Four hundred families lost their homes, but fortunately there was no loss of life. (Obviously, Creampot would disagree.)

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 weeks 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.

Marylou Ashooh Lazos, 66, of Derry, died June 1, 2024. She dedicated more than 40 years of service to the Manchester Historic Association as a volunteer, curator and member of the board of directors. She was also involved with the Currier Museum of Art, Brandywine Museum of Art, New Hampshire Institute of Art, American Independence Museum, New Hampshire Art Association, Boothbay Regional Art Foundation and was a founding member of the Saturday Life Group Figure Artist Cooperative. She co-chaired the Mahrajan Middle Eastern Food Festival at Our Lady of the Cedars Melkite Church. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)

Sally Ann Shattler Adams,  81, of Troy, died May 26. 2024. She and her husband David owned and operated The Inn at East Hill Farm. She delivered meals from East Hill Farm’s kitchen to acquaintances and friends in need and volunteered her time and resources to local charities and organizations. (Cournoyer Funeral Home & Cremation Center)

Brett C. Barrett, 52, of Hudson, died May 31, 2024. He started working as a mechanic when he was 15 years old, and he opened his own auto shop, Barrett Automotive, in 2003. (Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium)

Margaret Agnes (Armstrong) Case, 83, of Windham, died May 30, 2024. She was a Windham selectman and served almost 20 years as Recreation Committee chairperson. She worked to purchase the town beach and helped create programs and recreational facilities for town residents. She was a leader in the local Girl Scout troop and served on the Windham Conservation Commission. She raised money for the Searles Chapel to fund the restoration of the stained-glass windows, was longtime Cable Advisory Committee chairperson, and member of the Campbell Farm Committee. She was honored with the Chamber of Commerce’s “Pearl Award” for her community service. (Carrier Family Funeral Home)

Gary Adelbert Chapman, 81, of Stratham, died June 2, 2024. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he owned and operated Gary’s Sandwich Shop in Kittery, Maine, for more than 25 years, working alongside his sister Roxy.  He was a Freemason since 1971 via St. John’s Lodge and earned his 50-year Veteran’s Medal in 2021. When he lived in Rye, he was active in the community and served for many years on the Rye Budget Committee. (Remick and Gendron Funeral Home- Crematory)

Barbara A. (Green) Chaput, 79, of Allenstown, died June 6, 2024. She was a teacher at Highland-Goffe’s Falls Elementary School in Manchester for 32 years. (Roan Family Funeral Home)

Richard Laurent Dandeneau, 87, of Madison, died May 29, 2024. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he worked for the FAA installing radar equipment, then became a social worker for the State of New Hampshire for 11 years, advocating for abused and neglected children. He and his wife Carol bought Frye’s Store in Center Conway in 1978, then Flowerland Florist in Conway. In 1993, he was co-owner of Upland Firearms. He retired as case manager from Lakeview Rehabilitation. (Furber and White Funeral Home)

The Rev. George A. Desjardins, 91, of Hooksett, died May 26, 2024. He was ordained a priest on May 23, 1959. He served as associate pastor of Saint Peter Parish in Farmington; Saint Anthony Parish, Manchester; Sacred Heart Parish in Lebanon and Saint John the Baptist Parish in Manchester.  He also served as pastor of Holy Redeemer Parish in West Lebanon; Sacred Heart Parish, Manchester, and Saint George Parish in Manchester, where he served until his retirement in 2002. He was active in ministry at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Concord. (Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center)

Heather Marie Donahue, 53, of Meredith, died May 29, 2024. She trained as a Montessori teacher and taught for five years in a private preschool. She started in 2011 as a special education paraeducator at Interlakes Elementary School. She volunteered with the ILMA Football Boosters, serving as vice president, co-president and president. (Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium)

Douglas Dow, 74, of Epping, died June 2, 2024. A U.S. Navy veteran, he worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 36 years, moving up the ranks to postmaster in Suncook. He was president of the Epping Youth Athletic Association. (Brewitt Funeral Home) 

Maura J. Dumont Fleming, 57, of Hampton, died May 31, 2024. She ran operations for various hotel groups along the eastern seaboard, eventually becoming owner of her family’s restaurant, The Purple Urchin, in Hampton Beach. She and her husband Jake ran the Purple Urchin starting in 1997 for the next 25 years. (Remick and Gendron Funeral Home- Crematory)

Douglas K. Fish, 82, of Jaffrey, died May 28, 2024. He was a police officer for the Keene Police Department until his retirement, rising through the ranks as detective, lieutenant and captain. He worked for the Cheshire County Sheriff’s office where he served as a detective and later sheriff. He also served as a N.H. state representative. (Foley Funeral Home)

