Author Archives: Dana Farwell

Mary Katherine (Blackwood) Sherwood, 75, passed away at The Elliot Hospital, Manchester, NH, on December 18, 2020 from complications related to covid-19.  Mary was born in Oak Ridge, TN, on July 7, 1945, to John C and Katherine (Jamison) Blackwood.

Mary grew up in Melrose, MA.  After she graduated from Melrose High School in 1963, she attended Boston College.  She graduated in 1967 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education and a Minor in Speech Communications.  Mary married her high school sweetheart, Don Sherwood, on June 22, 1968.  The two fell in love while going to church record hops and went on to be each other’s best friends and biggest cheerleaders throughout their marriage of 52 years. They resided in Nashua, NH.

Mary worked various jobs over the years and most enjoyed her work as a preschool teacher and teacher’s assistant at a local elementary school.  She took the grief and pain of losing her 10-year-old son, Scott, in a drunk driving accident and channeled it productively as a co-founder of the Nashua chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  In this position she was instrumental in getting legislation passed to reduce the legal blood alcohol level in DUIs.

Mary participated in various charitable causes including the annual Cancer Fund Drive.  She teamed with the Nashua Animal Shelter and local nursing homes to bring comfort and joy to residents by providing pet therapy.  Mary’s favorite pastime was gardening and creating beautiful floral arrangements. She was a member of the Nashua Garden Club for many years.  Mary was a communicant of St. Christopher Church in Nashua.  Her greatest pleasure was spending time with her family.

Mary is predeceased by her parents, John C and Katherine Blackwood and by her son, Scott.  Immediate family survivors include her husband and the love of her life, Don Sherwood; two daughters; Mary Beth Fleury of Swanzey, NH, and Katherine Ditolla and her husband Gerard Ditolla of Litchfield, NH, and four grandchildren; Henry Fleury, Haley Fleury, Robbie Ditolla and Rita Ditolla. She is also survived by her siblings and their families, Linda (Blackwood) Small and Barry Small of Naples, FL, and John J Blackwood and Marie (Cain) Blackwood of Naples, FL.  Mary’s extended family includes many nieces, nephews and cousins

The family is grateful to the dedicated staff at Carlyle Place, Bedford NH, for the care, comfort and support they provided to Mary during the last year of her life.  They would also like to thank the brave and compassionate staff at Elliot Hospital who are working with grit and grace during these extraordinarily difficult times.

Due to the current COVID-19 concerns and the desire to keep those we care about healthy and safe, there will be no calling hours and funeral services will be private.  A celebration of Mary’s life will be held at a later date when conditions are safe to gather.  In lieu of flowers, Donations can be made to St Jude’s Children’s Fund or the Alzheimer’s Association in Mary’s memory.  The FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements www.farwellfuneralservice.com

   Regina L. LeBlanc, 95, of Nashua, passed away Friday evening, December 18, 2020 at Greenbriar HealthCare.         

   A lifelong resident of this city, Regina was born on September 15, 1925, a daughter of the late Amedee and Corinne L. (Plante) LeBlanc. She resided on Lock Street in the French Hill neighborhood for most of her life and was educated in local schools. She was a communicant of the former St. Francis Xavier Church.

   Regina began her career as a beautician and owned and operated Jean-Kay’s Beauty Lounge on Chandler Street and was later employed at Nashua Corporation for many years.

    In addition to her parents, Regina was predeceased by a sister, Irene M. LeBlanc; and her brother and sister-in-law, Robert R. and Janet (Couturier) LeBlanc. She is survived by nieces and nephews.

    There are no calling hours or services at this time. Regina will be laid to rest with her family at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery.       

  Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com 

   Linda Ruth Harrington, 67, of Windham, wife of The Rev. James R. Harrington, passed away Wednesday morning, December 16, 2020 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers, MA after a brief illness.       

   Mrs. Harrington was born in Troy, New York on March 18, 1953, a daughter of the late Louis and Elsie (Lorenzo) Palmer. She grew up in Mechanicsville, NY and graduated from Mechanicsville High School Class of 1971. Linda furthered her education at Kings College in New York where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education.  

