New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947
Walter Estee
ROCHESTER - Walter C. Estee, 80, of 22 South Fuchsia Drive, died Wednesday, June 9, 2004, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.
Born July 14, 1923, in Boston, Mass., he was the son of Joseph E. and Marion (Estee) Estee.
He was a graduate of Somerville High School, Somerville, Mass. He lived for a few years in Michigan and Wisconsin and for several years in Wilmington, Mass.
Prior to moving to Rochester in 1982, he lived in Dover. He was employed for many years at Almy, Bigelow and Washburn Store in Salem, Mass. He later worked in security at Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant and most recently at Shaw’s Supermarket.
During World War II, he served in the U.S. Army.
He was a communicant of St. Charles Church, Dover.
Family members include his wife, Kathleen F. (Dwyer) Estee of Rochester, whom he married July 7, 1980; one son, Mark A. Estee of New Durham; one daughter, Jeanette C. Famulari of Madison, Wis.; four brothers, George E. Estee of Dover, Richard J. Estee of Peabody, Mass., John L. Estee of Rochester, and Gerald L. Estee of Dover; four grandchildren, Nathaniel Estee, Michelle Estee, Justin Famulari and Jason Famulari; nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased by his sisters, Marion O’Riordan and Virginia Paoletti; brothers, Joseph R. Estee, Robert C. Estee and Albert L. Estee.
Relatives and friends may call Thursday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave., Dover. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Charles Church, 575 Central Ave., Dover, with the Rev. Paul Gregoire, pastor, as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary New Cemetery.
Roger Gibb
PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Roger Gibb passed away Feb. 17, 2004, in Port Richey, Fla. He was born March 13, 1916, in Manchester, N.H. to Nellie May Jones and Oscar Edward Gibb.
During his life time he accomplished many things. He worked as a spinner at the Gonic Woolen Mill for 16 years. He joined the Army in April of 1945. When he returned from the war, he bought a home in Lee and owned the Cities Service Station and Garage on Route 125 in Lee with his brother, Neil. He later owned and operated buses for Oyster River Transportation. He also owned a fuel oil business, R.W. Gibb & Sons.
He was a 32nd degree Mason and a Deacon at the Lee Congregational Church. He retired in 1979 and moved to Spring Hill, Fla. He truly enjoyed life. He had a good sense of humor and always a joke or two to make others laugh. His kindness and generosity had touched many lives and he brought a smile to all the people who had the good fortune to be a part of his life.
He was predeceased by his first wife of 30 years, Priscilla Gibb; one son, Kenneth Gibb; four brothers, Glen, Dale, Neil and Herbert; one sister, Alice Gibb; and one grandson, Christopher Gibb.
He will be dearly missed by members of his family including his second wife, Mary of 35 years; one daughter, Ruth (Gibb) Fyhr and her husband, Dale, of Brainerd, Minn.; one son, Scott Gibb of Nottingham; one sister, Dorothy Arlin of Cape Cod, Mass.; six stepsons, James Whitehouse of Anaheim, Calif., John Whitehouse of Greece, Robert Whitehouse of Cleveland, Ohio, Gary Whitehouse of Rochester, Clyde Whitehouse of Daytona Beach, Fla., and Russell Whitehouse of Rochester; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Memorial services have been set for June 12, at the Lee Congregational Church in Lee, N.H. at 2 p.m.
Robert Kempton
CHARLOTTETOWN, Prince Edward Island (Canada) - Robert Joseph Kempton, 71, formerly of Durham, died on May 22, 2004, at the Beach Grove Nursing Home, surrounded by his family, after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
He is survived by his wife, Mary (Campbell) Kempton of Charlottetown; son, Bob Kempton of Hollis, N.H.; daughter, Kim Kempton of Charlottetown, daughter, Tracy Kempton of Halifax, Nova Scotia; and son, Christopher Kempton of Newburyport, Mass.; and six grandchildren. He was predeceased by his daughter, Laura Kempton. He is also survived by his sister, Lorraine Hilden of Chicago, Ill.; and brother, William Kempton of Stoneham, Mass.
