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Polly Sandstrom
LAKEWOOD, Colo. - Polly Starbuck Sandstrom, formerly of Durham, N.H., died Sunday, Jan. 7, 2001, in Lakewood. She was 84.
She was born in West Lebanon, N.H., on April 25, 1916. During the 1950s and '60s she lived in Portsmouth, prior to the retirement of her husband Roy B. Starbuck.
Several years after his death in 1977, she returned to her native New England and settled at Church Hill Apartments in Durham. She attended St. George's Episcopal Church there.
On Nov. 25, 1992, she married Harold Sandstrom, who passed away in April 1997. She moved to Colorado about a year ago.
Survivors include her daughters Nancy Jesser of Lakewood, and Beverly Long of Citrus Heights, Calif.; her son, Paul Rhodenizer, of Gainesville, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her daughter Martha Herzog.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at St. George's Episcopal Church in Durham.
Michael Patrick Smothers
KITTERY, Maine - Mr. Michael Patrick Smothers, 47, husband of Claire A. (Blethen) Smothers of 16 Wilson Road, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
He was born June 12, 1953, in Allentown, Pa., the son of Walter and Mary (Shea) Smothers.
He was a communicant of St. Raphael's Church in Kittery.
He served in the U.S. Army during Vietnam, and was employed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard as a painter-sandblaster.
He was a member of the Painters Union Local 1915.
In addition to his wife, survivors include six children, Ariel Smothers of Allentown, Pa., Kimberly Gilpatrick of Kittery Point, Christopher Arsenault of Kittery, Tracy De Moura of Berwick, Shawn Arsenault of Kittery, and Heather Jones of Taunton, Mass.; four grandchildren, Katie and Joshua Gilpatrick of Kittery Point, and Andrew and Kyle De Moura of Berwick; two sisters, MaryBeth Schuster and Rosemary Hartley, both of Allentown; two brothers, Steve Smothers and Bobby Smothers, both of Allentown; and several nieces and nephews.
SMOTHERS - Mr. Michael Patrick Smothers, 47, of 16 Wilson Road, Kittery, Maine, died Jan. 20, 2001. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home-Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth. Friends invited. Visiting hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel.
Janis L. Doucette
SOUTH HAMILTON, Mass. - Janis L. Doucette, 27, daughter of Vina Cook and her husband, Richard, of South Hamilton, and Ernest Doucette and his wife, Jane, of Stratham, N.H., died Friday morning, Jan. 19, 2001, at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Born in Lynn, she was a graduate of Hamilton Wenham Regional High School, Class of 1991.
She was employed with the Salem Evening News for the past five years. She was the evening production supervisor for the newspaper. she enjoyed traveling, sports and outdoor activities. She was also an organ donor at the time of her passing.
In addition to her parents, survivors include her fiancé, Larry Jacobs of Beverly; one sister, Christine Kraner of South Bend, Ind.; her grandfather, Ernest Doucette Sr. of Newburyport; five uncles and their wives, Paul and Stella Caswell of Clinton, Russell Caswell of Amesbury, Richard and Frances Caswell of Belmont, Curtis and Elaina Caswell of Lynn, and James and Carol Caswell of Orange City, Fla.; two aunts and their husbands, Nancy and Bob Spiro of Newburyport, and Margie and Paul Rounds of Middleton; three stepsisters, Elizabeth "Betsy" Woods of Montreal, Quebec, and Laurie Karas and Amy Kearney, both of Beverly; and many cousins.
DOUCETTE - Janis L. Doucette, 27, of South Hamilton, Mass., died Jan. 19, 2001. She was the daughter of Vina Cook and her husband Richard of South Hamilton, and Ernest Doucette and his wife Jane of Stratham, N.H.; fiancee of Larry Jacobs of Beverly, Mass.; sister of Christine Kraner of South Bend, Ind.; granddaughter of Ernest Doucette Sr. of Newburyport, Mass.; niece of Paul Caswell and his wife, Stella, of Clinton, Mass., Russell Caswell of Amesbury, Mass., Richard Caswell and his wife, Frances, of Belmont, Mass., Curtis Caswell and his wife, Elaina, of Lynn, Mass., James Caswell and his wife, Carol, of Orange City, Fla., Nancy Spiro and her husband, Bob, of Newburyport, Mass., and Margie Rounds and her husband, Paul, of Middleton, Mass.; stepsister of Elizabeth "Betsy" Woods of Montreal, Quebec, Laurie Karas and Amy Kearney, both of Beverly, Mass. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours are from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial in Hamilton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Massachusetts General for Research and Stroke Prevention, c/o Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, VBK 802, Boston, MA 02114.