   Members of her family include her husband Jim, whom she married on July 10, 1976 at the Northway Bible Church in Clifton, NY and shared over 44 years together; her three daughters, Amy Lynn Smith and her husband Erik, Alicia Willis and her husband Michael, and Ashley Barbara Campbell and her husband Tim; seven grandchildren, Stella Violet Smith, twins Opal Rose Smith and Harper James Smith, Isla Willis, Camden Willis, Brynn Willis and Eleanor Campbell; a sister, Judy Ceremuga and her husband Jack; and a brother, Gary Palmer and his wife Celia.

   A longtime educator, Linda taught special needs students in Hooksett, NH for several years.

   Linda was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hudson, where her husband Jim served as pastor for 17 years. She was active with the Ladies church circle and the music team. She enjoyed square dancing and traveling with her husband on a trip she won to Spain.  

    Due to the current pandemic, a graveside service will take place at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen at a later date.

  Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua.  www.farwellfuneralservice.com 

   Richard Arthur ‘Dick’ Holt, 88, of Nashua, passed away Monday afternoon, December 14, 2020 at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center after a short illness.       

   A native and lifelong resident of this city, he was born on November 14, 1932, son of the Arthur and Bernice H. (Raby) Holt. Educated in Nashua schools, Dick was a graduate of Nashua High School Class of 1950. A Navy veteran, Mr. Holt served with Sea-Bees for four years and was stationed in North Africa and Cuba.

   Dick had been employed as a machinist and foreman with the former Improved Machinery, Inc. and its successor Ingersoll Rand for many years. He was later self-employed in the construction business.

   Fraternally, Mr. Holt was a member of Rising Sun Lodge #39, F & AM. In his leisure time, Dick enjoyed golfing and candlepin bowling with both the IMPCO and Senior League’s at Leda Lanes.

   On June 15, 1956, Dick married Helen A. Hardy in Lowell, MA. The couple shared over 61 wonderful years together until her passing in March 2018.

   Members of his family include his children, William Holt of Lancaster, OH, Richard H. Holt and his wife Jodi of Milford, NH, Douglas S. Holt and his wife June of Davenport, FL and Cathy A. Holt of Nashua; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. In addition to his wife and parents, Dick  was predeceased by his daughter, Linda A. Holt, who passed away in September 2008; and his grandson, Eric Holt. 

  There are no calling hours or services at this time. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com  

   Richard D. “Dick” Chassé, 96, of Nashua, retired Deputy Fire Chief and longtime Nashua firefighter, passed away Sunday morning, December 13, 2020 after a brief illness.       

   A lifelong resident of this city, he was born on September 21, 1924, one of nine children of the late Jean Baptiste and Marie (Bourbeau) Chassé. Dick grew up in the French Hill neighborhood and attended the former St. Francis Xavier Parochial School and Nashua public schools. A Navy veteran, he served during World War II in the South Pacific aboard the USS Franklin from 1943 to 1946 and held the rank of Machinist’s Mate 2^nd Class.

    Dick joined the Nashua Fire Department in 1947 as a call man and was appointed to permanent status in April 1952. During his long career, he was promoted to Private, Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief, retiring in 1983. Dick continued his career as a licensed plumber for many years.

He served on the Board of Fire Commissioners and also served in the New Hampshire Legislature for two years.

    In his leisure time, Dick was an avid reader, especially of history and enjoyed the challenge of solving cross-word puzzles. He was a Boston Bruins and New York Yankees fan.

     He was a member of Nashua Lodge 720, Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks for over 50 years and held membership in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 483.

    Dick was predeceased by his wife, Isabelle Mary (Desmarais) Chassé, who passed in June 1994; and his eight siblings, Romeo, Adelard, Philip, Paul and Robert Chassé, and Lucille Francoeur, Rita Chassé and Aurore Dionne.

     Members of his family include his loving companion of 26 1/2 years, Mary Isabell (Stanley) Batchelder; five step-children, Irving Stanley and his wife Vashti, Henry Stanley and his wife Ashley, Robert Batchelder and his wife Betsy, Stephen Batchelder and his wife Josephine, and Stephanie Baker and her husband Jerome; twenty five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Theresa Chassé; brother-in-law, Edmond Dionne; also many nieces, nephews and cousins.

      Due to the current pandemic, services will be private. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

   Catherine Y. (Gauthier) Richard, 71, of New Boston and formerly of Nashua, passed away Sunday morning, December 13, 2020 at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, after a brief illness. Her husband Michael S. Richard, passed away on Thursday, December 10^th.     