A funeral service was held on May 25, 2004 at St. George’s Church, Prince Edward Island, followed by cremation, with private interment at a later date.
Mary Oakes
BARRINGTON - Mary Evelyn "Monnie" Oakes, 87, of 10 Mayflower Drive, Barrington, died on Friday, June 4, 2004, at Dover Rehabilita-tion Center. She spent the last days of her life surrounded by family, friends, and staff members who’d become friends, as she shared her stories and told jokes. She noted how important it was to be able to share laughter.
She was born on Jan. 6, 1917, in Sullivan, Ill., to Neal and Sarah Nance Sullivan. She was predeceased by her husband, Everett B. Oakes, Jr., her only sibling Harry T. Sullivan; her nephew, Richard Sullivan; and her grandson, Kurt Dietterle.
She and her husband were married during World War II. After the war, they settled in Rockport, Mass. She worked as a department manager for W.G. Brown’s of Gloucester and later managed over seven departments for Jordan Marsh of Peabody. In later years, they made their home in Gonic, before moving to Lakeland, Fla., in the early 1980s.
She and her husband made many friends in Lakeland and enjoyed an active social life together. Both participated in many events with the Lakeland Elks Lodge 1291 and Loyal Order of Moose. After her husband’s death in 1992, she stayed in her Lakeland home remaining active with her numerous friends and sharing frequent visits from family members.
In July of 2000, she moved into her "mother-in-law" apartment at her daughter’s Barrington home. She kept in touch with her friends from Florida, especially Audrey Corkwell and Judy Boltier. She enjoyed reading, telling stories and jokes, doing crossword puzzles, spending time with family and making new friends. She developed a special bond with neighbor, Jeanne Sherrill, as she was able to help her through the grief resulting from the unexpected death of her mother.
She will be missed by all her family and many friends.
She is survived by her daughter, Lynn Robinson and husband, TJ, of Barrington; son, Steve Oakes and wife, Dottie, of Manchester; son, Mark Oakes and wife, Heather, of Hampton; granddaughter, Andrea Mayhew and husband, Bruce, of Manchester; granddaughter, Tara Le Blanc and husband, Brian, of Merrimack; nephew, Joe Sullivan of Hoffman Estates, Ill.; and niece, Anna Mae Slapp and her husband, John, of Kansas City, Mo.; and her great-granddaughter, Grace Mayhew of Manchester.
She will be remembered by her family in a private ceremony and laid to rest beside her late husband in Lakeland Memorial Gardens, Lakeland, Fla.
Contributions may be made in her name to the Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road, Exeter, NH 03833 or the Rochester VNA, 178 Farmington Road, Rochester, NH 03867.
Valmore Smart
FARMINGTON - Valmore Nevers Smart, 70, of 77 Ten Rod Road, died peacefully Tuesday, June 8, 2004, at Frisbie Memorial Hospital after a period of failing health.
He was born Sept. 16, 1933, in Sweden, Maine, the son of Ilan and Minnie (Allen) Smart. He had resided in this area for most of his life. He worked as a long distance truck driver owning his own truck. He was a member of the Grace Community Church of Rochester and was a Mason with the Farmington, N.H. lodge. He was a devoted husband, wonderful father and grandfather. He was a very generous Christian man.
Members of his family include his wife of 40 years, Dorothy Smart of Farmington; sons, Dennis Fleming, Farmington, Michael Fleming, Gulf Port, Fla., David Smart, Milton; daughters, Terri LaPanne, Somersworth, Rhonda Dandeneau, Farmington, Janet Nickless, Strafford; brothers, Robert Smart, Kensington, Randy Smart, Dover; sisters, Rosalie Edwards, Harrison, Maine, Donna Pridham, Fort Meyers, Fla., Nancy Landry, Norway, Maine, Holly Smith, Bridgton, Maine; and many grandchildren; great-grandchildren; nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by one daughter, Pamela Cameron and granddaughter, Tammy Glidden.