Charlotte P. Carmel
FARMINGTON - Mrs. Charlotte P. Carmel, 76, wife of Robert H. Carmel of North Main Street, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2001, at the Frisbie Hospital in Rochester after a period of declining health.
She was born Oct. 23, 1924, in Portsmouth, the daughter of the late Marion I. Coleman of Portsmouth. She attended Portsmouth schools.
For many years she worked at Clarostat in Dover. Prior to her retirement, she worked for several years at Forsheda Palmer Chouinard in Somersworth.
She had many interests, including crocheting, reading, putting puzzles together, and was a great crossword puzzle solver. She was also interested in history.
She was a former member of the York Militia Co., and for the past 20 years was a member of the First Newmarket Colonial Militia Co.
She loved her cat Poukie, her constant companion.
In addition to her husband of 32 years, Robert, survivors include her sister, Sue I. Champagne of Portsmouth; and many nieces and nephews.
CARMEL - Mrs. Charlotte P. Carmel, 76, of North Main Street, Farmington, died Jan. 19, 2001. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home-Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth. Friends invited. Visiting hours from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the chapel. Donations in memory of Mrs. Carmel may be made to the Rural Visiting Nurses Association, P.O. Box 667, Farmington, NH 03835.
Mary Elaine Cummings
DOVER - Mary Elaine (Mazzolini) Cummings, 76, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2001, after a lengthy illness.
Born on June 6, 1924, she was the daughter of Alfred and Katherine (Donlon) Mazzolini in Randolph, Vt. She attended the Randolph schools and then entered the University of New Hampshire, graduating with a bachelor's degree in science in 1946. She married Herbert F. Cummings, also of Randolph, in 1947 and joyfully shared his life for 51 years in the Seacoast area.
She taught biology at Westbrook Junior College in Maine, Portsmouth High School and, for the last 22 years of her career, in the Dover school system. An environmentalist, Mrs. "C," as most of her students referred to her, was one of the first teachers to introduce ecology as a high school course. In her active retirement she read extensively, traveled and took extreme interest in the unique estuarial ecosystems that surround the N.H. Seacoast area. She also served as a member of the UNH Alumni Reunion Committee and greatly supported efforts to raise funds for the university.
She leaves behind her three beloved children, their spouses and four grandchildren, who she adored: William "Fred" Cummings of Franklin, Vt., his wife, Marcy, and their children, Jason and Rebecca; Katherine (Kate) Brennick of Somersworth, her husband, Patrick, and their son, Nicholas; and Jane Angelopoulos of Portsmouth, her husband, John, and their son, Drew. She also leaves a community of friends, co-workers and students whose lives she deeply touched and have returned her love threefold these last difficult months before her death, including: the Hercules Phyllides family and the W. Scott Leighton family of Riverside Drive; her dearest friends in the Grange, including Muriel "Midge" Manson, who was at her side during the final days; her loving Chi Omega sorority roommates; and many, many others who showed the deepest affection and kindness. For this her family is eternally grateful. The family also wishes to thank the superb nursing and support staff at the Dover Rehabilitation and Living Center on Plaza Drive.
CUMMINGS - Mary Elaine (Mazzolini) Cummings, 76, of Dover, died Jan. 22, 2001. Visiting hours will be held at the Tasker Funeral Home, 621 Central Ave., Thursday, Jan. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Avon Breast Cancer Foundation Three Day Pledge, 135 S. La Salle, Dept. 7135, Chicago, Ill. 60674.
Marian F. Ham
RYE - Funeral services for Marian F. Ham, 66, 0f 60 Garland Road, were held at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home-Buckminster Chapel, in Portsmouth, on Monday, Jan. . Rev. Donald Gum, Pastor, of the Calvary Baptist Church in Portsmouth, officiated.
Burial was in the Central Cemetery, in Rye, with committal services by the Rev. Gum.
Bearers were her two sons, Mark W. Bateman and Bruce C. Bateman, her son-in-law, David R. Heim, and her brother, Ronald S. Coker.