   Born in Chicago, Illinois on June 25, 1949, she was a daughter of the late Raymond Ernest and Lucille Pauline (Gaudette) Gauthier. Cathy grew up in Nashua and attended Sacred Heart School of St. Patrick Church, Mount St. Mary’s High School and graduated from Nashua High School Class of 1967. She furthered her education at Southern New Hampshire University where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree.

   Cathy began her career at Sanders Associates in Nashua and then worked as a secretary in the Goffstown School District and later in the main office of the Hooksett School District.

    In her leisure time, she enjoyed gardening, crocheting and cross-stitch. Cathy and Mike were married June 24, 1971 and had made their home in New Boston since 1981. She loved and cared for her family and friends deeply, and will be missed by many.

    Members of her family include her daughter, Sarah B. Cooper and her significant other, Gene Kalaw; grandson, Dayton Cooper; brother, Richard Gauthier and his wife Valeria; sister, Amy Bailey; also nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, Cathy was predeceased by a brother, Philip Gauthier.

     There are no calling hours. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Louis de Gonzague Church on Monday, December 21^st . Donations may be made in Cathy’s memory to: The New Hampshire Food Bank, 700 East Industrial Park Drive, Manchester, NH 03109. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

   Michael Seaman Richard, 71, of New Boston, passed away Thursday evening, December 10, 2020 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, after a period of declining health.       

   A resident of New Boston since 1981, Michael was born in Nashua on May 13, 1949, a son of the late Paul Edmond and Agnes Mary (Seaman) Richard. He attended Sacred Heart School of St. Patrick Church and graduated from Nashua High School Class of 1967. After his graduation, Michael served in the Army during the Vietnam War from August 1967 to August 1970. He then furthered his education at the Nashua Vocational -Technical College, graduating with an associate’s degree.  

    Michael began his career working for Sprague Electric Company during his high school years; and continued at Nashua Waste Water and the Allenstown Waste Water, Sanders Associates, in their hazardous waste department, and later as a custodian at the Dunbarton elementary schools.

    He will be remembered as a comedian and man of many talents. Michael was an advocate for sustainability and educating children as a school volunteer. He was a man of honor who loved and had a great respect for people and will be deeply missed.

   Members of his family include his wife, Catherine Y. (Gauthier) Richard, whom he married June 24, 1971 and shared over 49 years together; his daughter, Sarah B. Cooper and her significant other Gene Kalaw of Medford, MA; grandson, Dayton Cooper; a brother, Timothy P. Richard and his Halley of North Carolina; two sisters, Alison M. Hameline and her husband James of Allenstown, and Jessica A. Spirito of Merrimack; a brother-in-law,  Raymond Delude of Hampton, NH. Michael was predeceased by two sisters, Karleen Delude and Paula E. Cloutier. Also nieces and nephews, Timothy Richard, Jillian Richard, Joseph Richard, Melinda Towne and her husband Travis and their children, Delia and Julia; Siobhan Hameline and her son Eithan Sanzo; Jacob Delude, Christopher Spirito, Nicholas Spirito and his wife Sabrina  and their children, Kaiden Asigri and Amelia Spirito; Angela Bruce and her children, Jamie and Jason; and Robert Cloutier and his daughter, Aly Cloutier.

     There are no calling hours. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Louis de Gonzague Church on Monday, December 21^st . Interment and Army honors will take place at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen.  Donations may be made in Michael’s memory to: Support.WoundedWarriorProject.org.   Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com 

   Alice H. (LeBlanc) McCann, 94, a longtime resident of Merrimack, widow of Albert E. McCann, passed away Wednesday morning, December 9, 2020 at Nashua Crossings, after a period of declining health.       

   Mrs. McCann was born in Concord, Massachusetts on February 17, 1926, a daughter of the late Armand and Lena (Fournier) LeBlanc. Alice moved to Tinker Road, Merrimack as a young woman and attended schools in Merrimack. She was a graduate of Nashua High School Class of 1944.

    Alice had been employed as a cashier and bookkeeper at the former Gordon’s Market on Bridge Street in Nashua and then was the office manager of Nashua School Department for many years.

     In her leisure time, she enjoyed traveling, trips to Foxwoods, camping at Mayo’s in Meredith for over 30 years, going to Old Orchard Beach, Maine and snowmobiling in her younger years.

     Alice and Albert were married on September 2, 1946 and shared over 71 years together until his passing on March 3, 2017.

