New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947
James Sponsler
KITTERY POINT, Maine - James Edward Sponsler Jr., 37, of Bartlett Road in Kittery Point, died suddenly on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004, in Burlington, Vt.
He was born on August 14, 1966, in Portsmouth, N.H., the son of Janet M. (Brooks) Sahli and James E. Sponsler Sr.
He attended local schools graduating from R.W. Traip academy with the Class of 1985. He was employed for many years as manager of Big A auto parts store, first in York Village and later in Sanford. Most recently he was employed as a mechanic for Ramsdell Sand and Gravel in York.
An avid outdoor enthusiast, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and racing his jeep. His first love however was spending time with his daughter, those times spent together will always be cherished.
He is survived by his loving family, his wife, Holly (Nealley) Sponsler; their daughter, Jamie Sponsler; and stepdaughter, Julie Covel; mother, Janet and her husband, Bob Sahli, all of Kittery Point; father, James E. Sponsler Sr., of Orlando, Fla.; grandparents, Nancy and the late Robert Brooks of Kittery Point and Hollis and Barbara Tapley of Kittery, sisters; Julie and her husband, Bill Baer, of Portsmouth, N.H., and Gina and her husband, Jeff Cullen, of New Castle, N.H.; brothers, Christopher Sponsler of Augusta, Maine and Nathan Sponsler of Orlando, Fla.; and uncles, Vaughn Brooks of Gonic, N.H., Russell Sponsler of South Portland, Warren Sponsler of Tampa, Fla., and Brian Tapley of Cape Neddick, aunts, Cindy Fielders of Eliot and Brenda Tapley of Newmarket, N.H., as well as special nieces and nephews and several loving family members in Minnesota, and his loving dog, Nitro.
A funeral will be held on Friday, Aug. 6 at 11 a.m. at the Kittery Point Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Jimmy Sponsler Memorial Fund," c/o Holly Sponsler, 76 Bartlett Road, Kittery Point. Maine 03905.
Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Josephine St. Onge
WESTFORD, Mass. - Josephine R. (Mardas) St. Onge, 95, of Westford, died July 28, 2004 at Emerson Hospital in Concord. She was the wife of the late J. Edward St. Onge, who died in 1962.
Born in Westford on Jan. 7, 1989, she was the daughter of Joseph Mardas and Elizabeth (Budnik) Mardas and was a lifelong resident of the town.
She was a graduate of Westford Academy and Boston University, where she received a degree in teaching.
She went on to teach in the Westford school system for more than 30 years, retiring as a second grade teacher at the former Cameron School.
She was a member of the Cameron Senior Center in Westford. She also enjoyed bird watching, gardening, shopping, and traveling around the world and especially enjoyed being with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by three daughters, Pamela A. Crowley and her husband, James, of Groton, Mass., Karen E. Knowles and her husband, Randall, of Westford, Mass., and Donna L. Castellano of Westford, Mass.; a son, Brian St. Onge and his wife, Jocelyn, of Farmington, N.H.; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was also the sister of the late Bertha Dunigan and the aunt of the late Peter and Paul Dunigan.
A funeral mass was celebrated on Monday, Aug. 2 at St. Catherine’s Church, Westford. Burial in St. Catherine’s Cemetery.
J.A. Healy Sons was in charge of arrangements.
Dorothy Wyatt
MIDDLETON - Dorothy Ellen Wyatt, 72, of Route 153 in Middleton, died on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004, at the Rochester Manor.
Born September 12, 1931 in Boston, Mass., she was the daughter of Paul B. and Cresence B. (Hale) Greatrix. She had resided in Middleton since 1982, having come from Cambridge, Mass.
A homemaker and mother, she was the widow of the late Charles H. Wyatt, Jr. She was a communicant at St. Anthony’s Church in Sanbornville.
She was an active supporter of Victim’s Inc. in East Rochester, She enjoyed bingo and loved cats.
Survivors include her daughter, Ellen and husband, Larry Vollor, of Sanford, Maine; five sons, Thomas Wyatt of Mason City, Iowa, James Wyatt of Maryland, Richard and wife, Theresa Wyatt, of Concord, and Raymond and wife, Amy McDermottroe, of Milton, and Gregory Wyatt of Bedford, Mass.; 10 grandchildren; a sister, Lorraine Dubose of Virginia, also several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her son, Paul Wyatt in 1994, and her brother, Paul Greatrix in 2000.
