Author Archives: LaSaundra R. Simmons

Hortense L. “Teddy” Chagnon, 95, a resident of Boylston Street in Boston, MA for many years and more recently of Nashua, NH, passed away Thursday afternoon, March 3, 2016 at Southern New Hampshire Medical Center, after a period of declining health.

    Miss Chagnon was born in Fairfield, Maine on New Year’s Day in 1921, a daughter of the late Francis Xavier and Lucy (Poulin) Chagnon and was predeceased by her infant twin sister, Constance who lived three weeks. Teddy was a graduate of Madison High School Class of 1939 and served with the U.S. Navy Waves in Washington, D.C. during World War II from 1943 to 1946.

    In 1947, Teddy began her career at Air Canada in Boston as one of the first woman to work in a management position. She worked in the ticket office in Copley Square for many years and later at Logan Airport until her retirement in 1983.

     Teddy was a communicant of St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church in Boston for over 60 years; where she served on the Parish Council; taught Christian Doctrine and was a Eucharistic Minister. She attended mass daily at Saint Francis Chapel at the Prudential Plaza in Boston and volunteered for Match-up interfaith and Boston Agency Concerns.

     She was a charter member of the New World War II Memorial; the Woman’s Memorial in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Navy Memorial. Teddy also held membership the Massachusetts Veterans Wave Unit 17, 1-1 Old Iron Side.

     Hortense treated her family as if she was our Aunt and that is what we called her. Her home in Boston was a stop-over, a retreat, or a great place to stay to go see the Red Sox.  

    Fondly known to her cousins as Aunt Hortense, Teddy will be greatly missed by her cousins including Darthy B. Cady and her husband Steve of Hudson, NH, Janice B. Caggiula and her husband Dan of Nashua, NH, Carolyn Fultz, Aldea and Arthur LeBlanc, John, David, Dick, Bill and Tom LaCasse, Connie LaCasse Craven and Nancy LaCasse Gallant, and their spouses and children all residing in Maine.

    SERVICES: A period of visitation will be held at the SMART & EDWARDS FUNERAL HOME, 183 Madison Avenue, Skowhegan, Maine, Thursday morning March 10^th from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. followed by A Mass of Christian Burial at Christ The King Parish, 273 Water Street in Skowhegan, at 11 o’clock. She will be laid to rest at   Calvary Cemetery, Skowhegan, ME in the Spring. Local arrangements are in care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, NH. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

Pauline Jeanette Manley, 83, a lifelong Nashua resident, wife of William H. Manley, passed away peacefully, Tuesday afternoon, March 1, 2016 at Mount Carmel Nursing Home in Manchester.

        A daughter of the late Walter and Elizabeth (Ermalovich) Raymond, she was born in Nashua on November 28, 1932. Pauline was educated in local schools and graduated from Nashua High School Class of 1951. After her graduation, Pauline was employed with Sprague Electric Company and later worked in the dress department of Miller’s clothing store until her retirement.

        Throughout her life, Pauline enjoyed reading and music; attending many musical concerts. In her leisure time, she enjoyed trips to the beach and loved traveling with her husband throughout the United States and Europe. She also traveled on many cruises.  Two of her favorite places were Maui, Hawaii and Lake Cuomo, Italy. Pauline was very devoted to her family and loved her grandchildren to whom she was fondly known as Mimi.

        In addition to her parents, Pauline was predeceased by a sister, Shirley Raymond; and two brothers, Paul and Ronald Raymond.  Members of her family include her husband of 62 years, William H. “Bill” Manley, whom she married on February 20, 1954 at St. Louis de Gonzague Church in Nashua; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Robert Riordan of Derry, NH; a son, William W. Manley of Belmont, MA; her grandchildren, Andrew Riordan and his wife Brittany of Weare, NH and Brendan Riordan of Derry, NH; a brother, Richard Raymond and his wife Darlene of Crystal Springs, FL; a sister, Eileen Marquis of Nashua;  three sisters-in-law, Carole Raymond of Jacksonville, FL, Lorraine Lessard of Merrimack, NH and Lillian Lavoie of Nashua; also many nieces and nephews.

     Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Sunday, March 6^th from 3 to 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Immaculate Conception Church, 216 East Dunstable Road, Nashua, Monday, March 7^th at 10 a.m. Friends are invited to attend and will gather at the church.  Interment will follow in Edgewood Cemetery.  Donations may be made in her memory to the Corpus Christi Food Pantry, 43 Franklin Street, Nashua, NH 03064 corpuschristifoodpantry.org or the Alzheimer’s Association at alz.org. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

Yvonne Elizabeth Smart, 62, of Nashua, passed away Monday morning, February 29, 2016 in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her husband Scott, her children and close friends, after battling many health conditions.

