New Hampshire, U.S., Marriage and Divorce Records, 1659-1947
Richard Schanda
NEWMARKET - Richard R. Schanda, 75, of Grant Road, died June 15, 2004, at his home in Newmarket.
Arrangements are incomplete and will be announced by Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, 77 Exeter St., Newmarket.
Martha Christiansen
LEWISTON, Maine - Martha Christiansen, 54, of Lewiston, formerly a longtime resident of Norway, Maine, died Oct. 4, 2004, at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine.
Born on April 3, 1950, in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, she was a daughter of Willis and Clara Thomas. She graduated from Foxcroft Academy; completed nurses training at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bangor; earned a BSW from the University of Southern Maine in Portland and a MSW from SUNY, Albany, N.Y. She loved classical and jazz music, fishing at the family camp, poetry, art, The Wizard of Oz, nature, butterflies, etymology of words, coffee playing Scrabble, her pets, and everything purple. She was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling the world as a young woman. She was a member of the MENSA Society and enjoyed any spirited discussion form, how many different greens are in the forest to string theory. Though illness and addiction complicated her life, she continually fought to overcome their bonds.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer, and her husband, Douglas Bennett, of Bethel, Maine; her sister, Dee Bickmore, of Kittery; her bother, John Thomas, of Stuyvestant, N.Y.; nieces, Julie, Nikki, and Katie; a nephew, John; and good friend, Edward Kutlowski, of Hampton, N.H.; and favorite Aunt Jo; as well as several cousins.
Services will be announced at a later date. The family suggests in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the MSAD 44 Drug and Alcohol Awareness Program, 284 Walkers Mills Road, Bethel, Maine 04217.
Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Paul Howard Jr.
UNION BRIDGE, Md. - Paul Howard Jr., 42, of 990 McKinstrys Mill Road, died Friday, Oct. 8, 2004, from injuries sustained from a motor vehicle accident. Born March 18, 1962 in Hartford, Conn., he was the son of Paul Howard Sr. and Lillian (Montgomery) McCullough. He was raised in New Hampshire and Maine, graduating from Noble High School in 1980. He spent most of his adult life in Tucson, Ariz., where he was in the restaurant business, eventually owning and operating his own restaurant.
He lived the past few years with his brother, Dan, and his wife, Linda, and their two kids, Alexandra and Aracely, in Maryland. He traveled often between Maryland, New Hampshire, Maine and Arizona, spending time with his family and friends.
He loved his eagle collection, drag racing with his friend J.R., visiting and watching his friend Merle doing the restoration work on Paul’s 66 Chevelle, and watching the Cowboys play football. He lived life his way and was a great storyteller. People loved to be around him and he has left so many good memories. He loved hanging out with his lifetime friend Richie Nadeau whenever he came to New Hampshire.
Members of his family include his mother, Lillian McCullough, of Rochester, N.H.; siblings, David Doherty, of Orland, Maine; Karen Stanley of Farmington, N.H.; Rhonda Bilodeau of Alton, N.H.; and Daniel Howard of Union Bridge, Md.; his family in Arizona, Carol Waller, Darcy Howard, and his stepson, Brandon Waller; several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was predeceased by his father, Paul Howard Sr., in 2003, his father-in-law, Larry Waller, and his good friend, Bill Foley. He was a beloved brother, son, and friend. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and will always be remembered as Little Paul.
Family and friends may call Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2004, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester, N.H.
A service will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. at the Holy Rosary Church located on North Main Street in Rochester.
George Stevens Sr.
NORTH BERWICK, Maine - George Homer Stevens Sr., 87, of Elm Street, passed away Saturday, Oct. 9, 2004, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, N.H. after a brief illness.
He was born March 23, 1917 in Wells, Maine, one of 12 children born to John R. and Evelyn (Clark) Stevens. He graduated from Wells High School.
He was the proprietor of Joy & Stevens Mobil Station in North Berwick for many years. Later he had been rural route postal carrier for the North Berwick Post Office. He enjoyed spending summers at his Wells Beach cottage and especially fishing off the jetty there. He had been a member of the York County Chapter of the Maine Trappers Association and especially enjoyed fall trapping trips to the Rockwood area. He loved to travel with his wife and family. He was also a member of the South Berwick & Wells Christian Church. He was a 65-year member of the Ocean Lodge #142 AF & AM of Wells, Maine. He was predeceased by his wife, Norma Joy Stevens, in August. They would have celebrated 65 years of marriage on Oct. 14. He was also predeceased by three sons, Alan Joy Stevens, Wayne Stevens, and George Stevens Jr.; a granddaughter, Nicolle Dube and son-in-law, Ray Dube; four brothers, Harold N. the first, Wallace, Alden, and Harold N. Stevens; and four sisters, Marjorie Knight, Nettie Stevens, Hazel Blazonis, and Lois Welch.