Family and friends may visit Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester, N.H.
The funeral service will be Friday at 6 p.m. at the Grace Community Church, Rochester Hill Road, Rochester, N.H. with Pastor Steve Poole officiating. Burial will be in Rochester Cemetery, Franklin Street, Rochester, N.H. at a later date.
If desired, memorial donations may be made to the Grace Community Church, Rochester Hill Road., Rochester, N.H. 03857.
Bertha White
KITTERY, Maine - Bertha M. White, 91, died peacefully at the South Ridge Living Center in Biddeford on May 12, 2004.
She was born on Jan. 13, 1913, in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, the daughter of Austin and Whilomena (Jordon) Melia.
Later she moved from Dover-Foxcroft and became a long-time resident of Kittery. She started her career as a beautician and later found her love of sewing. She handled alterations for several businesses in the surrounding area during the late 1960’s and continued until her retirement in the late 1980’s.
She loved to do crafts and would try anything from making jewelry to pompoms. She loved animals and would welcome strays with open arms.
Survivors include two daughters, Jeanette W. Deardorff of Stevensville, Md., and Roberta J. Frampton of St. Marys, Ga.; two sons, Harold (Whitey) White of South Berwick, and Stephen White of Sanford; two sisters, Barbara Robinson of Guilford and Beverly Dow of Dover-Foxcroft; one brother, George Mella of Guilford; seven grandchildren, families of Headley, Perron, Palance, Bregy, and White; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her husband, Harold White, Sr.
Visiting hours will be Saturday, June 12 at the Wilson-Cooper Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. in the funeral home chapel.
Arrangements are by the Wilson-Cooper Funeral Home, 21 Rogers Road, Kittery, Maine 03904.
Frederick R. Kurkowski
BELMONT - Frederick R. Kurkowski, 73, of Magnolia Lane entered into rest on Thursday, July 15, 2004, at the Lakes Region General Hospital in Laconia.
He was the devoted husband of Teresa Olzewski Kurkowski.
Mr. Kurkowski was born in Derby, Conn., on April 27, 1931, son of Nelli Peryt Kurkowski of Shelton, Conn., and the late Chester Kurkowski. He was raised in Shelton and Ansonia, Conn., before moving to Belmont eight months ago.
He worked as a systems analyst for United Illuminating for 30 years before retiring in 1994. Mr. Kurkowski was an Army veteran and served during the Korean War. He was a member of the Lions Club.
He is the beloved father of Stephanie K. Korb and her husband, Alan; Roberta L. Eldrid and her husband, Sacheverel; and James F. Kurkowski and his fiancee, Susan Spaeth. He is also survived by four loving grandchildren, Joshua M. and Cameron P. Korb, and Sacheverel R. and Emma T. Eldrid.
Friends may greet the family at Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton, Conn., on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The funeral will be held at St. Michael’s Church, Derby, Conn., at 9 a.m. with burial to follow at St. Michael’s cemetery.
Edwina "Edie" Grisinger
ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Edwina "Edie" Grisinger, a 1956 graduate of Dover High School, passed away on Thursday, July 1, 2004, after a brief illness.
Edwina retired in 1997 as the office manager of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Western North Carolina. She had also been very active as a volunteer for the American Red Cross.
Mrs. Grisinger was the daughter of the late Edmund and Hilda Varney Leighton of Dover, N.H. She was predeceased by a son, Haven W. Andrews III, who died in 1995; and a brother, Carl A. Stone, formerly of Rochester, N.H.
She is survived by her husband, Donald; and a son, Sean Grisinger of Asheville, N.C.; a daughter, Karen E. Andrews and her children, Lauren E. Buck, Alexandra N. Buck and Samuel W. Buck, all of Kennebunkport, Maine; a daughter, Jodi L. Andrews and her husband, Larry McKnight; and their children, Avery and Jack W. McKnight, all of Hampton, Va.; and a grandson, Haven W. Andrews IV of Greensboro, N.C.; a brother, Larry Stone, and his family of Watertown, Conn.; and many nephews, nieces and cousins.