Nathaniel V. Coleman
KITTERY - Nathaniel V. Coleman, 89, of Kennebunk, Maine, and formerly of Kittery, died Monday morning at the Huntington Commons in Kennebunk. He was born Nov. 7, 1911, in Portsmouth, N.H., the son of the late James Hoyt Coleman and Helen Francis (Varrell) Coleman. He attended local schools and moved to Kittery from Newington in 1935.
He enlisted in the Army, and served his country proudly in World War II, while serving in the South Pacific with the 103rd Infantry, 43rd division, from 1942 until 1945.
He was a Mason, being a member of the Maine Royal Arch Chapter No. 73.
For many years he was a self employed carpenter, and building contractor. He loved woodworking of all kinds, as well as a love for his family and friends. He was a devoted father and husband.
He was married to Dorothy Bennett Lidstone on Aug. 22, 1942, in Hattiesburg, Miss.
Besides his wife he is survived by his two sons, Phillip Stephen Coleman of Standish, Maine, and Robert Lidstone Coleman of Virginia Beach, Va.; his brother, James Coleman of Newington; and four grandchildren. He was predeceased by a younger brother, Philip, who died in childhood.
COLEMAN - Funeral services for Nathaniel Coleman, who died Monday, Jan. 22, 2001, will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, at the Wilson-Cooper Funeral Home, 21 Rogers Road, Kittery. Burial will take place in the spring at Orchard Grove Cemetery, Kittery. Friends may call from 1 p.m. until the time of the funeral. Members of the Masonic Naval Lodge, No. 184, of Kittery will conduct Masonic services at 1:30 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Bradford Court at Huntington Commons Assisted Living Facility, 3 Huntington Commons Drive, Kennebunk, ME 04043.
William J. Gardner
EXETER - William J. Gardner, 80, of 7 Phinney Lane, died Jan. 21, 2001, at Exeter Hospital after a brief illness.
A native of Mt. Vernon, he was born Jan. 1, 1921, the son of the late Joseph F. and Mary (St. John) Gardner. He has resided in Exeter for the past 80 years. He attended the University of New Hampshire in the agricultural program. He was a foreman with Sylvania Corp. of Exeter, retiring in 1983. He was a member of the Exeter Water and Sewer Committee, the Exeter Lions Club and The Exeter Historical Society. He was a World War II veteran serving with the Marines in Okinawa, Japan, having received the Purple Heart. He was a 50-year member in both the American Legion Post 32 and the V.F.W. Post of Exeter.
He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Anita (Cottrell) Gardner of Exeter; a brother, William A. Putnam of Deering; a step-brother, Harry Putnam of Francestown; five sisters, Susie Wardenski and Josephine Crane of Hillsboro, Doris Slingsby of Orlando, Fla., Frances Cushing of Nashua, and Roberta Adams of Antrim; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by another sister Dec. 12. of last year, Sarah C. Olson of Hillsboro.
GARDNER - William J. Gardner, 80, of 7 Phinney Lane, died Jan. 21, 2001. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2001, at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2001, at the funeral home. The Rev. John Denson of Christ Church, Exeter, will officiate. Burial will follow at The Exeter Cemetery. Flowers are acceptable or a donation in his name be made to one's favorite charity. Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., Exeter, is in charge of arrangements.
Teresa E. Dawley
RYE - Teresa E. Dawley, 81, of 141 Wallis Road, passed away Friday, Jan. 19, 2001 at Webster at Rye Nursing Home after a period of failing health.
Born in Portsmouth, Feb. 24, 1919, she was the adoptive daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Burkhardt and was a lifelong resident of Portsmouth and Rye.
She was a member of St. Theresa Church, the Rye Over 55 Club, and the Third Friday Club. She enjoyed working as a baby sitter for many families in the Seacoast.
The widow of Frank L. Dawley, she is survived by two sons, David A. Dawley and his wife, Joan, of Rye, and Richard A. Dawley and his wife, Nancy, of Dallas, Texas; four grandchildren, Christian and David Dawley of Rye and Joseph Dawley and Christa Montague of Texas. She was predeceased by an infant daughter Brenda Dawley.
DAWLEY - Teresa E. Dawley, 81, of 141 Wallis Road, Rye, died Jan. 19, 2001. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Wednesday, at St. Theresa Church in Rye Beach. Visiting hours are from 3-6 p.m., Tuesday, at the Farrell Funeral Home, 684 State St., Portsmouth. Burial in Central Cemetery in Rye. Memorials may be made to Seacoast Hospice, 10 Hampton Road, Exeter, NH 03833.
