J. Verne Wood Funeral Home

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Patricia Ann (Smith) Casso, 95, of Pompano Beach, FL, formerly of New Castle, NH, on February 12, 2025. A beloved mother, Patricia was the strength of our family as well as a mentor and her son's sole guiding light in life. Born on March 25, 1929, in Waterville, ME, Patricia is the daughter of the late D. Thurlowe Smith and Frances Noble. The family later moved to Bangor, ME, where she graduated from Bangor High School, Class of 1947. Patricia went on to study at Westbrook Junior College in Portland, ME, graduating with the Class of 1949. In 1951, Patricia started her career in the finance industry, working for 36 years, first for Universal...

James G. Boujoukos, age 87, left this life peacefully with his wife Christine by his side, following a period of declining health. They had relocated to Portsmouth's Edgewood Center, from their home in Concord 2 years ago. Jimmy was born October 10, 1937 in Boston to the late Esther (Papouleas) and George Boujoukos. He was a loving, devoted and generous husband, son, father, brother, grandfather and friend. A talented pianist, he enjoyed all genres of music. He was a true gentleman, a fine host and a sharp dresser. His handsome smile and calm demeanor will be truly missed. He enjoyed a nice dinner out, a good gin and tonic, and great company. A 1957 graduate of Winthrop High School, he...

Gail Manchee Mapel, 89, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2025 at her home in New Castle, NH, surrounded by her loving family. Gail was born July 31, 1935 to Frederick Manchee and Gladys (Miller) Manchee of Ridgewood, NJ. She had an older sister, Meryl Manchee Vallar. Gail graduated from Ridgewood High School and attended Connecticut College for Women. Summer highlights as a teenager included working as a waitress on the Jersey Shore, and traveling around the country and overseas with family. After college, she worked as a secretary for Johnny Carson and later at Union Carbide where she met William M.R. (Bill) Mapel. Gail and Bill were married June 21, 1958. They made their home in...

Gail died peacefully on November 12, 2024 in Rye, NH. Born on December 2, 1943, daughter of Morton and Cecelia Young. You can send wishes to the family and watch a slideshow at J. Verne Wood Funeral Home Portsmouth, NH www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Gail's name to Healing H'Arts Donations - Healing H'Arts Equestrian Center https://healingharts.com/donations/, The Lovering Health Center https://joangloveringhealthcenter.org/donate or the ACLU of NH. https://www.aclu-nh.org/give.

Bonnie Alice Anita (Katwick) Dunton, age 84, of Milton, NH passed away on November 11, 2024 at her home. For 64 years, she was the beloved wife of Charles Donald "Don" Dunton, who passed August 21, 2024. She leaves two sons Erik Dunton (partner Kim Scott); Charles Donald "Chad" Dunton II (wife Gloria Camille); a daughter, Jennifer Anne Dunton (husband Jeffrey Lord); 6 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Ronald Dunton; a nephew, Terrence "Terry" Fenn (wife, Carolyn). She was mother of the late Christopher K. Dunton. For her complete obituary and online guestbook, please visit www.JVWoodFuneralHome.com SERVICES: A time of Memorial Visitation will be on Friday, January 10,...

We memorialize the passing of a remarkable person. Cynthia J. Van Zandt, 62, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, passed away on November 11, 2024. Cynthia was born in Munich, Germany, on May 14, 1962, to MariLynn Logan Van Zandt and Homer Richardson Van Zandt who were originally from Texas. Cynthia moved around the world with her parents and brother. Her father was a career U.S. Army officer, which took her family twice to Germany, and in the United States to Texas, Maryland, Alabama, Washington, and Virginia. With her family, Cynthia settled in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she graduated from Albemarle High School and then attended and graduated in 1984 from the University of Virginia...

Elizabeth Y. Ebeling passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2024, surrounded by her loving family at home, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She fought, with strength, prayers and kindness from family and friends, yet succumbed to the unrelenting diagnosis of Glioblastoma. Elizabeth is survived by her loving and supportive husband, Jan Ebeling, having spent 35 fantastic married years together. She was born on December 27, 1960, in Bethesda, Maryland to James and Bettylu (Jones) Young. Her family was blessed with a stepmother in 1970, Mariette (Aubuchon) Young, after her mother passed in 1969 and her father remarried. Elizabeth is survived by her siblings: Anne Young , Mark (Jane) Young of,...

