Constance J. “Connie” Erickson, 83, of Nashua, passed away early Saturday morning, August 29, 2015 at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua after a period of declining health.
A lifelong resident of this city, Connie was born on November 27, 1931, daughter of the late Albert J. Bouchard and Florianne R. “Flo” (Levesque) Bouchard Gagnon. Connie also resided at Air Force Bases in various parts of the United States with her husband Arne, during his military service. In addition to her parents, Connie was predeceased by her former husband Arne G. Erickson in 1966; her brother Robert N. Bouchard in 2014; and her step-father Ernest G. Gagnon in 1990.
Members of her family include her three children, Arne Reece Erickson, Lt. Col. USA (Ret.) of Hampton, NJ, Debra Erickson Ingram and Kristin Duymazlar & her husband Erol all of Hollis, NH; six grandchildren, Sofia Duymazlar, Erin Duymazlar, Ragnar Arneson, H. Lars Arneson, Avens O’Brien and Samuel Sahulka-Willey; her sister-in-law, Gloria Bouchard of Hooksett, NH; also a niece, three nephews and many cousins.
Educated in local schools, Connie was a graduate of Nashua High School Class of 1950. She served as a class officer and was active on her class reunion planning committees every 5 years. Mrs. Erickson had worked at the Hillsborough County Court House in Nashua as a Court Officer for nearly two decades, most often greeting Court House visitors and providing security services at the building’s front entrance. She worked for the Nashua Police Department and New Hampshire Public Schools as a crossing guard and school lunch monitor at the Dr. Norman Crisp Elementary School on Arlington Street, in overlapping service spanning 20 years. At this time, she also provided matron duty as needed at the Nashua Police Headquarters. Connie had been active in politics, working on the election campaigns of the late U.S. Senator Warren Rudman and attending numerous campaign events for national candidates; served as Treasurer of Southern New Hampshire Services for over 30 years; and served on the Board of her former Nashua parish, St. Patrick Church for many terms.
Connie was an avid sports fan of the Boston Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and New England Patriots. Her keen interest in sports increased in the 1940s when the former Nashua Dodgers played at Holman Stadium, led by Hall of Famer Roy Campanella and future Cy-Young Award winner Don Newcombe. She attended every game and, in getting to know all of the players, she was unofficially considered their Nashua “mascot” or favorite fan.
Memorial visitation will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Wednesday, Sept. 2nd from 3 to 6 p.m. Donations may be made in her memory to the American Cancer Society, 30 Speen Street, Framingham, MA 01701 or the American Heart Association, 2 Wall Street, #104, Manchester, NH 03101. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneral.com