Janis L. Doucette
SOUTH HAMILTON, Mass. - Janis L. Doucette, 27, daughter of Vina Cook and her husband, Richard, of South Hamilton, and Ernest Doucette and his wife, Jane, of Stratham, N.H., died Friday morning, Jan. 19, 2001, at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Born in Lynn, she was a graduate of Hamilton Wenham Regional High School, Class of 1991.
She was employed with the Salem Evening News for the past five years. She was the evening production supervisor for the newspaper. she enjoyed traveling, sports and outdoor activities. She was also an organ donor at the time of her passing.
In addition to her parents, survivors include her fiancé, Larry Jacobs of Beverly; one sister, Christine Kraner of South Bend, Ind.; her grandfather, Ernest Doucette Sr. of Newburyport; five uncles and their wives, Paul and Stella Caswell of Clinton, Russell Caswell of Amesbury, Richard and Frances Caswell of Belmont, Curtis and Elaina Caswell of Lynn, and James and Carol Caswell of Orange City, Fla.; two aunts and their husbands, Nancy and Bob Spiro of Newburyport, and Margie and Paul Rounds of Middleton; three stepsisters, Elizabeth "Betsy" Woods of Montreal, Quebec, and Laurie Karas and Amy Kearney, both of Beverly; and many cousins.
DOUCETTE - Janis L. Doucette, 27, of South Hamilton, Mass., died Jan. 19, 2001. She was the daughter of Vina Cook and her husband Richard of South Hamilton, and Ernest Doucette and his wife Jane of Stratham, N.H.; fiancee of Larry Jacobs of Beverly, Mass.; sister of Christine Kraner of South Bend, Ind.; granddaughter of Ernest Doucette Sr. of Newburyport, Mass.; niece of Paul Caswell and his wife, Stella, of Clinton, Mass., Russell Caswell of Amesbury, Mass., Richard Caswell and his wife, Frances, of Belmont, Mass., Curtis Caswell and his wife, Elaina, of Lynn, Mass., James Caswell and his wife, Carol, of Orange City, Fla., Nancy Spiro and her husband, Bob, of Newburyport, Mass., and Margie Rounds and her husband, Paul, of Middleton, Mass.; stepsister of Elizabeth "Betsy" Woods of Montreal, Quebec, Laurie Karas and Amy Kearney, both of Beverly, Mass. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot St., Beverly. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Visiting hours efrom 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Burial in Hamilton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Massachusetts General for Research and Stroke Prevention, c/o Stroke Services, Massachusetts General Hospital, VBK 802, Boston, MA 02114.
Edna P. Plummer
DOVER - Edna P. Plummer, 90, of 5 Independence Drive, died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2001, at her home, after a lengthy bout with cancer.
Born on June 7, 1910, in Bangor, Maine, she was the daughter of the late Elmer and Rose (Morrill) Plummer. She was a licensed practical nurse for Union Hospital in Lynn, Mass., for 34 years. She was a member of the Fox Run Mall Walkers Group in Newington for 18 years. She was a seasoned traveler who has seen much of the world.
Family members include a very special friend and godmother, Arsine Malloy of Dover; five brothers, Elmer Plummer Jr., of Brewer, Maine, John and Carleton Plummer, both of Bangor, Robert Plummer of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Daniel Plummer of Vicaville, Calif.; five sisters, Florence Bernstein of San Diego, Calif., Ida Reed of Bangor, Rose Reed of Brewer, Lena Taylor of Houston, Texas, and Winnifred Ouellette of Hartford, Conn.; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
PLUMMER - Edna P. Plummer, 90, of 5 Independence Drive, Dover, died Jan. 21, 2001. A memorial service is planned for the spring in Dover, with intermet to follow in Brewer, Maine. The Cremation Society of New Hampshire is in charge of the arrangements.
William P. Sprague
EXETER - William P. Sprague of Exeter died Saturday, Jan. 20, after a brief illness. He was 93.