Surviving are his daughter, Elaine Dube; two daughters-in-law, Ute Stevens and Evelyn Stevens, all of North Berwick; two brothers, Richard Stevens, of Wells, and, Stuart Stevens, of South Berwick; a sister, Hilma Stevens, of Wells; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Family flowers only. Friends who wish may contribute to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, PO Box 4777, New York, NH 10163.
Visiting hours will be held Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. with a Masonic service to be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Johnson Funeral Home, 26 Market St., North Berwick, Maine. Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home. Interment following in the Woodlawn Cemetery in South Berwick.
Florence Czachor
KITTERY POINT, Maine - Florence Czachor, wife of Dr. Peter Czachor, died at her home in Kittery Point, Maine, on Oct. 16, 2004, following a brief illness and a life spent promoting the welfare of others, and patronizing and supporting libraries. She was 81.
Florence Czachor Library patron
She was born on Aug. 1, 1923, in Glens Falls, N.Y., to Josephine Sollohub Casper and Paul Casper, both Lithuanian immigrants. She graduated from Glens Falls High School. Following her mother’s death in 1941, she moved to Newark, N.J., to join her father.
She met her husband in 1939, at her uncle’s event hall in Glens Falls, when he performed with his family’s Polish band. They corresponded while he served during World War II. She longed to join the Marines, but was unable to pass the hearing test. The couple married in 1946, then moved to Burlington, Vt., where her husband attended medical school.
She served as his office assistant when he established his medical practice in obstetrics and gynecology in Portsmouth in 1954. She then turned her attention full time to her family. She raised six children, realizing her dream of creating the large family she longed for as an only child. Although her husband was busy delivering 6,000 babies during his career, she found the time to mother her children, read voraciously, befriend all those she met, support the Portsmouth Hospital Guild, the New Hampshire Medical Society Women’s Auxiliary and the Portsmouth Athenaeum, and to serve on the Board of the Portsmouth Public Library.
She is survived by her husband and her children and their spouses, Peter and Sharon of Buxton, Maine; Joanne and Tom Magliozzi of Boston, Mass., Nancy Philbrick and Steve Cassidy, Dick and Paula Czachor, Eugene and Marianne Czachor of Kittery Point; and Suzanne and Bruce Phinney of Stratham, N.H. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Raphael Church in Kittery on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Visiting hours at the Farrell Funeral Home, 684 State St., Portsmouth, N.H. on Tuesday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Portsmouth.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the American Diabetes Association, or the Rice Public Library in Kittery, Maine.
Sam Rosen
DURHAM - Sam Rosen, died on Oct. 16, 2004, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.
Arrangements are under the direction of Purdy Memorial Chapel, 2 Concord Road, Lee, NH.
Barbara Sleeper
DOVER - Barbara (Brownell) Clark Sleeper, mother of five and teacher and mentor to hundreds died in comfort, surrounded by her children and grandchildren during the early morning hours of Saturday, Oct. 16, 2004, at the Wentworth Home in Dover. She succumbed to complications from multiple myeloma. She lived to learn, share, and teach.
Barbara Sleeper Retired teacher
A Dover native, she was born on Sept. 4, 1915, to parents, Harold R. and Amy (Towle) Brownell. Her roots on the Towle side of the family, trace back to Dover’s earliest settlers. She grew up on Watson Lane in Dover’s south side, then known as Sawyer’s. Following a three-year relocation to Wylder, Vt., she returned to reside in Dover’s south end, raising her family on Mill Street and Back River Road, before moving to Glenwood Avenue in 1996.
She was a communicant of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church, where she and "Sid" Clark married in 1939 and later she and Harold C. Sleeper married in 1963. She was a member of the Altar Guild in the 50’s and 60’s, and in more recent years, did outreach to ill and shut-in parishioners.
In 1932, she was awarded the American Girl Scouts’ Golden Eagle. Following graduation from Dover High School in 1933 and from the University of New Hampshire in 1937, she taught at North Stratford School, Rollinsford Grade School, Coe-Brown Academy, Exeter High School and 17 years at Dover High School prior to retirement in 1977.