Attorney Alan W. Goodchild, 79, of Danbury and formerly of Derry, died June 2, 2024. He was a partner of the Law Office of Stancik & Goodchild in Derry until his retirement. (Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium)

Jerome Joseph Guerrin, 79, of Derry, died May 31, 2024. A U.S. Army veteran, he worked for the U.S. Customs Agency as a special agent group supervisor at SAC offices in New York, Washington, D.C., and Boston. He was president of the New England Chapter of the Association of Former Customs & Homeland Security Special Agents. He was a member of the Derry Salem Elks Lodge. (Carrier Family Funeral Home)

Valentina Harrison, 85,of Exeter, diedMay 29, 2024. A native of Belarus, she was a teacher of Russian language and literature and later an editor at a national news agency. She immigrated to the U.S. in 1975. (Brewitt Funeral Home)

Kenwood “Woody” C. Jones Jr., 76, of Manchester, died May 24, 2024.  A U.S. Air Force veteran, he worked in his father’s business, Ken Jones Ski Shop, in Nashua for many years, stepping away from the business in the early 2000s. (Legacy.com)

Dr. Robert Charles Judson, 86, of Exeter, died May 31, 2024. A U.S. Air Force veteran, he was a general practitioner, first in private practice, then for the State of New Hampshire, followed by the Department of the Navy, practicing occupational medicine at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. (Stockbridge Funeral Home)

Thomas James Monahan, 88, of Whitefield, died May 29, 2024. A U.S. Army veteran, he taught math at Groveton Elementary School, becoming the school’s principal in 1971 and retiring in 1996. He coached basketball and soccer. (Bailey Funeral Home)

Barbara A. (McWilliams) Moran, 93, formerly of Plaistow, died May 31, 2024. She was a longtime employee of the Plaistow Bank and Trust Company since opening in 1967 and was promoted to assistant treasurer in 1975. She retired from the bank in 1995 and volunteered with the N.H. State Police at the Plaistow District Court. (Brewitt Funeral Home)

Herbert Roderick Otto, 93, of Plymouth, died May 29, 2024. A U.S. Army veteran, he earned his Ph.D. in philosophy in 1968 and began as an associate professor at Plymouth State College in 1970. For 26 years he served off and on as the chair of the Philosophy Department and on faculty committees. He and a colleague began PSC’s Medieval Forum, a  conference that was held at Plymouth State every April for over 30 years. He was executive secretary of the Northern New England Philosophy Association.  (Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium)

Michael F. Scala Jr., 82, of Sanbornville, died May 29, 2024.  After sailing for American Export, he opened Scala’s Sub Shop in Rochester, expanding to Somersworth, Dover, Sanford and Westbrook, Maine, the Rochester Fair and the Globe Shopping Center. He started Inn Town Restaurant in Rochester with family members. He was also an auto salesman. In 1989, he opened Marie’s Restaurant in Oqunquit, Maine, and Fisherman’s Net in Kennebunk, Maine. In 1993 he opened “Close to Home” Restaurant in Sanbornville and ran it for 24 years. He also ran the Kingswood Country Club Restaurant in Wolfeboro and Province Lake Country Club for two summers. (R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home)

Gerard B. Tanguay, 92, of Manchester, died June 3, 2024. He served in the National Guard and then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He became a Manchester Police Officer in 1961 and retired in 1982. He earned his teaching license and was a substitute teacher while working as a police officer. In retirement, he founded Gerard Motors Ltd. on South Main Street in Manchester and operated the business with his son James for 33 years. He was a member of the Granite State Detachment 542-Marine Corps League, the N.H. Police Association, the Manchester Police Relief Association, and the N.H. Association of Retired Law Enforcement. (Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory)

Edward “Gene” Wlodyka, 76, of Salem, died May 31, 2024. He and his brothers owned the Kenya Club, Sharkey’s Club, Gold Star Subs and Tower Hill Variety in the Lawrence area. He also worked as a department manager at the Home Depot in Salem for 25 years. He was involved in his son and daughter’s business, Daily Dose Café, in Lawrence. He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge in Lawrence. (Carrier Family Funeral Home)

James Kenneth Wyly, 77, of Bow, died May 27, 2024. He studied theoretical physics and received his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin. He then went to medical school at University of Miami and became a psychiatrist. He practiced psychiatry and taught physics occasionally. (Bennett Funeral Home)

WORDS OF WISDOM: “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.” – Thomas Campbell, Scottish poet, July 27, 1777, to June 15, 1844

Comments are closed.