Born Nov. 21, 1907, in Medford, Mass. He was the son of Thomas Rathburn and Alida (Collins) Sprague. He graduated from Medford High School where he played baseball for the "Dirty Shirts." He joined Sprague Brothers, the family wholesale meat firm, after graduation. He then moved to Exeter in the 1930s to represent Sprague Brothers in New Hampshire and Maine. He served in the U.S. Army for 30 months during World War II and married Lena Marie Plourde, of Exeter, during the war. The family firm having closed during World War II, he worked at several other firms in the wholesale foods industry after the war including many years at Hicks and Hodges, in Boston, wholesale purveyors of meat.
He is survived by his wife, Alice (Taylor) Sprague of St. George, Utah; son, Thomas R. Sprague of Cambridge, Mass.; three step daughters, Gail Gallagher of Racine, Wis., Earleen Hutchinson of Islesboro, Maine and Lucille Drown of Mesquite, Nev.; one step son, Roland Rattee of Gutenberg, N.J.
SPRAGUE - William P. Sprague, 93, of Exeter, died Sunday, Jan. 20. Visiting hours from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Brewitt Funeral Home, 14 Pine St., in Exeter, Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 7 to 9 p.m. Relatives and friends invited. Funeral services at the Brewitt Funeral Home, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25. Burial will be at the Exeter Cemetery. There will be a reception at the Exeter Inn, 90 Front St. in Exeter following burial. Memorial gifts may be made in his memory to the Alzheimer's Association, N.H. Chapter, 10 Ferry St., Suite 419, Concord, NH 03301.
METTAM - Charles T. Mettam, 76, of Bucks Hill Road, Durham, died Jan. 21, 2001. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday from St. George's Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Michael Bradley, rector, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. George's Church, 1 Park Court, Durham, NH 03824; or to The Homemakers of Strafford County, 215 Rochester Hill Road, Rochester, NH 03867-1775. The Kent & Pelczar Funeral Home, 77 Exeter St., Newmarket, is assisting with the arrangements.
Ruth Alden Curtis
GORHAM, Maine - Ruth Alden Curtis, 79, 11th generation descendant of Mayflower passenger John Alden, died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2001, at the Kennebunk Nursing Center, after optimistically fighting Alzheimer's disease and colon cancer.
A Gorham, Maine native, she was valedictorian of her class at Gorham High School in 1938 and also Gorham Normal School in 1942, having skipped two grades. She taught elementary school in Sudbury and Boxford, Mass.
In 1942 she married Portland-Munjoy Hill native Staton Russell Curtis, who served in a variety of capacities, including dean of student affairs and vice president of international affairs for 25 years at Boston University. As her husband visited schools all over Europe, Mrs. Curtis served as his administrative assistant. When Dean Curtis became the first to hold this position the university had 800 foreign students. The couple's groundwork together has led to more than 8,000 foreign students at the university today. They were married for 52 years until his death in 1995.
She was successful during the 1950s and '60s at winning jingle and slogan-writing contests. A few of her prizes included a race horse, a trip to Florida, a five-appliance Hotpoint kitchen, a Howdy Doody jungle gym, roller skates, clock radios, electric can openers, a year's free supply of Burry cookies, Prince spaghetti and Wisk detergent. All product promotions today are sweepstakes because a few talented people began to dominate the contests.
She inherited the diary of fifth-generation descendent Austin Alden, who lived during the American Revolution and served in the French and Indian War, receiving as payment the land grant in Gorham, Maine, where she was born. In high school she began work on a lifetime dream of having a transcription of the diary published, completing her work after her husband's retirement, and having the volume published in 1986. Her daughters and granddaughter all walked last fall in the Kennebunk Memory Walk that nationally raised $125,000 for Alzheimer's research.
A voracious reader, she was also a stamp and coin collector, organic gardener, seamstress, enamelist, weaver, knitter, needleworker and photographer.
She is survived by two daughters, Martha Curtis of Old Orchard Beach, Maine and Sharon Curtis Phelan of Kingston, N.H.; one brother, John Alden of Gorham, Maine; one sister, Ann Alden Kilgore of South Portland, Maine; and one granddaughter, Bethea Alden Phelan, of Kingston, N.H.
CURTIS - Ruth Alden Curtis, 79, of Gorham, Maine, died Jan. 20, 2001. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday at Exeter Congregational Church, 21 Front St., Exeter, N.H. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Friday at United Baptist Church, 318 Main St., Saco, Maine. Spring burial will be held at Pine Grove Cemetery in Falmouth, Maine. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to The National Alzheimer's Foundation, Maine Chapter, 163 Lancaster St., Suite 160, Portland, ME 04101.