William J. Quirk, 81, devoted husband, larger-than-life presence to siblings, nieces, nephews and friends, and a man who made people laugh all his life, died Saturday, Sept. 14, at Edgewood Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Bill is survived by his wife of 56 years, Anne. They met at Suffolk University and began a life together full of love, adventure and laughter. The two lived for 25 years in New York City before finding a home in Portsmouth. They sailed their boat up and down the coast, had box seats at Carnegie Hall, made annual pilgrimages to Cape Cod, spent many a morning gazing at the ocean and filled their Friday nights with pizza and champagne. Bill died 60 years to the day of...

Charles D. "Don" Dunton, age 85, of Milton, NH passed on Aug. 21, 2024 at his home. For 64 years, he was the beloved husband of Bonnie Alice (Katwick) Dunton; he also leaves two sons, Erik Dunton; Charles D. "Chad" Dunton II (wife Gloria Camille); a daughter, Jennifer Anne Dunton (husband Jeffrey Lord); six grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; a brother, Ronald Williams Dunton; a nephew, Terrence "Terry" Fenn (wife, Carolyn); the mother of four of his grandchildren, Rebecca Dunton. He was father of the late Christopher K. Dunton; and brother of the late Elaine Fenn. For his complete obituary and online guestbook, please visit www.JVWoodFuneralHome.com SERVICES: A time of Memorial...

Brady Alexander Mistretta, 31, of Cambridge, MA passed away suddenly on July 6, 2024 at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, MA. He was born on January 14, 1993 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, to Keith Mistretta and Joan Fiori Mistretta. Brady was a devoted and caring sibling, and is survived by his two brothers David Mistretta and Neil Mistretta, sister Jenny Mistretta, and grandfather, Augustine J. Fiori as well as many admirers among uncles, aunts, cousins, friends, co-workers, scientists, teammates, and friends in life. Brady attended grade school at both the Oyster River Public School District and Portsmouth Christian Academy, graduating from Oyster River High School in 2011....

Beverly Clark, 79, of Durham, NH, and formerly of Akron, OH, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Durham, NH. Beverly was born on April 3, 1945, in Akron, Ohio to Louis and Elizabeth (born Steidl) Bickey. Beverly graduated with a Bachelor's degree from the University of Akron and a Master's in Education from Indiana University. She taught English at Barberton High School in Barberton, OH . In December 2021, Beverly moved to Durham, New Hampshire to be near her son and family. She is survived by her son Robert Clark, his wife Brittany Tartarilla, and her grandson, Charlie George Clark. Beverly was married to George Clark, who preceded her in death in October 2010. For...

Joan Slavin Rice of Portsmouth, N.H., passed away on March 4, 2024, after a four-year struggle with ovarian cancer. Born December 29, 1948, in Boston, Joan's mother, Leona Bruck Slavin, was intelligent, fashionable, and beautiful. She was an active volunteer and president of the Watertown (Ma.) League of Women Voters. Lee also passed away from cancer when Joan was 10. Her father, Robert M. Slavin, was left as sole parent. He was a rocket scientist working for Aerospace Instrumention Lab in Bedford, Ma. Major project credits included the lunar module. Throughout her life Joan would encompass her mother's beauty and style plus her dad's wisdom and scientific practicality. She was blessed...

Jean Marilyn (Corbett) Cavanagh took the hand of the Lord to live in his dwelling forever on January 24, 2024. Jean was born on November 15, 1929 in Northfield, Vermont as the fifth child of her late parents, Robert J. Corbett and Florence G. (Fox) Corbett. As a child, Jean's family left the Vermont farm to live in Massachusetts. She graduated from Wakefield, MA schools and after the war, married her high school sweetheart, the late John B. Cavanagh. Jean and John ("Cav") were married for 64 years before Cav's passing in 2013. Jean and Cav had made their home in NH, having lived in Bennington, Amherst, Weare, Gilford and finally in the seacoast to be near their son and...

Janet A. Taylor of Portsmouth passed away on September 3, 2023, after a period of declining health. Janet was born on January 14, 1933, in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, to Francis J. O'Connor and Carlotta Severance O'Connor. After attending the University of New Hampshire and Chandler School for Women, she worked in Boston, Massachusetts, before marrying the love of her life, Alvin E. Taylor, in 1956. The couple resided in North Carolina while Alvin completed law school, lived briefly in Washington, D.C., and then moved to Portsmouth in 1958. They resided in Portsmouth for the remainder of their lives. In addition to raising her family, Janet worked as an executive assistant and office...

Sylvia (Labbe) Ouellette, age 70, passed away unexpectedly at her home on July 20, 2023. For 49 years, she was the beloved wife of David A. Ouellette. She was born on October 5, 1952 in West Stewartstown, NH, daughter of the late John and Marcelle (Roy) Labbe. She grew up in Colebrook graduating from Our Lady of Grace Academy and then from Sacred Heart Hospital School of Nursing in Manchester, NH. A longtime resident of Portsmouth, NH, she also resided for two years in California in the 1970's and in England for two years in the early 1980's, before settling back down in Portsmouth. Sylvia worked for many years as a registered nurse. While in California, she worked at St. Jude Hospital...