In addition to her home economics teaching responsibilities, she served as a class advisor for a number of Dover High School classes, supervised Future Homemakers of America, and headed the school’s nurses’ aide program. Balancing her career with raising a family, she was once named Women of the Year by the Dover Business and Professional Women’s Club. She was a sorority sister of Alpha Delta Kappa IOTA Chapter, a member of the National Retired Teachers’ Association, New Hampshire RTA, and Strafford County Retired Teachers.
During her retirement, she stayed very active as a tutor with Dover Adult Learning Center, the board of managers of the Wentworth Home, as a member of the St. Thomas’ Church crafts group and the Pastoral Care Committee. She took great pride in her association with alumni groups from Dover High School and the University of New Hampshire.
She is survived by daughters, Lian Obrey of Groton, Conn., Barbara McCreedy of Old Orchard Beach, Maine; sons, Harold Brownell Clark and his wife, Patricia (LaPoint), and Ernest Aaron Clark II and his wife, Ann (Devereaux), all of Dover, and by stepson, Roger Sleeper and his wife, Mary(Fisher) of Vergennes, Vt. She is survived by 12 grandchildren, Coleen (Clary) Smith, Clinton A. Obrey, Clark D. Clary, Christopher E. Obrey, Allison (McCreedy) Casey, Amy (McCreedy) Chamberlain, Chad E. Obrey, Jessica A. Clark, Archie B. Clark, Dian M. Clark, Andrew S. Clark, and Ashley E. Clark; and by five great grandchildren, Katherine Clary, Kenneth Smith, Krystal Smith, CJ Obrey, and Sarah Casey. Also daughter, Joan Konicki and her children, David Konicki and Francine (Konicki) Sproul of Connecticut; niece Bertha (Stevens) McGeary and her husband, Joseph of Lee, as well as step-son-in-law, Frank Reed; nine step-grandchildren and 17 step-grandchildren, Gordon Reed, Harold Reed, David Reed, Raymond Reed, Karen (Reed) Hango, Mark Sleeper, Greg Sleeper, Jeffrey Sleeper, Janet (Sleeper) Cloutier, all of Vermont, former son-in-law, Steve E. Obrey of Somersworth, and grandson, Rick Leyshon of Ohio. She is also survived by several step-great-grandchildren, Hanna, Emily, Fletcher, Gardner, Charlie, Dylan, Whitney, Katie, Abbie, Mark, Mary, Emily, Bradley, Amy, Allison, Jenna, and Andrew, and niece, Donna (Wyatt) Preve and nephews, Bruce Wyatt, David Wyatt, Scott Wyatt, and Robert Wyatt all of the Penacook area.
She is also survived by her younger sister, Jane Haskell of Penacook; cousins, Eleanor (Towle) Bohan of Orono, Maine, Jack Towle of Dover, Ann (Coleman) Perkins of Smyra, Tenn.; and her aunt, Mrs. George (Lily) Towle of Dover. She was predeceased in 1955 by husband and father of her children, Ernest A. Clark; second husband, Harold C. Sleeper in 1990; eldest daughter, Sara-Susan "Sally" Clary in 1993; son-in-law Frederick D. "Rebel" Clary in 1997; and sister, Beverly Allaire, all formerly of Dover, as well as step-daughter, Marilyn (Sleeper) Reed of Jeffersonville, Vt., and recently by sister-in-law, Elizabeth (Clark) Stevens, formerly of Dover.
In accordance with Mrs. Sleeper’s wishes, there are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 20, at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, corner of Locust and Hale streets Dover, N.H., with the Rev. Robert S. Ervin, rector, officiating.
The service will be immediately followed by a continuation of a celebration of life by family and friends in the adjoining parish. Family flowers only requested. Her favorite charities and nonprofits were St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 5 Hale St., Dover, NH 03820; Dover Public Library, 73 Locust St., Dover, NH 03820; the Dover Adult Learning Center, 22 Atkinson St., Dover, NH 03820; the Wentworth Home, 795 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820 and The Woodman Institute and Museum, Central Avenue, Dover, NH 03820.
Arrangements are under the direction of Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home, Dover, N.H.
Marion Wilson
PORTSMOUTH - Marion Ruby Hall Wilson, 87, 150 Sherburne Ave., and a longtime resident of Portsmouth, was, in the terminology of The Salvation Army, "promoted to glory" Friday, Oct. 15, 2004, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.
Born in Plainville, Conn., Aug. 20, 1917, to Ruby and William Hall, she moved to Lowell, Mass. with her parents as a young child.