Calling hours are Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Peaslee Funeral Home, 2079 Wakefield Road, Sanbornville, N.H. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Aug. 5 at 1:30 p.m. at St. Anthony’s Church on Meadow Street in Sanbornville with Fr. Edmund A. Babicz, pastor, as celebrant.
Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery (St. Anthony’s) on Cemetery Road in Sanbornville. If desired, memorial donations may be made to St. Anthony’s Church, Meadow St., Sanbornville, NH 03872 or to the American Diabetes Assn. NH Memorial Processing Center, PO Box 31160 Hartford, CT 06150-1160.
George Burke
PORTSMOUTH - George L. "Razor" Burke, 79, of Portsmouth, died Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at the Edgewood Centre in Portsmouth.
He was born in Beverly, Mass., on May 14, 1925, and grew up in the South End of Portsmouth. He was the son of Harold Emerson and Beatrice (Bassnett) Burke.
He attended the University of New Hampshire. Prior to his retirement, he was employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. He also owned and operated Signs by Razor Burke for many years.
He loved his photography and all his many gadgets. He was a member of St. John’s Lodge No. 1 F&AM of Portsmouth; Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Portsmouth and Dover; and the NH Consistory 32 degree of Nashua.
At the birth of his son, Razor, he was so proud he finally had a son in addition to his three girls, he placed a front page ad in the Portsmouth Herald.
Survivors include a son, Razor Burke and his wife, Christina, of Kittery, Maine; three daughters, Natalie Lufkin of Northwood, Angela Brown and her husband, Clifford, of Eliot, Maine, Heidi Lyn Reilly and her husband, Rick, of Farmington; a brother, Harold Victor Burke and his wife, Barbara, of Port Charlotte, Fla.; a sister, Valerie D. Wicks and her husband, James, of Portsmouth; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. He was a respected man in his community and loved by one and all.
Memorial visitation will be held at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home-Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth, Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with Masonic services by St. John’s Lodge No. 1 F&AM of Portsmouth at 6 p.m.
Friends invited. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association, 249 Canal St., Manchester, NH 03101 and/or St. John’s Lodge Masonic Association, Operation and Maintenance Fund, 351 Middle St., Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Arrangements by J. Verne Wood Funeral Home - Buckminster Chapel.
Veronica Carmichael
PORTSMOUTH - Veronica "Ronnie" A. Carmichael, 60, of Portsmouth, died Oct. 11, 2004, at Portsmouth Regional Hospital following a lengthy illness.
She was born on May 29, 1944, in St. Boniface, Pa., the daughter of Jerome and Ester (Dillon) Holtz. She worked at Bradlees Dept. Store in Newington for over 10 years until her illness.
Family members include her husband of 37 years, Charles Carmichael Sr.; one son, Charles Carmichael Jr. and his wife, Cheryl, of Dover; one daughter, Ann and her husband, David Greene, of Rockport, Mass.; three grandchildren, Kimberlee, Jacob and Kyle; two brothers, Daniel Holtz and Ronald Holtz, both of St. Boniface, Pa.; one sister, Pauline Williams of St. Boniface; and several nieces and nephews.
There will be a Memorial Mass on Friday, Oct. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Catherine Church in Portsmouth.
The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of arrangements.
Ralph Chandler
SEATTLE, Wash. - Ralph H. Chandler Jr. 46, of Seattle, Wash., passed away Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, after a long illness.
He was born on May 12, 1958, in Dover, N.H., the eldest son of Ralph H. Chandler Sr. and Christine (Jenkins) Chandler.
He went to Ithaca, N.Y. with his family in 1963 and returned to Dover in 1974. After high school, he worked in various jobs in the Portsmouth area where he was living with his dad. He went into the Army and was stationed in Calif. When he left the military, he stayed on the west coast in Oakland, Calif., and worked for a stock brokerage firm. He then went to Seattle, Wash., to pursue new opportunities where he stayed until illness forced him to retire.
He was a very loving man who was always there to help anyone in need. He did a lot of work for the various churches in the area and also for the Salvation Army. He loved the outdoors and was very interested in helping the environment. He spent many hours in the hills surrounding Seattle with his beloved dog "Streak" enjoying the fresh air and the beauty of the land.
We are so saddened by the death of one so young. He had dreams to fulfill and mountains still to climb. But now he is resting in peace and without pain.
His surviving family members include his brother, Robert Chandler, and his sister, Alisa Grant, both of Dover, N.H.; and his brother, Matthew Chandler of Buffalo, N.Y.
