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.

Robert A. Bergeron, 82, of Mason, died Feb. 7, 2025. A veteran of the U.S. Air Force, he was a longtime member of the Mason Fire Department, active on the town planning board. Fireman’s Bend in town was named in his honor after a fire truck tipping incident in 1976. (Smith & Heald Funeral Home)

Christopher W. Cobb, 59, of Pittsburg, died Feb. 7, 2025. He built houses with his father as Cobb Construction,  then at Northeast Utilities in Connecticut. Later in his career, he worked for Eversource in the Lancaster/Colebrook area as a supervisor of electric operations. He was active in horse shows, breeding Shire draft horses and American Saddlebred show horses.  He owned Millstream Hunting Preserve. (Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home)

Leslie H. Downing, 82, of Harrisville, died Feb. 7, 2025. She was a town volunteer who served as an assistant librarian, tax collector, and a trustee of the cemetery committee. She started a Cub Scout Pack in Harrisville and served as den mother. She volunteered in several capacities including as a librarian and reading tutor at Harrisville’s Wells Memorial School. (Cheshire Family Funeral Chapel)

Dennis N. Francoeur Jr., 63, of Danville, died Feb. 6, 2025. He was a member and past president of the Safety Council of New England and past state chairman of Ducks Unlimited. He was an industrial hygienist at HETI Services and previously worked for 25 years with his brother Roger at RPF Environmental.  (Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home)

Paul M. Goldberg, 82, of Dover and formerly of Bedford, died Feb. 9, 2025. He was a registered professional engineer who was one of the structural engineers of the summit building on Mount Washington. While living in Bedford, he served on the Town Council and was chair from 1996 to 1999. He served on the sewer commission and planning board, chair for many years. He was past commodore and life member of Portsmouth Yacht Club. He was a life member of the U.S. Power Squadron and former commander where he taught boating education for more than 25 years. (Tasker Funeral Home)

James R. Mafera, 78, of New Durham, died Feb. 11, 2025. A U.S. Navy veteran, he also served in the Army National Guard. He retired from the state in 2009, having worked at Fish and Game, then as a superintendent of bridge maintenance. (Legacy.com)

Arthur M. Nutter Sr., 96, of Northwood, died Feb. 12, 2025. A U.S. Army veteran, he was a longtime member of the American Legion in Loudon. He worked at the Adams Brothers Shoe Shop and the canning factory in Pittsfield. He then worked as a state highway patrol foreman for more than 25 years with the N.H. Public Highway Department, retiring in 1985. He was a deputy chief and fire warden for the Northwood Fire Department. (Roan Family Funeral Home)

F. André Paquette, 91, of Gilford, died Feb. 6, 2025. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and began his long career in education as a public school teacher of French and Spanish. He was foreign language director for the state Department of Education and taught at several colleges. He was the first executive director of the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. In 1980, he returned to public education and was a principal, assistant superintendent and superintendent of schools. He retired in 1996. He was a past trustee and past president of the Belknap Mill Society. (Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home)

Dora (Dode) M. Rainie, 103, of Concord, died Feb. 6, 2025. She was a founding member of the Concord Chorale, a member of the Concord Messiah Chorus, the South Congregational Church choir and the Concord Music Club for many years. She was past president of the Merrimack County Medical Society Auxiliary. She was also a member of Concord Hospital Associates, Concord Garden Club, the Friendly Club, the Thrift Shop and the Concord Junior Service League. She volunteered at Concord Hospital’s Hospitality Shop, Concord VNA Blood Bank, and FISH. She worked as a head nurse in several Massachusetts and Maine hospitals and a college before moving to New Hampshire. She retired from nursing in 1986. (Bennett Funeral Home)

Frances Emily Towne, 97, of New Boston, died Feb. 10, 2025. She was active in local and state granges and was past president of Emerson, Bailey, Clover unit #19, American Legion Auxiliary. She was twice named outstanding state woman’s activities advisory director of the year by the National Grange while serving as a N.H. state director. She was holder of the Boston Post Cane as New Boston’s oldest citizen. (French and Rising Funeral Home)

WORDS OF WISDOM: “And ever has it been known that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation.” – Khalil Gibran, Lebanese-American writer and poet, Jan. 6, 1883, to April 10, 1931