In Lowell, she began attending The Salvation Army church and met Melvin Wilson who would later become her life partner.
After graduating from Lowell High School in 1935, she worked as a librarian at the Lowell Public Library.
She married Mel Wilson on Sept. 24, 1938, and continued working at the library until her children were born. In 1944, she joined the Army and was shipped overseas. For two years, with two small children, she supported the war effort by making blankets at the Lowell Mills. In 1946, she returned from overseas and moved his family to Portsmouth, to continue working for the Defense Department at the Portsmouth Naval shipyard.
She was a "stay-at-home" mom, raising five children, until 1959, when she became the secretary/bookkeeper at the Portsmouth Salvation Army, which was then located at 50 State St. Eventually, she became the social worker at The Salvation Army, a position she held until her retirement in 1982.
A lifelong member of The Salvation Army, she was the volunteer youth program director for nearly 50 years. Many young people will remember the individual birthday cakes she baked for them when she celebrated their birthday in Sunday School; the youth group picnics at Hilton Park in Dover Point, and three-legged races at Bellamy Park. She was a faithful monthly volunteer visitor at nursing homes, especially the Wentworth Home, for over 40 years.
She and her husband were married for 65 years, until his promotion to glory in November 2004.
She was exceptionally proud of her children, Major Sandra Wilson (who was also promoted to glory in the same accident); Bill Wilson, and wife Pat, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; Major Lynda Magoon, and husband Stan, of Kansas City, Kan.; Marion Harris, and husband, Robert, of Dover; and Rus Wilson, and wife Chris, of Portsmouth. She had seven grandchildren, Troy Wilson; Trace Wilson, and wife, Janet; Tregg Wilson, and wife, Leah; Greg Magoon, and wife, Michelle; Erin Magoon; Julie and Scott Wilson; and three great-grandchildren Joey, Mike and Elizabeth Wilson.
Visitation will be held at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home - Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth, Saturday, Oct. 23, from noon to 2 p.m. with funeral services following at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 15 Middle Street, Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Sandra Wilson
PORTSMOUTH - Sandra Wilson, 64, of 150 Sherburne Ave., in Portsmouth, died peacefully on Friday, Oct. 15, 2004, from injuries suffered in an automobile accident on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire.
She was born in Lowell, Mass., on April 14, 1940, and spent her childhood in Lowell, Kittery, Maine and Portsmouth, N.H.
After graduating from Portsmouth High School in 1958, she entered the Salvation Army School for Officer’s Training in New York, N.Y. to become an ordained minister in the Salvation Army. She served as an assistant officer in several Salvation Army Corps throughout New England including Beverly, Lawrence and Everett, Mass., and as commanding officer in Dorchester and Plymouth, Mass. She concluded her career as a Major in the Salvation Army, serving as an instructor for 17 years at the School for Officer’s Training, now located in Suffern, N.Y.
Upon retirement in 1985, she moved back to Portsmouth. Though limited physically, she enjoyed swimming at the Portsmouth indoor pool, taking morning "walks" on her scooter in the Little Harbour district, dining out, and playing table games with nieces and nephews. She was a master of Nintendo on her television set and a diehard Patriots and Red Sox fan … go Sox!
Her enduring spirit was only surpassed by her love for her Lord and Savior. We are all better people for having known her.
She leaves behind her brother, Bill Wilson, and his wife, Pat, of West Palm Beach, Fla.; sister, Lynda Magoon, and her husband, Stan, of Kansas City, Kan.; sister, Marion Harris, and her husband, Robert, of Dover; brother, Rus Wilson, and his wife, Chris, of Portsmouth; several nieces and nephews, and numerous friends throughout the country.
Memorial visitation will be held at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home - Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth, Saturday, Oct. 23 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. with a memorial service following at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, 15 Middle St., Portsmouth, NH 03801.
Richard Wood
SOUTH BERWICK, Maine - Richard Allen Wood "Woody", 64, of Portland Street in South Berwick, died on Friday, Oct. 15, 2004, at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine.
Born in Portsmouth, N.H., on Dec. 12, 1940, he was a son of Edwin Philip Sr. and Bernice Flora (DeGrafft) Wood. He grew up in Kittery and attended local schools graduating from R.W. Traip Academy with the Class of 1958.