At her request, there were no visiting hours. Her ashes were buried at the Austin-Tuttle Cemetery in Dover, N.H., on July 11, 2004, with her family present. Donations should be made to your favorite charity. "Live life to the fullest and enjoy each and every minute of the day."
Clarence "Skip" Thomas Jr.
SANBORNVILLE - Clarence L. "Skip" Thomas Jr., 57, of 18 Mountain View Drive died Saturday, July 17, 2004, at the New England Medical Center in Boston. He is the husband of Claire (Bonoyer) Thomas and a former longtime resident of Dover.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by the Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave., Dover.
John W. Gannon
EXETER - John W. Gannon, 92, of Captain’s Way, formerly of Ambler Way in Durham, died Saturday, July 10, 2004 at Haven Health Center in Hampton.
He was born Jan. 8, 1912 in Aberdeen, S.D., the son of the late Frederick and Edith (Mather) Gannon. Mr. Gannon was a graduate of Harvard University, Class of 1934.
He was a veteran of Navy as the commanding officer of the LST 917 landing ship serving in the South Pacific, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He retired from the service as a lieutenant.
Mr. Gannon was the vice president of C.T. Corporation System in Boston, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colo. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. An avid hunter and fisherman, he also loved his dogs.
He was the husband of the late Marion (Hatch) Gannon. Family members include two sons, John H. Gannon of Exeter and William M. Gannon of Bend, Ore.; two grandchildren, Kelly Gannon and Courtney Gannon-Elliott, both of Park City, Utah.
Mr. Gannon was predeceased by two brothers, Frederick Gannon and Richard Gannon, both graduates of Harvard University.
Private services and burial will be held at the convenience of the family. If desired, donations may be made to the Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road, Exeter, NH 03833. Assistance with the arrangements was by the Stockbridge Funeral Home, Exeter.
Laroy Batchelder
NOTTINGHAM - Laroy W. Batchelder, 86, of Case Road died Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, at his home in Nottingham.
He was born in Nottingham on June 26, 1918, the son of Perley B. and Alice (Titcomb) Batchelder. He was a lifelong resident of Nottingham and
was a 1936 graduate of Dover High School.
For many years, he was a member of the Nottingham Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as fire chief for 22 years.
He was a member of the United States Trotter Association. He owned and trained horses, and loved sulky racing. During his life, he worked as a carpenter building homes. For five years, he worked for O.R. Gooch & Son building log homes.
He enjoyed hunting, ice fishing and spending time at his camp with his friends in Maine. He also liked to go into the classrooms of Nottingham
Elementary School, where he would speak to the students about Nottingham and when he went to school in the 1920s.
He was a member of Pawtuckaway Grange and the Nottingham Historical Society.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Leona (Phalen) Batchelder of Nottingham; two sons, Ronald L. Batchelder and his wife Harlene of Nottingham, and Chester G. Batchelder and his wife Judy of Nottingham; four granddaughters and nine great-grandchildren.
Friends and relatives are invited to call on Sunday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, 77 Exeter St., Newmarket. A funeral service will be held Monday at 10 a.m. from Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, with the Rev. Gary Reiff officiating. Following cremation, a private burial service will be held at South Side Cemetery, Nottingham. Family flowers only please, and should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Dorothy Cilley
DOVER - Dorothy Anne Cilley, 87, of Langdon Place on Middle Road, formally of Bow Lake, died on Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2004, after a long period of failing health.
She was born on Nov. 27, 1916, in Newton Center, Mass., the daughter of Philip Sherwood and Dorothy (Day) Durfee.
She attended Smith College in Cambridge Mass., and then went on to become a registered architect with Nickerson and Nickerson. She worked at the University of New Hampshire for 18 years in the Extension Service - Housing and Home Management in the Department of Home Economics, retiring in 1981. Some of her designs of local buildings are: the Oyster River Veterinary Hospital, Strafford Guidance Center and the Dover Children’s Home addition on Locust Street. She was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church of Dover. She loved music, enjoyed playing the piano, enjoyed the water, and lived on the family’s sailboat with her first husband "Nick" and her two sons. From their home on Bow Lake, she worked in loon preservation education with her second husband, Herb Cilley, known as "The Loon Ranger."
