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.

Ronald J. Aragona, D.C., 81, of Amherst, died May 18, 2025. He was a chiropractor and founder and president of Applied Spinal Biomechanical Engineering. He authored eight textbooks and lectured across the United States, Canada, and Australia. He had a practice called the RJ Aragona Spinal Orthopedic Chiropractic Health Center in Manchester. (Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center)

Miriam Kim Tsi Jong Bailey, 99, of Portsmouth, died May 16, 2025. She was a registered nurse who worked on the maternity ward at Portsmouth Hospital in the 1950s. She was a school nurse at St. Patrick’s School, Lady Isle and Sherburne Elementary School. She also worked at the Dunaway Store at Strawbery Banke summers for 20 years. She was a board member of the Portsmouth Graduate Nurse’s Club, the Junior Women’s League, Portsmouth District Nurses Association, and Portsmouth College Women’s Club. She was president of the Elwyn Park Extension Service Group, and president of the Rockingham County Extension Service Council. (J Verne Wood Funeral Home – Buckminster Chapel)

David H. “Andy” Bangs Jr., 84, of Portsmouth, died May 14, 2025. He was the author of the best-selling Business Planning Guide series which was translated into 13 languages and used in many business schools across the country. He was a mentor to many and was awarded the New Hampshire Women’s Business Advocate award. (Direct Cremation of the Seacoast)

Charles W. Brown Jr., 91, of Weare, died May 14, 2025. He was a volunteer firefighter and served on several school and town building and finance committees. He and his wife Sylvia were farmers who placed a large parcel of their Weare farm under conservation easement to be enjoyed for years to come. (French & Rising Funeral Home)

Lyman Abbott Cousens III, 87, of Boscawen, died April 24, 2025. He was a banker for 20 years in Boston, Hampton, Proctor, Vt., and Newport, and in 1989 was named executive director of the New Hampshire Safety Council. He retired in 2008. He was a 52-year Rotarian and a member of the board of directors of the Boy Scout Daniel Webster Council for more than 40 years and served as president. He was also a member of the Northeast Region BSA and was awarded the Silver Beaver and Silver Antelope awards. He served on the board of Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and in 2017 was the recipient of the Spirit of Goodwill Award. He also served on the boards of the Northern New England Employment Services and The Friendly Kitchen. In Boscawen, he was chair of the zoning board, a member of the Old Home Day Committee and Conservation Commission, and trustee of the Trust Funds. In 2013 he was named Boscawen’s Citizen of the Year. (Legacy.com)

Dr. Michael Loren Fischler, 79, of Holderness, died May 19, 2025. He was professor emeritus in the Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology at Plymouth State University, where he taught for 50 years. He was also an adviser to the Tau Omega Sorority, as well as the founder and first adviser to the Black Student Union and the Gay Straight Alliance. He founded and led the charity First Star Tonight, which is still serving those children in need today. (Mayhew Funeral Homes and Crematorium)

Arnold Milton Graton, 87, of Ashland, died May 6. 2025. He was a master covered bridgewright who devoted his life to preserving America’s architectural heritage through the restoration and construction of covered bridges and historic structures. He and his team often lived and worked at his projects across the United States.  He built 16 new covered bridges and restored more than 65 others. His reputation brought requests for covered bridge work well beyond his New Hampshire home. His experience extended well beyond covered bridges to varied undertakings such as relocating a round barn to the Shelburne Museum in Vermont, work on the timber frame at the James Madison mansion in Virginia, restoring a church in South Carolina, repairing fire towers, building timber bridges on Mt. Washington’s Tuckerman’s trail and work on the Mayflower II at Mystic Seaport in Connecticut. (Dupuis Funeral Home)

Alma R. Hall, 103, of Exeter, the town’s longest lifelong resident, died May 18, 2025. She worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and then at several retailers, including Whetmore’s Variety, Leo’s Grocery store, Exeter Banking Company and most recently, High Street Grocery, which she owned for 58 years. She was a volunteer for the Parent and Friends Club, Catholic Daughters, Parish Council, Exeter Women’s Club, Women’s Relief Corp, AARP, Council of Aging and Exeter Historical Society, holding the title of president of many of these organizations. She also sang and was soloist at weddings, funerals and churches throughout Exeter. She was a member of the Exeter Minstrels. (Stockbridge Funeral Home)

John P. Harland, 76, of Newton, died May 18, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a data analyst who worked for 20 years for the State of New Hampshire. He was a long-time member of the Windham Lions Club and served three terms as president, He was a recipient of the Lions Club’s Melvin Jones Award. (Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home)

Elaine Marie Hatch, 83, of Conway, died May 13, 2025. She taught in public schools for 37 years and volunteered for 4H, Retired Senior Volunteer Program, and service dog training. She and husband Bruce operated Hatch Orchard in South Conway from 1972 until 2017. After her husband’s death, she continued to maintain the orchard. She was a long-time member of Gail’s Material Girls, a group that created charity quilts. (Furber & White Funeral Home)

Barry W. Jenkins, 83, of Colebrook, died May 17, 2025. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and became a licensed funeral director and embalmer, purchasing Jenkins Funeral Home in 1971 from his mother., He operated the business until 1999, when it was purchased by Jeff Jacoby. He continued to assist in the funeral business for several more years. He was a member and past Master of Evening Star Lodge 37, F&AM, of Colebrook, an active member of the Colebrook Country Club, and served as the Home Service Officer for the American Red Cross in the Colebrook and surrounding areas during the Vietnam conflict.  (Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home)

The Rev. Dr. Rhonda MacLeod, 65, of New Boston, died May 15, 2025. She was a science teacher at numerous schools, including Fairhaven High School, Holy Family, New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical High School and Boynton Middle School. She earned her Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling degrees and was ordained in the United Church of Christ. She served as pastor in Marlborough, Manchester, and Concord. She also interned at the N.H. State Prison for Women in Goffstown, Shea Farm in Concord, and was chaplain for women at the Cheshire County House of Correction in Keene. (Roan Family Funeral Home)

James Richard Mikesell, 82, of Concord, died May 9, 2025. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Security Agency and had a career in the aerospace industry, culminating as president and chief operations officer of Thermal Electronics, Inc., until his retirement in 2011. (Bennett Funeral Home)

Robert Anthony Petrillo, 79, of Salem, died May 15, 2025. He was a teacher, coach, and athletic director for more than 35 years at Bedford (Mass.) High School.  and in 1988 was inducted into the Massachusetts High School Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame for assistant coaches.  He coached over 10 seasons for the Pelham Youth Razorbacks and Pelham High School.  He was inducted into the Bedford High School Hall of Fame in 2010. (Cataudella Funeral Home, Methuen, Mass.) 

WORDS OF WISDOM: “I didn’t always do the right thing or say the right thing and when you come to the end of your life those are the things you really regret, the small simple things that hurt other people.” – From the obituary of Carol Lee Doyle of Windham, who died May 14, 2025, at age 79. Ms. Doyle wrote her own obituary, which you can read in its entirety at the website of Carrier Family Funeral Home (www.carrierfuneralhome.com).