He was a member of the First Christian Church of Kittery Point and enjoyed his time spent on various church activities including the men’s group, which meets monthly. He enjoyed flounder fishing in Spruce Creek and playing cribbage. He was very talented at handiwork including knitting and crocheting and making afghans. He enjoyed children, always able to bring a smile to the face of a young person.
He was employed at Pierce Leather in Hampton, Kingston-Warren in Kingston, N.H. and Laminated Film and Packaging in Portsmouth and Princess House. He also owned and operated a convenience store in Springvale, Maine for a time.
He will be missed by those who knew and loved him, including his sister, Nancy and her husband, David Barnaby, of Freedom, N.H.; his nephew, Rick Barnaby and his wife, Kelli, and his niece, Tammy and her husband, Ronald Ward, as well as his great nephews and niece, Joshua Barnaby, and Kyle and Courtney Hatch. He was predeceased by his brother, Edwin Philip Wood Jr.; and his sister, Marion Wood.
A funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., at his church, the First Christian Church on Haley Road in Kittery Point. Friends may visit with his family on Tuesday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home, 125 Old Post Road, Kittery, Maine 03904.
Family flowers only. His family suggests donations may be made in his memory to his church at 542 Haley Road in Kittery Point, Maine 03905.
Arrangements are entrusted to the J.S. Pelkey Funeral Home of Kittery.
Charles Arvenitis
DOVER - Charles S. Arvenitis, 89, of 3 Snow Ave., died Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004, at the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital.
Born in Samos, Greece on Feb. 1, 1915, the son of Socrates and Evangelina (Babakos) Arvenitis, he had lived in Dover for most of his lifetime and was a graduate of Dover High School and attended the University of New Hampshire.
He enjoyed dancing, gardening, hunting, fishing and traveling. He was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose 443 of Dover, and the Dover Area Senior Citizens.
He was an auto body technician and at the time of his retirement, he worked for Anchor Buick in Portsmouth.
He was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and the Ahepa Thesslum Chapter 248.
He is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Phyllis (Tufts) Arvenitis; three sons, Charles S. "Soc" Arvenitis Jr. of Dover, Michael Arvenitis of Epsom, Paul Arvenitis and his wife, Linda, of Dover; a daughter, Constance Dockham and her husband, Wilfred, of Gilmanton Iron Works; six grandchildren, Kimberly Fortuna, Todd Dockham, Kristin Arvenitis, Kerry Zielfelder, Maria Arvenitis, Christopher Arvenitis; eight great-grandchildren and nieces, nephews and cousins.
Relatives and friends are invited to call Tuesday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave. Father Newman will conduct the Trisagion Service at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday evening.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, Locust St. with the Rev. Constantine Newman, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow in Annunciation Cemetery.
Those who wish, are invited to make memorials in his name to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 93 Locust St., Dover, NH 03820 or Alzheimer’s Association, 10 Ferry St., Ste. 419, Concord, NH 03301.
Paul Hermann
DOVER - Paul F. Hermann, 63, of 21 Fieldstone Drive, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2004, at his home following a long struggle with cancer.
Born Aug. 4, 1941, in Boston, Mass., he was the son of Paul F. and Mary (Kelley) Hermann.
He was a graduate of Boston Technical High School, Class of 1959 and General Electric apprenticeship program, Lynn, Mass.
He and his family moved to Dover from Boothbay Harbor, Maine 12 years ago. He was a resident of Boothbay for 17 years prior to that.
He was an inventor, involved in research and development of hydrophilic foam, used in medical, automotive, sports, apparel and household products.
He was a 33-year friend of Bill W. and was a member of Old Tyme Cruising Car Club of Dover. He particularly enjoyed building and restoring automobiles.
Family members include his wife, Virginia M. "Ginny" (Banks) Hermann of Dover; two sons, Edward J. Hermann and his wife, Anne, of Swamscott, Mass., and James R. Hermann of Dover; four daughters, Lorraine M. "Lorri" Reardon of South Hedley, Mass., Beth M. Boudreau of Dover, Chelsea E. Hermann of Dover, and Kelley J. Hermann of Dover; one brother, John Hermann of Rosemont, Pa.; and two grandchildren, Emily R. and Brett M. Reardon of South Hedley.
He was predeceased by a brother, James Hermann; and a sister, Helen Hermann.
Relatives and friends may call Wednesday from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Joseph Church, 150 Central Ave. with the Rev. Paul Ruzzo, associate pastor, as celebrant. Burial will follow in Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover. Those desiring may make memorial donations to Cocheco Arts and Technology Academy, P.O. Box 666, Dover, NH 03820.