She is survived by her husband, Herbert L. Cilley, formally of Bow Lake; her son Douglas Nickerson of Dover; three stepchildren, Judith Kelsea of Lincoln, Neb., Dean Cilley of Yarmouth, Maine, and David Cilley of Saranac Lake, N.Y.; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her first husband, George E.R. "Nick" Nickerson, and a son, Randall M. Nickerson.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Langdon Place, 60 Middle Road, Dover, with the Rev. Robert Ervin, pastor of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dover, officiating.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, 655 Central Ave., Dover. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Loon Preservation Committee in Moultonborough or to a charity of one’s choice.
Frank DiDonna
LEE - Frank DiDonna, 48, of Thurston Drive died suddenly on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 2004, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover.
He was born on May 26, 1956, in Noicattero Bari, Italy, the son of Giuseppe and Anna (Difino) DiDonna.
He was an electrical engineer at the University of New Hampshire’s Earth and Oceans Science Department in Durham.
He is survived by his wife, Paula (Giannakopoulos) DiDonna; his son, Joseph Francis DiDonna; his daughter, Gina Marie DiDonna; his parents, Giuseppe "Joe" and Anna DiDonna; his brothers, Dominic DiDonna and his wife, Slavica DiDonna, their children Joseph, Anna and Elise Pasquale "Lino" DiDonna; his sisters, Maria Rosaria DiDonna, Carmela Campobasso and husband Vincenzo "Vince," their children, Marisa, Michael, Anna, Giuseppe "Joey," Jonathan, Anotonia "Tonia" Mingari with husband Joe, their children, Carolyn, Ann and Salvatore "Torry," Valentina "Tina" Ruiz and her husband Honorio "Joe," their children, Nicholas "Nico," Michael and Anna; his father-in-law Gus Giannakopoulos; his mother-in-law, Georgia Giannakopoulos; his sister-in-law, Sue Bisconti and her husband Edward, their children, Dean, Deanna, Bobby, Edward, Anthony and Vincent.
Friends may call today from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Road, Lee. Memorial contributions may be made to: DiDonna Children’s Education Trust, c/o Thomas F. Torr ESQ, 8 Portland Ave., Dover, NH 03820.
Diann Garand
SEABROOK - Diann E. Garand, 63, of 59 Walton Road died Friday, Nov. 12, 2004, at her home after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.
She was born in Lawrence, Mass., on March 11, 1941, the daughter of Clarence H. and Anne (Woodbury) Pratt. She was raised in Salem and was a 1958 graduate of Woodbury High School in Salem. She had been a Seabrook resident for the past 44 years.
She was a seamstress and dressmaker, and operated Stitch-In-Time from her home for more than 25 years, retiring last year. She taught sewing for the former Singer Sewing Machine Co.’s sewing school in Salisbury, Mass. She also was a teacher’s assistant at Seabrook Elementary School, teaching remedial reading.
She was a member of Trinity United Church and participated in many church and community craft and Christmas fairs.
She hosted the members of Seabrook’s Craft Club, which met regularly at her home for several years.
She was the widow of Emmanuel D. Garand, who died in 1990. Family members include a son, Paul J. Garand of Seabrook; two daughters, Liza Curtis and her husband Gary of Rollinsford, and Suzanne P. Garand-Bradford and her husband Frank of Seabrook; and four grandchildren, Courtney Curtis, Tyler Curtis, Sebastian Oweifie and Christian Oweifie.
A funeral service will be in Trinity United Church, Lafayette Road, Seabrook, on Monday at 11 a.m. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited and may call at Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton, on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery, Seabrook. The family requests that flowers please be omitted. If desired, donations may be made to the Seacoast Visiting Nurse Association, 29 Lafayette Road, North Hampton, NH 03862 or the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701.