Harold "Joe" Dow, 83, Barefoot Bay, FL passed away peacefully on July 18th at William Childs Hospice House, Palm Bay, FL with his wife and daughter by his side. Born on July 31, 1939 in Portsmouth, NH, he was the son of the late George W. and Helen M. (Carkin) Dow. Joe was a long-time resident of Portsmouth where he graduated from Portsmouth High School class of 1957 and later joined the Portsmouth Fire Department and retired as Lieutenant after 20 years of service. Upon retiring, he and Jackie spent many New England winters in Barefoot Bay, FL. Joe loved the warm weather and after living in Portsmouth for 81 years they moved to Barefoot Bay in 2020. He proudly served in the Marine...

Stratford, CT - Muriel Jean Eastman of Stratford Connecticut, known throughout her life as Jean, died unexpectedly on June 26, 2023, in Bridgeport, Connecticut at age 82. Jean was born on January 25, 1941, in Portsmouth NH, the daughter of Muriel Robie and Eugene W. Eastman. Pre-deceased in August 2022 by her beloved dog, Mariah, and in 2017 by her step-brother Walter Gremlitz, Jean is survived by sister Susan Gremlitz of Portsmouth, brother Richard Gremlitz (Deborah) of Durham, nieces Hallie Gremlitz Gamboa (Tony) of Oakland, CA and Jennifer Koener (Matt) of Lee, NH; and nephew Ted Olsen of Suquamish, WA. Services: A graveside service will be held on Tuesday, July 11 at 11:00 a.m. at...

Durham, NH - Joyce Carol Boardman Nohmer, formerly of Acton, MA, died peacefully Friday morning June 16, 2023 in Durham, NH. Joyce was born October 21, 1937 in Methuen, MA to Edwin Hayes Boardman and Jane Booth Boardman. Joyce is survived by her daughter Karen Broderick and her husband Daniel of Newmarket, NH; her son Frederick J. Nohmer (Rick) and his wife Kristen of Kittery Point ME; her daughter Wendy Nohmer of Newmarket, NH. She was a loving Grandmother to Marki Williams and her husband Pat of Danvers, MA; Frederick J. Nohmer (Jake) of Richmond, VA; Sarah Nohmer of Jacksonville FL; Kendall Nohmer of Kittery Point, ME, and two great grandchildren, Addison Williams and Charlotte Williams...

Matthew M. Karlson, 64, of Portsmouth, NH, died on Tuesday, June 6, 2023 after battling a lengthy illness. Born on October 16, 1958 in Ipswich, MA, he was the son of Barbara and Albert Hamilton and Richard Karlson. Matthew is survived by wife Tamera Karlson of Portsmouth, NH, children Alexander (Kimberley) Reno of North Hampton, NH, and Alicia (Christopher) MacDonald of Eliot, ME, as well as his grandchildren Haylie Carr, Nicholas and Arabella Reno, and Reese MacDonald. He is also survived by his siblings Suzanne Karlson of Hampton, NH, Janet Karlson of North Hampton, NH, and Aaron Karlson of Exeter, NH, as well as several nieces, nephews, and cousins. In addition to his parents, he is...

Irwin Bierhans, 91, of Falmouth, Massachusetts, passed on June 3, 2023 after an extended illness. Irwin was born in the Bronx NYC on January 26, 1932. Irwin was an accomplished man, and loved by so many throughout his life. He served in the army, was a taxi driver in NYC when he pursued his education and became a teacher in the NYC and Dennis Yarmouth school systems. He was a beloved educator. One of his former students commented that "He left a mark on my heart. He related to his students, he treated us all as real people...listened and heard us. He was funny and caring and deserving of the birthday cake my mother made for him on January 26, 1984". A former school principal said "He was...

Dennis R. Berounsky, 67, of Boston MA passed away peacefully on May 6, 2023. Dennis was born on November 6, 1955, in Portsmouth, NH, to the late Adolph (Ardie) and Nancy Berry Berounsky. He graduated from Portsmouth (NH) High School, class of 1973, and continued his education at Plymouth (NH) State College earning a BS in accounting in 1977. At the time of his death, Dennis was a Finance Associate for Harvard University. Prior to that, Dennis worked as an accountant for various companies throughout the Boston area and also volunteered his accounting skills for local non-profits. He leaves behind loyal cousins, friends, and colleagues in Boston and elsewhere who miss him greatly. A graveside...