The Concord Monitor

Denice DeStefano, a native of Clarksville, TN, was born in 1954 and grew up in Hudson, NH. She called Boscawen and Bristol, NH her home for most of her adult life. Sadly, she passed away on 4/17/2024 following a courageous yearlong fight against pancreatic cancer. Alan DeStefano from Bristol, NH is grieving the passing of his cherished wife of nearly four decades. Denice's loved ones, which include her parents Richard and Celina Merrill, her sister Laurie Merrill from Lady Lake, FL, her daughter Tami and son-in-law Milton Acosta, her grandsons Anthony and Matthew from Wildwood, FL, and her son Ryan Roberts from Wildwood, FL. Denice is predeceased by her sister Linda Nault. Denice cherished...

BELMONT --- Arthur "Sonny" Stern, 82, passed on Friday, April 12, 2024, while returning from wintering in Florida. He was born on March 8, 1942, in Frederick Maryland. Sonny was the only child of Arthur and Armatha Stern. Sonny moved from Cape May, NJ where he served in the Coast Guard during the Vietnam War. He moved to Laconia, NH in the late 60's to work as a Laboratory Technologist for Laconia Clinic and then Lakes Region General Hospital where he worked for almost 40 years. He also spent many years as a Marine Patrol Officer on Lake Winnipesaukee. After his retirement he continued to teach Boating Education for the Department of Safety. Sonny was a congregant of Temple B'nai...

William J. Bruton MD, of Concord NH and Harwich MA, previously of Summit NJ, died unexpectedly in Concord on Monday April 8. Dr. Bruton was member of Concord Orthopaedics, and prior to that the Summit Medical Group, where he served as president and a Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon at Overlook Hospital in Summit, NJ. He was a graduate of Georgetown Medical School and Georgetown University, and trained at NY Hospital for Special Surgery and Yale New Haven Medical Center. William leaves his beloved wife, Barbara, as well as daughter Catherine Bruton Vrountas and her husband Christopher Vrountas, of Andover MA, daughter Susan Bruton Waggoner and her husband David Waggoner of Midway Utah,...

Janet D. (Baron) Bellerose, 88, of Goffstown, NH and formerly of Manchester, died April 6, 2024, surrounded by the love of her family, after a period of declining health. Born in Manchester, NH on January 2, 1936, she was the daughter of Laurier and Doris (Viens) Baron. She was raised in Suncook and resided in the Queen City most of her life before moving to Goffstown in 2008. Janet was a loving and dedicated homemaker. She enjoyed traveling with her husband, especially to North Conway. Janet loved taking trips to the beach. She was a talented quilter. She was fond of her dogs, Lola and Daisy. Janet deeply loved life and her family. She was the center of her family's world. She led...

Francis "Larry" L. Federhen, 92, of Laconia, passed away on Wednesday, March 27th, 2024. Born on November 24th, 1931, in Newton, Massachusetts. He was the son of the late Herbert Federhen and Mae Federhen (Miller). Following his graduation from Newton High School, Larry attended UNH and GMAC. During the Korean war, he joined the army but was kept in the Unites States because of his expertise in firearm instruction. Following the army, Larry had a long and successful career with General Motors. Larry shared 25 beautiful years of marriage with his first wife, Gretchen. After Gretchen passed away, he was blessed with another long and happy marriage with Leslie Hack, who passed away in 2011....

Dennis D. Labrecque, 71, of Contoocook, NH, passed away suddenly on March 16th, 2024 at home. He was the devoted husband of Collette Labrecque and son of the late Clement and Pauline Labrecque. Dennis was born on October 10th, 1952 in Manchester, NH. He worked for the New Balance Shoe Co. for over 45 years. Dennis had a passion for music. He was a terrific guitar player, winning multiple National Awards. He enjoyed tennis, sailing and riding motorcycles. He was a "Mr. Fix-It" who could fix almost anything. He was quick-witted and always ready with a joke to make you laugh but above all, he cherished the time spent with family and friends the most. He opened his arms and heart to all;...

Paula Fay Lucas, 72, of East Wakefield, NH, passed away March 12, 2024 at the Wolfeboro Bay Center nursing home in Wolfeboro, NH. Paula was born in Lancaster, NH, November 6, 1951 to Paul and Marie (Hannaford) Kenison and grew up in Ogunquit, Maine. She graduated from Wells High School in 1970 and from the Central Maine General (CMG) Hospital School of Nursing in 1972. Paula worked primarily in geriatrics and served as the director of nurses at several elderly boarding and retirement homes in Virginia and Maine. She retired early to become a full-time mother, a role she loved and cherished as the most important accomplishment of her life. Growing up on the coast, Paula always loved the...