A private memorial service for the family will be held in Durham, N.H.
LaVaune Hutchings
STRATHAM - LaVaune Hutchings, 80, of 122 Bunker Hill Ave., died Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at her home.
She was born in Buffalo, N.Y., Sept. 7, 1924, the daughter of Dr. William M. and Vera (Voll) Jeschke.
Raised in Buffalo, she was a graduate of Genesseo College in Genesseo, N.Y. and received her master’s degree in library science from Syracuse University.
She taught elementary education and served as librarian in the school systems of Canisteo, Schenectady and Rochester, N.Y. She lived in East Rochester, N.Y. from 1956 until moving to Stratham in 2003.
She helped write the history of East Rochester, N.Y. in a book called Dispatch. She enjoyed collecting coins, designing and creating jewelry, reading and the beach.
Family members include her son, Brad Hutchings and his wife, Maria, of Stratham; her daughter, Alison Hutchings of Rochester, two granddaughters, Meghan and Caitlin, and her brother, Dr. Channing Jeschke of Fort Myers, Fla.;, nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton, Friday at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited and may call at the funeral home Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road, Exeter, NH 03833.
Elwin Jones
BERWICK, Maine - Elwin V. "Jonesy" Jones, Jr., 55, of Hubbard Road, Berwick, died Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, in Milton, N.H. as a result of an automobile accident.
He was born in Rochester, N.H. on July 13, 1949, the son of Elwin V. and Enid Hayes Jones.
He graduated from Berwick High School and was employed by Cianbro for more than 32 years.
He was well known for his helpful way as well as being very devoted to his loving family. He also enjoyed going to his camp in Seboeis and was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing.
He was a member of the National Rifle Association and the North American Hunting Club.
He is predeceased by a brother, John C. Jones.
He is survived by his wife, Sheila (Evans) Jones of Berwick; a daughter, Susann Polland and her husband, Daren, of Lebanon, Maine; two sons, John Jones and his wife, Christine, of Somersworth, N.H., and Shaun Jones and his companion, Erica, of Berwick; a brother, Robert Jones of Waterboro; three sisters, Maxine Frappier of Chicopee, Mass., Mary Eck of Greentown, Pa., and Judith Buckman of Berwick; seven grandchildren, Samantha Polland, Wesley Polland, Austin Jones, Riley Jones, Joy Clark, Ricco Clark and Cody Clark; and several nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the Laing-Bibber Funeral Chapel, 36 Rochester St., Berwick. There will be a private family committal service.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Victims, Inc., P.O. Box 455, Rochester, N.H., 03866
Joyce Kulp
ROCHESTER - Joyce E. Kulp, 68, of Rochester, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, in the comfort of her home.
She was born in Pt. Pleasant, N.Y., Sept. 30, 1936, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lester DeGrave of Rochester, N.Y. She was raised in Pt. Pleasant and married Mr. Richard T. Kulp, also of Rochester, N.Y. in 1957. In addition to living in New York, they resided in Ohio, Connecticut and New Hampshire.
She worked as Secretary to the Dean of Division of Continuing Education at UNH until her retirement.
She had a love of the ocean, beautiful beaches, lighthouses and panoramic views. She enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, talking and spending quality time with loved ones.
In addition to her husband, family members include her four children, Richard Kulp Jr. of Nottingham, Kristin Abbott of Falmouth, Mass., Cynthia Babineau of Cocagne, Canada and Kimberly Hirsch of Littleton, Mass.; and her nine grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Jeffrey DeGrave of Scottsdale, Ariz.; and her sister, Linda DeGrave of Rochester, N.Y.
Donations may be made in her memory to be used for a display case in the Frisbie Memorial Oncology unit. Please send donations to Kristin Abbott, P.O. Box 1331, North Falmouth, MA 02556.
Roland LaRoche
DURHAM - Roland R. LaRoche, retired Durham-UNH Fire Chief, 64, of Packers Falls Road, died Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Dover.
Born Jan. 3, 1940, in Exeter, he was the son of Roger J. and Laura (Cote) LaRoche. He was a lifelong resident of Durham.
He graduated from Dover High School in 1958, and was a member of the football team.
He began his career in firefighting by joining the Durham-UNH Fire Department in 1964, as an appointed firefighter. He served as captain, deputy chief, acting fire chief and chief during the 21½ years with the department.
During his tenure as chief, the department purchased a 100’ aerial ladder truck along with various firefighting trucks. At the time of his retirement in 1985, the Senate of the State of New Hampshire recognized him, with a Resolution, as an outstanding individual.