     Members of her family include her three sons and daughters-in-law,  Arthur and Susan McCann of Hudson; Edward and Sandra McCann and Michael and Pam McCann all of Merrimack; three grandchildren, Arthur “JJ” McCann II, Amanda McCann, Shannon (McCann) Gagnon and her husband Matthew; two great-grandchildren, Kaelyn Gagnon and Kayson Gagnon; three brothers, Armand LeBlanc, Robert LeBlanc and Raymond LeBlanc and his wife Suzanne; also many nieces, nephews and cousins.

     There are no calling hours. A private funeral service will be held in the Farwell Funeral Home on Saturday, December 12^th. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Hudson. Donations may be made in her memory to: Compassionate Care Hospice, 18 Orchard View Drive, Unit 4, Londonderry, NH 03053. The FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, is assisting to the family with arrangements. 

    Peter John Smilikis, 82, of Nashua, passed away Tuesday afternoon, December 8, 2020 at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester. 

    Born in Nashua on January 13, 1938, he was a son of the late Alphonse and Amelia (Balukevich) Smilikis. Peter grew up in Hudson, NH and was a graduate of Alvirne High School, Class of 1956. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1960 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics. During his years at UNH, he played on and captained the Wildcats basketball team.  In 1996 he was inducted into the UNH Hall of Fame for his record-breaking play and continues to hold records for number of rebounds in a single game, rebounds in a single season and single season rebounding average.  After graduation, Peter served 4 years in the Army and resigned as a Captain to relocate and raise his family.  Peter’s computer career started in Cambridge, MA after leaving the service.  He spent many years commuting to Boston which continued throughout his career and finally took him to clients and banking institutions throughout Eastern Massachusetts.

   Family was everything to Peter, and his greatest passion beyond family was basketball. His vacations were spent taking his kids to college, road trips to the Midwest for football games and volunteering for many summers at the Chris Ford, formerly Wayne Embry, Basketball Camp at Daniel Webster College.  His love for his wife, his kids, grandkids, brothers, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and many friends was beyond measure. You could always find him holding a grandchild in his huge hands or putting them in a car to head to the Big One for an ice cream cone.  He was extremely humble and grateful for his life.  When asked, “How are you doing, Dad?” he always responded with “I can’t complain.”.  When his children were young, Peter loved coaching for Nashua Biddy League basketball.  His love for coaching continued in his later years for the Bishop Guertin Junior Varsity High School team.  While coaching, he was dedicated to instilling the importance of academic excellence while being a student athlete. 

    He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Susan Elizabeth (Lister) Smilikis  and their six children; James Smilikis and his wife Mary Pat, Peter J. Smilikis Jr., Anne Smilikis, Robert Smilikis, Katherine (Smilikis) Prout and her husband Ed, and Margaret (Smilikis) Freedman and her husband Pete; nine grandchildren, Megan and John Smilikis, Sarah, Maya and Molly Freedman, Jack and Max Prout, and Anya and Andrew Bayazitov; two brothers, William Smilikis and his wife Pat, and the late Michael Smilikis, who passed away in 2005; as well as many loved nieces, nephews and cousins.

     Due to the current pandemic, private services will be held for his family. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

Edward Myron “Skip” Annis, age 83, of Amherst, passed away December 6, 2020 after a long illness.  He was born on May 27, 1937 in Nashua, NH, to James R Annis and Madeline L. Johnson Annis.

Skip graduated from Nashua High School in 1955.  He was an accomplished drummer for the high school band. As a young adult he joined the US Marine Reserves and was very proud to have served his country. Skip married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth “Betty” Robbins on September 14, 1957.

He started his working career at age 16 as a mechanic for Blue Line Express.  He earned his Master’s Electrician’s License and worked for Nashua Corporation for many years, followed by the IBEW.

Skip was a member of the Masonic Fraternity and the New Hampshire Consistory 32^nd degree.

An avid fisherman, Skip had a particular love of fly fishing.  He developed a talent for tying his own flies, and was honored to have been featured in Fly Tyers Magazine for a fly of his own invention.  Skip and his wife, Betty, loved traveling and he especially enjoyed Alaska and Scotland.

He loved animals and in 1977 was extremely proud to have won a first prize blue ribbon in a Grooms Class at a horse show for riding his daughter’s horse, Stormy, while wearing his favorite bright red hat.  The judge noted that he was “a real groom!”. He and his beloved Foxhound, Angela, loved going for rides around town and to Doc Davis’s Ice Cream Stand.