Linda Frawley, 74, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 8, 2024, after a brief illness. Daughter of Patricia (Barrows) and Francis D. Frawley, Linda was the first born of five children on New Years' Day, 1950. Linda was brought up in Lowell, MA to be a strong, independent woman. She loved people and treasured the relationships she built and grew from childhood until the day she died. Linda's days were happiest enjoying both adventures and quiet times with friends and family, her dogs, Morgan and Merry, and working in her gardens. Linda was gifted to appreciate the beauty and power of words and how to artfully put them together to express ideas and emotions. She loved reading and...

James Robert Towle, 61, passed away on February 29, 2024. He will be missed and fondly remembered by his family and friends. James was born alongside his twin brother Jonathan in Nashua, NH to Carroll and Nancy Towle. Jim attended Nashua schools and participated in activities such as baseball, basketball, golf and skiing. He graduated from Nashua High School and went on to attend the University of New Hampshire. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy and a certificate in Computer Science. Jim was employed as a computer programmer. Jim is survived by his loving parents, Carroll and Nancy Towle, along with siblings: Karen (& Paul), Jonathan, Marc (& Janine), Patty, Sue, and David...

Richard McLeod, 77, of Franconia, NH, passed away peacefully at home on February 29, 2024, surrounded by his family after a short but aggressive illness. Rich loved the outdoors and New Hampshire all his life. Richard was born in Concord, NH, in 1946 to Dr. J. Kenneth and Anne (Power) McLeod. He grew up in Penacook and graduated from Bishop Brady High School and New England College. He served in the U.S. Army from 1967-1970, following his two brothers into the armed services. He served as a Supply Sergeant in the 1st Infantry Division in Vietnam. He returned to New Hampshire, where he began a career protecting and improving the State Parks of New Hampshire. He spent winters as a member of...

Cheryl Ann Lockwood, 75, of Berlin, formerly of Tilton, passed away on Tuesday, February 27th at the St. Vincent DePaul Nursing Home. She was born on January 10th, 1949 in Franklin, the daughter of John "Dusty" and Jeanette Johnson. She is the loving wife of the late Alan Lockwood Sr. They were married in Laconia on August 29, 1970. Cheryl was a graduate of the Franklin Area High School class of 1967. She was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW in Franklin. Cheryl worked for several years at the former Mr. D's Restaurant in Franklin and later went on to be a waitress at the former Clearfield Diner in Clearfield, PA. She was an avid blood donor, loved being outdoors gardening, and...

On February 9, 2024, George A. Heath peacefully passed away at Charlestown Retirement Community in Catonsville, MD. Born in New Hampshire in 1927 to the late Paul & Ruth Heath, George graduated from St. John's High School in Concord, NH in 1943 as Valedictorian when he was just 16 years old. After completing 2 years at New Hampshire University, George enlisted into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1945 during WWII, where he served protecting the Atlantic Coast off New England until the war ended, after which he returned to UNH to finish his degree in Chemical Engineering. In 1952 George married his wife of 71 years, Theresa Marie (Brochu) Heath who survives him. Early in their marriage they...

Brian Charles Crathern, M.D., age 73, passed away peacefully at home on February 9, 2024 after a long battle with myelofibrosis with his wife Mary, daughter Kelsey and her fianc? Marc at his bedside. Brian was born November 25, 1950 in Holden, Massachusetts to Neola (Drawbridge) Crathern and Charles Crathern III. The family moved to Contoocook, NH in the 1960s. After graduating from Hopkinton High School in 1968 he went on to McGill University in Montreal, Canada graduating in 1972. Brian went on to Dartmouth Medical School graduating with the class of 1975 and then went on to Southwestern Medical School and graduated with his MD in 1976. Brian completed his Medical and Surgical residency...

Robert "Bob" Morris, 61, of Poverty Plains Road, died Thursday, February 8, 2024 at Dartmouth Medical Center in Lebanon, NH. Bob was born March 19, 1962, in Framingham, MA, the fifth child of William and Rita (Flynn) Morris. He grew up in a family of 10 children and was raised in Antrim, NH. As an adult, he moved to California where he spent many years and it was there, he welcomed the biggest blessing of his life, Jessie Lou Morris. He eventually made his way back to the east coast and resided in Hillsboro but continued to frequent California. As a child, Bob's family enjoyed spending summers camping at Cape Neddick Campground in York Beach, ME. He continued camping there throughout his...