He was a deputy fire warden for the Town of Durham and Forest Fire Warden from 1967-1985. He was a member of the Strafford County Forest Fire Wardens. He also served as Special Deputy Warden for the State of New Hampshire Forest Fire Service, Div. of Forests and Lands. He attended such emergency situations as the Table Mountain fire in the White Mountains in 1984, and the California brush fire situation in 1985, as a member of the State of New Hampshire Crew.
He was an active member of Lamprey Aerie 1934 F.O.E. in Newmarket and served as State secretary for the Eagles for ten years and also holds the position of past president.
In the early 60’s, he served as a part-time police officer in Durham. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, gardening and snow mobile riding with the Great Bay Snow Rollers.
Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Veronica (Toland) LaRoche of Durham; three children, Glenn A. LaRoche and his wife, Lisa, of Rochester, Deborah L. Anderson and her husband, Lee, of Sanford, Maine, and Donna (Lucien) LaRoche of Altamont Springs, Ga.; two step-children, Julie Stilwell of Somersworth and John Ham of Wakefield; five grandchildren; five siblings, Louis LaRoche of Georgia, Jeanne Binette of Exeter, Rita Meehan of Hooksett, Pauline Lamontagne of Barrington and Robert LaRoche of Milton; many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, 77 Exeter St., Newmarket. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 11 a.m. from the Church of St. Thomas More, Madbury Road, Durham. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery, Newmarket.
Flowers are acceptable or should friends desire, memorials may be made to the NH Heart Assoc., 20 Merrimack St., Suite 1, Manchester, NH 03101-2244.
Lora Lester
PORTSMOUTH - Lora E. (Vetter) Hersey Lester, 80, of 21 Blue Heron Drive, died Monday, Oct. 11, 2004, at her home.
Born in Sanford, Maine, on October 4, 1924, she was the daughter of Charles F. Vetter and Beatrice B. (Gardner) Vetter.
She was a graduate of Portsmouth High School, Class of 1942, and a resident of Portsmouth for 50 years.
She was predeceased by her first husband, Arthur L. Hersey in 1978. She was formerly employed at the Clearweave Hosiery Store and Puritan Clothing in Portsmouth. She was employed as a bookkeeper and secretary at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home in Portsmouth until her marriage to Richard H. Lester. She then moved with her husband to Melvin Village, where she lived for 18 years. While in Melvin Village, she was a very active member of the Melvin Village Community Church, serving as Church Financial Secretary for two years; a volunteer at Mt. View Nursing Home in Ossipee for seven years; and served as president of the Hikers Women’s Club for two years. After her husband’s death in 1990, she continued living in Melvin Village until moving back to Portsmouth in 1997.
She was a member of the Middle Street Baptist Church in Portsmouth.
Survivors include one son, Robert A. Hersey and his wife, Cindy, of Greenland; one brother, Edward H. Vetter of Eliot, Maine; granddaughter, Trisha Perin and her husband, Jim, of Hampton; grandson, David R. Hersey of Seabrook; two great-granddaughters,
Kassidy Perin and Nicole Perin, both of Hampton; great-grandson, Cameron Hersey of Seabrook; two stepsons; two stepdaughters; six stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her brother, Charles F. Vetter.
Funeral services will be held at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home - Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth, Friday at 10 a.m. Friends invited. Visiting hours will be held at the funeral home, Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Donations in Lora’s memory may be made to the Middle Street Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 18 Court St., Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Dorothy McDonough
STRAFFORD - Dorothy Elizabeth (Whalen) McDonough, 83, of 550 First Crown Point Road, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, at home after a long illness.
She was born Aug. 21, 1921, in Haverhill, Mass., the daughter of John and Catherine (Malone ) Whalen of Prince Edward Island. She worked in telephone communications for Western Electric for many years and was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America in North Andover, Mass.
She had resided in Strafford for the past 20 years previously living in Newton. She was a communicant of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church of Rochester. Her hobbies included knitting and putting puzzles together.
The widow of Thomas Anthony McDonough, she is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Catherine A. and George H. Dube of Strafford; granddaughter, Jamie L. Dube of Dover; grandson, Jared L. Dube of Strafford; sister, Frances Langlois of Derry, and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends may visit Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester, N.H.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of The Holy Rosary Church, North Main St., Rochester, N.H. Burial will be in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Haverhill, Ma. 603-332-0230.