Skip is survived by his wife of 63 years, Betty, his son James H. Annis of Amherst, his daughter Linda L. Goonan and her husband Terry, of Weare, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and two nieces.  He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Edna Anagnost.

Private services will be held on Friday, December 11, at the Farwell Funeral Home in Nashua. In lieu of flowers his family requests that donations in his honor be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association.

The FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

   Reta (Garside) Shepherd, 79, died peacefully, December 4, 2020 at home surrounded by her family, after a 10- year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

   She was born October 2, 1941 in Nashua, the daughter of the late Frederick and Madeline Garside. She grew up in Hudson and was a graduate of Alvirne High School class of 1959. In 1960, Reta married her soulmate Art who was also from Hudson. Together they ran Arthur Shepherd Heating & Air-conditioning. Prior to this she worked in the office at Benson’s Wild Animal Farm and Sanders Associates, Inc. Later in life, Reta worked in the medical records department of Hitchcock Clinic in Hudson.

    In retirement she and Art moved to Litchfield for 10 years but then returned to the family home in Hudson for the rest of her years.

    Reta is survived by her husband Art of 60 years. Their four children: Jeff Shepherd and wife Tracy of Weare, NH, Randy Shepherd and husband Keith Emerson of Tucson, AZ, Brian Shepherd and wife Tina of New Hampton, NH and daughter Jodi Schroeder and husband Scott of Strafford, NH; seven grandchildren: Leslie Bope, Jessica Shepherd, Kyle Shepherd, Abbey Shepherd, Jeffrey Shepherd, Tyler Schroeder and Samantha Schroeder; one great-grandchild: Dakota Dimeo.

Her siblings: Sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Gene Otis, sister Irene Valcourt; brother and sister-in-law Fred and Cynthia Garside; brother-in-law Walter Weibrecht; and brother and sister-in-law Alan and Linda Garside.

     She was predeceased by her parents Frederick and Madeline (Hackett) Garside; brother and sister-in-law Gene and Carol Garside; brother David Garside and brother-in-law Leon Valcourt.

     Reta loved spending time with her family. The family cherishes memories of camping, her dancing, family vacations, and playing cards together. She was an avid Bingo player and she and Art spent the winter months in Las Vegas playing Bingo.

     The family wishes to express their gratitude to: Cathy Daniels APRN and the entire team at Generations Geriatric Mental Health, Amedisys Hospice, and Dr. Sathyanarayana Ravi of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Hudson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Reta’s memory to Amedisys Foundation or Alzheimer’s Association.

     The family will hold a celebration of Reta’s life at a later date.

The FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

   William Theodore Hebel, Jr., 80, of Merrimack, NH, passed away Tuesday morning, December 1, 2020 at St. Joseph Hospital, after a period of declining health.       

   Born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on June 28, 1940, he was a son of the late William Theodore and Hilda (Hudgins) Hebel. During his youth, Bill resided in Connecticut, Jamaica and New York State. He is a graduate of Cornell University and earned a Master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.    

    A resident of Merrimack for over 50 years, Bill had been employed as a Physicist at Sanders Associates and their successor BAE Systems for 47 years.

    Bill was a longtime member of the Main Street United Methodist Church of Nashua; sang in the church choir and was an active church volunteer. In his leisure time, he enjoyed cross country bicycling, astronomy, computers, electronics and photography.

     Members of his family include two sisters, Linda Hebel widow of Ted Douglas, and Elizabeth Shaw and her husband Lee; a niece, Kerry Shaw Duffy and her husband Patrick Duffy and their child Colin; a nephew, Brian Shaw and his wife Ann Marie (Dentzer) Shaw and their children Eleanor and Zachary; and his extended family at the Main Street United Methodist Church.

     Bill will be laid to rest at Hunter Valley Cemetery in Liverpool, PA. Due to the current pandemic, a celebration of his life service will take place at a later date. Donations may be made in his memory to the Main Street United Methodist Church, 154 Main Street, Nashua, NH 03060. The FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, NH is assisting the family with local arrangements. 

NASHUA – James Arnold Hinkle; 95, died peacefully on the evening of Tuesday December 1, 2020 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, NH. He died after a long battle with angiosarcoma, a rare form of cancer.

Jim Hinkle was born in Flora, Illinois on June 27, 1925, the fifth child of six born to Jessie McKinley Hinkle and Bessie Mae (Houchin) Hinkle. Around 1930, while living in Indiana, Jessie remarried and subsequently abandoned his children to the state. At age five, Jim, with his brothers and sister, began a life in an Indianapolis orphanage.