     A resident of Nashua for most of her life, Yvonne was born in Berlin, NH on July 2, 1953, a daughter of the late Maurice Descoteaux, a Vietnam Veteran and Rachel Descoteaux Gilespie. She was also predeceased by a brother, Robert D. Dionne Sr. and her step-son, Dana Smart.

    Educated in local schools, Yvonne had been employed with the Nashua Housing Authority for twelve years and the Manchester Housing Authority for two years. She was very proud of her work!  Yvonne had many passions in life, if she wasn’t spending time with family and friends, she was either cooking, watching the cooking channel or doing both. Yvonne definitely enjoyed her life to the fullest! She loved to dance and when she wasn’t dancing, she was karaoking alongside her son.

     Yvonne is survived by her best-friend, caretaker and soulmate, Scott P. Smart with whom she spent an amazing 22 years with; her three children, Richard Dingee and his wife Candace of Salisbury, MA, Sabrina Champion and her husband Trevor of Vacaville, CA and Tami Rowland and her husband Michael of Gilford, NH; her step-daughter, Jillian Smart-Benoit and her husband Steve of Litchfield, NH; a brother, Petey Dionne of North Carolina; a sister, Patricia of North Carolina; also numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

      Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Patrick Church, 29 Spring Street, Nashua, Friday morning at 9:15 a.m. Interment will follow at St. Patrick Cemetery in Hudson. Friends are invited to attend and will gather at the church. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

Rita L. Provencal, 91, of Hudson, widow of Clement H. Provencal, passed away peacefully at her home early Thursday morning, February 25, 2016, surrounded by her loving family. She was given her last wishes, a precious gift from her family to die with dignity in the presents loved ones.

    Mrs. Provencal was born in Nashua on April 1, 1924, one of five children of the late Alphonse T. and Alida (Leveille) Belanger. Rita grew up in the French Hill neighborhood and attended the former St. Francis Xavier School.

    Rita and her husband “Clem” were married on June 19, 1948 and made their home on Highland Street in Hudson where they raised three children and shared 64 years together until his death on July 31, 2012.  

     She had been employed with the former Jackson Mills and later with Sprague Electric Company for twenty years. Rita then became a homemaker and caregiver to her mother. She loved spending time with her family especially her grandchildren; and also enjoyed cooking, entertaining, swimming, window shopping, making braided rugs, and macrame.

     Mrs. Provencal was a longtime communicant of St. John The Evangelist Church in Hudson.

     In addition to her husband and parents, Rita was predeceased by her brothers, Raymond Belanger and Alphonse “Sonny” Belanger; her sisters, Theresa Y. Belanger and Cecile Belanger; and her daughter-in-law, Kathryn Provencal.

     Members of her family include three children, Bruce A. Provencal of Nashua, Carl J. Provencal and his wife Debra of Hudson and Linda C. Provencal of Hudson; four grandchildren, David M. Provencal, Scott A. Provencal, Kristopher J. Bouchard and Dana E. Bouchard; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Wednesday, March 2nd from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. John XXIII Parish at St. John The Evangelist Church, 27 Library Street, Hudson, Thursday morning, March 3^rd at 10 o’clock. Interment will follow at St. Francis Xavier Cemetery in Nashua. Friends are invited to attend and will gather at the church. Donations in her memory to Home Health & Hospice Care, 7 Executive Park Drive Merrimack, N.H. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

Barbara Keegan, 83, of Nashua, NH died Monday, February 22, 2016 in the Mount Carmel Nursing facility in Manchester, NH.  Barbara was born on May 26, 1932 in Boston, MA to Henry and Elizabeth (Morrison) Landers. She was one of five children: James Landers; Virginia (Landers) Joyce; Paul Landers; and Mildred (Landers) Lee all of whom preceded her in death. She graduated from the Gate of Heaven High School in 1952 and attended Boston University. She married her high school sweet heart John (Jack) Keegan on June 20, 1959, and moved to Nashua in 1960.