Myrna M. Evans, 88, died Monday, February 5, 2024 at Havenwood Heritage Heights. She was born on January 12, 1936 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of three daughters of Arvid H. and Lillian (Johansen) Monsen. Myrna was raised in Arlington and Winchester, graduating from Winchester High School in 1953 - the same year she met Richard Evans whom she married in 1957. She went on to earn a BS from Tufts University and graduated from Boston School of Occupational Therapy in 1959. In 1969, she made a career change to public school teaching and taught Family Life and Child Development classes, first in Ashburnham and then in Reading, Massachusetts. One of Myrna's talents was as a creative fabric...

Roland W. Bowie Sr. of Weare left this earth on February 1 st , 2024 after a long illness.He was born in Goffstown on January 17, 1951 to James B. and Doris (Fanthorpe) Bowie. As a young Vietnam vet receiving the Purple Heart Medal, Roland returned home to work at the Rumford Press, Concord Lumber, and was later the proud owner of Weare Paving and Construction since 1984. He was a hard-working man who loved his family, his dog Nika, his country and his friends especially Skip, Joe, Ed B., Wade, Rodney, John and Clark. He loved to help others- 24/7 he was always there when needed. Roland had a sparkle of fun in his beautiful blue eyes and was always looking to pull a great prank or make...

On Thursday, January 25, 2024 David Cushing Neville passed away following a period of deteriorating health. David, or Dave to his friends and family, was born on April 25, 1937, and grew up in Manchester, NH. He was the third of four sons of Joseph Patrick and Anna Johnson Neville. He was predeceased by his brothers William, Joseph, and Richard, and Cousin Jack Neville. He was also predeceased by his son Matthew Allen Neville. Dave was a proud graduate of Manchester Central High School (1953), Dartmouth College (1957), and the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (1959). His degrees led him to a career in City Planning in Wilmington, DE, and State Planning in New Hampshire. He was...

+ Peter Elias Papps, 1954-2024 + Father Peter Elias Papps of Concord, New Hampshire, reposed in the Lord on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, following a lengthy period of illness. Born on Christmas Eve of 1954, Peter was the son of Jean and Ourania "Nina" (Mourginis) Papps. His childhood in New York City was centered around his tight-knit Greek family, and with parents that fed his passion for learning. Peter received a broad education that formed many of his life-long strengths. He also developed a love of baseball and the New York Mets always remained his favorite team. He attended Kew Forest School, followed by earning an undergraduate degree from Columbia University, then to Case...

Kathy left this world peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on January 18, 2024 following an extended battle with dementia at Mountain Ridge Nursing Home. She was born on August 30, 1954 to Robert H. and Jean Tetreault in Norfolk, VA. She graduated from Tolman High School in Pawtucket, R.I. After high school she attended Glen Cove Bible College in Glen Cove, ME. During her time at Glen Cove the family moved to NH. Following her graduation from Bible college she volunteered for a nine-month missionary assignment with a native Indian tribe in Canada. Upon her return she attended NH Technical Institute and acquired her nursing degree. Kathy loved being a nurse and worked at the Peabody...

Josef Thanner, 97, Rutgers University Professor Dr. Josef Sigmund Maria Thanner, a retired Rutgers University Professor, died on January 17, 2024 at his home in Dunbarton, New Hampshire. Dr. Thanner was born in 1926 in Altotting, Germany and emigrated to the United States in the 1950s where he attended Wichita State University on a UNESCO World Heritage Scholarship. Upon graduation he attended Princeton University where he earned his Doctorate in Germanic Language and Literature. After earning his PhD in 1962, Dr. Thanner embarked on a long and distinguished career as a Professor of German Language and Literature at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he taught in the...

Anita L. Gagnon, 86, died in her sleep with her children at her side on Sunday morning January 14, 2024, finding peace after Alzheimer's disease. The daughter of Ovila and Irene (Girouard) Genest, Anita was born on April 19, 1937 in Pittsfield, NH and was raised there. She graduated from Pittsfield High School in 1955 as valedictorian. She raised her own family in Manchester with her husband Leo. She was a homemaker and worked as a bookkeeper during her life. Anita enjoyed many retirement years with Leo in Hilton Head, SC and then in Leesburg, FL., returning to live in Manchester in 2010. She had lived under her daughter's care in Virginia for the last 7 months. Anita enjoyed travelling...