Jim remained in the orphanage until his early teens when he and his younger brother Harold were fostered by Earl and Edith Luper, a caring couple with a 300 acre farm just outside Greenwood, Indiana. Jim took willingly to life on the farm and it was there that he developed his long affection for the land and a love for growing plants of all kinds.

Following high school graduation in 1943, Jim immediately enlisted into the U.S. Navy. Because of his typing skills, he advanced quickly as a yeoman. He would spend his entire war service in the Pacific theater, serving first on the staff of Admiral Nimitz, and then later transferring to a forward joint military intelligence unit on Guam island, where he was part of the team that planned the invasion of Okinawa and the proposed invasion of Japan.

When the war ended in 1945, Jim returned to Indiana, but remained in the Navy. About that time, Jim started a romance with a local Greenwood girl, Annie P. Akers. Wedded in 1946, Anne and Jim set out to see the world, start a family, and build a secure and happy life together over the next 61 years. The family traveled the world through his navy assignments which included east coast Naval facilities, Washington D.C. and two overseas posting to Cairo, Egypt and Paris, France.

In 1967, after retiring from the Navy, the Hinkle family now with two sons, Mark and Jim and daughter Jeannie settled in Nashua where Jim took a job at Sanders Associates Inc. He enjoyed bowling, golfing, organic gardening, watching basketball and playing cards. He served his community through active membership at Main St. United Methodist Church.

Jim or “Chief” as he was known to many, will be remembered for his abundance of kindness, big personality and his remarkable ability to find connections through conversations with anyone he met. To Chief, no one was a stranger and everyone left their time with him with a smile.

He is preceded in death by his wife Anne and his daughter Jeannie. He is survived by his two sons and their wives Jim, Marguerite, Mark and Mihaela, grandchildren, Jamie, his wife Gillian, William, his wife Jennifer, Joe, Johanna and great-grandchildren, Jackie, Darcy, William, Benjamin, Charlotte and Dallas.

There are private calling hours and an outdoor graveside service on Saturday December 5th at 11:00am at Edgewood Cemetery in Nashua, NH. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Merrimack Hospice House in Merrimack, NH.

The FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua is assisting the family with arrangements. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

   The Honorable H. Philip Howorth, 87, retired judge of the Nashua District Court, passed away at his home with his family, Monday morning, November 30, 2020, after a period of declining health.       

   A longtime resident of Nashua, Judge Howorth was born in Columbia, Maryland on July 11, 1933, the only child of the late Harmon and Denise (Johnson) Howorth.

He lived in Narrows, Virginia and Rock Hill, South Carolina during his youth, and went on to graduate from Phillips Exeter Academy. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Haverford College in Pennsylvania in 1954 and his Juris Doctor from Harvard University Law School in 1957. An Army veteran, Judge Howorth served in the reserves until his discharge in November 1962.

  He began his career in Massachusetts working for Gerry Rappaport, who developed Charles River Park.  At the start of his career in New Hampshire, he was associated with Orr & Reno in Concord; the New Hampshire Savings Bank; Hamblett & Kerrigan; Sanders and Associates; and Winer, Lynch, Pillsbury and Howorth (now Winer and Bennett) in Nashua. In 1974, he became corporation counsel for the city of Nashua, a position he would hold until 1984.  That year, Governor John Sununu appointed him to be Associate Justice at the Nashua District Court.  From 1984 until his retirement in 2003, Judge Howorth served first as associate and then as chief justice of the Nashua District Court.  He was well known for riding his bicycle every day to and from the Courthouse, even in inclement weather and dangerous traffic.

    Judge Howorth held memberships in the Nashua and New Hampshire Bar Associations, served as treasurer of the Pine Haven Boys Center in Allenstown, New Hampshire, as well as the Mary Sweeney Home in Nashua.  He was an experienced sailor and an accomplished cellist, an instrument he played throughout his adult life. Judge Howorth was also a communicant of St. Patrick Church, where he was a member of the choir for many years.

    Over the years, he and his wife traveled extensively, visiting Bermuda, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Europe on many occasions. He especially enjoyed Italy, where he explored Sicily and even made the journey to Mount Etna. 