Barbara was a pioneer and activist for children with special needs and disabilities and was a founding member of both the Mount Hope School in Nashua and Special Friends of St. Christopher’s Church providing hundreds of young adults born with disabilities a lifetime of educational and spiritual enrichment.  Barbara was active with the Catholic Church serving as an art teacher at St. Christopher’s school for nearly two decades, Eucharistic Minister, bereavement committee chair and volunteer for nearly any and everybody who needed support. Barbara will be remembered for her dedication to her family, her faith and for serving others in the greater Nashua community.

She is survived by a daughter Elizabeth A. Keegan of Nashua; son John F. Keegan and partner Michael McFayden of Washington D.C.; son Paul G. Keegan of Annapolis, Maryland; son Brendan P. Keegan and his wife, Dana A. Keegan of Nashua; grandchildren Veronica (Keegan) and her husband Staff Sergeant Edward Santoro, Justin Keegan, Kaylie A. Keegan, B. Patrick Keegan; and two great grandchildren Allegra Santoro and Nora Santoro.

The family would like to thank the excellent staff of Mount Carmel in Manchester for their care and compassion. Calling hours will be held on Sunday, February 28th from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, February 29th at 11:00 am at St. Christopher’s Church, 62 Manchester Street, Nashua, with burial to follow at Edgewood Cemetery in Nashua along with a celebration of her life.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Keegan Family Courage & Faith Foundation”, 39 Berkeley Street, Nashua, NH 03064. Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE. (603) 882-0591. www.farwellfuneralservice.com

Kathleen (Pomfret) Dalbec, formerly of New Bedford and West Wareham Massachusetts, passed away on February 14, 2016 at the age of 96, surrounded by family, at Bloom at Bluffton, Bluffton, SC. She was born on January 20, 1920 in Harwood, Lancashire, England to George Pomfret and Annie (Marsden) Pomfret. She was pre-deceased by her husband Roland A. Dalbec and son Dennis G. Dalbec (Rose Ann) and her sisters Dorothy Howard (Jim), Mary Blanchard (Paul) and Josephine Baer (Albert).

She is survived by daughter Sandra D’Unger (David) of Okatie, SC, son Gary Dalbec (Darry) of Gainesville, FL, and Marion Dalbec (daughter in law) of Nashua, NH.  She is also survived by eight granddaughters, Kathleen Dionne, Kimberly Horlick, Nichol Dalbec-Joyal (Larry), Danielle Toupin (Chris), Amy D’Unger (Bill Winders), Sarah D’Unger (Brandon Poulter), Leah Russell (Chris), and Lindsay Akri (Elli) and sixteen great grandchildren, Joshua Dionne, Amanda Dionne, Emily Horlick, Owen Horlick, Summer Dalbec-Joyal, Lily Dalbec-Joyal, Trinity Dalbec-Joyal, Kendall Toupin,  Kason Toupin, Samuel D’Unger, Violet Winders, Maya Poulter, Ella Russell, Brayden Russell, Riley Russell, and Benjamin Akri.

Kathleen, affectionately known as “Memere” to family and friends, came to this country at the age of nine months with her parents and her older sister, Josephine.  She resided on Tinkham Street in New Bedford for over 90 years and summered at her cottage on Blackmore Pond in West Wareham for over 60 years, a place she lovingly called “God’s Haven”.

She was a devoted homemaker, an avid reader and spent many joyful hours gardening and tending her flowers, especially her roses. Memere had a smile for everyone, but wouldn’t hesitate to make her opinions known, look you in the eye and “tell it like it is”. She had a strong relationship with her maker; when able, was an active member of St. Killian Church and always placed faith and family first and foremost. She was a powerful role model to her granddaughters setting a life-long example of the meaning of love, commitment, and sacrifice for loved ones. Memere was a big part of her great grandchildren’s lives, cheering them on at sporting events, in the audience at school functions or celebrating special occasions and holidays with them.

The family would like to thank the staff in Memory Lane at Bloom at Bluffton, SC, especially Emelda, Luz, and Cynthia, for the loving care they showed to “Ms. Kay” over the past two years.  Whether you knew her as Mom, Memere, Aunt Kay or Ms. Kay, she was greatly loved and will be deeply missed.

Her life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church, 82 High St., Wareham MA, Tuesday, April 12^th at 10 A.M. followed by interment at the Massachusetts National Cemetery in Bourne, MA.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Agape Hospice of the Low Country, 658 Bells Hwy., Walterboro, SC 29488 or any hospice service of your choosing. Additionally, random acts of kindness in memory of Memere would be appreciated. The Farwell Funeral Service, 18 Lock Street, Nashua, NH is assisting the family with arrangements. www.farwellfuneralservice.com