    Judge Howorth is survived by his wife of 58 years, Anne Haug Howorth, whom he married on August 25, 1962; three children: Claire Kieley and her husband Kevin, Joanna Howorth and Paul Howorth; four grandchildren: Andrez Howorth, Sarah Howorth, Kathryn Kieley and Charlotte Kieley; also many nieces, nephews and cousins.

     Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Monday, December 7^th from 5 to 8 p.m. and Tuesday, December 8^th from 5 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 29 Spring Street, Nashua, Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Hudson. Family and friends are invited to attend and will gather at the church. Those planning to attend are asked to practice social distancing and wear facial coverings. Donations may be made in his memory to Pine Haven Boys Center, 133 River Road, Allenstown, NH 03275. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

   Estelle J. Boucher, 87, of Nashua, widow of Edmond A. Boucher, passed away peacefully Friday morning, November 27, 2020 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack, after a period of declining health.       

   Mrs. Boucher was born in Nashua on August 24, 1933, a daughter of the late Astride and Odile Celine (Rivard) Petrain. Estelle was educated in Nashua schools and had been employed with Sanders Associates, Inc. for 29 years.  

   Estelle and her husband Ed were married on May 5, 1956 and shared 64 years together until his passing on June 21^st of this year.  

    Members of her family include her son and daughter-in-law, David and Linda Boucher of Nashua; granddaughter and her husband, Samantha and Brandon Block; three great-granddaughters, Autumn, Payton and Quinn Block; a sister, Yvonne Lamy; three brothers, Ovila Petrain and his wife Diane, Richard Petrain and Gerard Petrain and his wife, Christina; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Arthur G. Belair, Linda Petrain, Carolyn Boucher, and Gerard and Rita Boucher; also many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and cousins. In addition to her husband and parents, Estelle was predeceased by five sisters and brothers-in-law, Clarice and Raymond Landry, Pauline and Robert Lefavor, Constance Michaud Sykes and Clement Michaud, Dorothy and Gilles Parent, Joseph Lamy and Simone R. Belair; and five brothers, Joseph, Roger, Donald, Albert and Sylvio Petrain; and brothers-in-law,  Conrad and Paul Boucher.

    There are no calling hours. A Graveside service will take place at St. Patrick Cemetery, 71 Derry Road, Hudson Friday morning, December 4^th at 10 o’clock. Family and friends are invited to attend and will gather at the cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made a charity of one’s choice. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com 

   Lydia (Torres) Lemay, of Nashua, NH, widow of Maurice L. Lemay, died peacefully of natural causes on Saturday, November 21, 2020.

   She was born on October 24, 1926 in Cambridge, MA, the daughter of Manuel R. and Belmira (Mello) Torres. She graduated from Nashua High School Class of 1944.

   Lydia and Maurice were avid golfers and members of the Nashua Country Club for over 50 years where she made great friendships and memories while playing golf and bridge! She thoroughly enjoyed her daily crossword puzzles and word searches.

She was very loved by her family and friends and was happily married to her husband for 63 years.

    Lydia and Maurice retired in 1976 from Merrivale, Inc., a Nashua casket company. Merrivale, Inc. was originally founded in 1948 by Lydia’s father, Manuel R. Torres, her husband Maurice and her brother Donald Torres. Lydia is predeceased by her brother Donald Torres; niece Kathy Torres and nephew Donald Torres Jr.

    Lydia is survived by her son, Bruce Lemay of FL; daughter, Sharon (Lemay) Moraros and her husband Dennis of Windham, NH; four grandchildren, Lyndsey (Moraros) Dubois and her husband Michael of Merrimack, NH, Eric Moraros and his wife Michelle of Londonderry, NH, Seth Lemay of Nashua, NH and Ryan Lemay and his wife Francine of Key Largo, FL; and four great-grandchildren, Jacob Schiltz and Samantha Philibert of Merrimack, NH, Nathan Moraros and Hannah Moraros of Londonderry, NH. She is also survived by many wonderful nieces and nephews; Judy Torres of AZ, Jack Torres of NH, Steven Torres of MA, Lydia Allen, Liz Pratte and Chris Torres of NH.

    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Nashua Soup Kitchen, PO Box 3116, Nashua, NH 03061-3116 or Autism Speaks, 1 East 33^rd Street, 4^th Floor, New York, NY 10016. Due to the current pandemic and safety concerns, there will be no services at this time. 

    The FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, is assisting the family with arrangements. www.farwellfuneralservice.com