Obituaries from Dover Community News, Friday, November 9, 2001 Copyright retained by the newspaper. Included in the USGenWeb Archives with permission. http://seacoastonline.com Esther Polychronis Beautician, WDH volunteer Esther Polychronis, 74, of 3 Bobcat Lane, Berwick, ME, died Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital after a period of failing health. Born October 27, 1927 in Flushing, NY, she was the daughter of James and Georgia (Hatgegeorge) Perifanou. She was a resident of Dover until the last two years when she became a resident of Berwick, ME. A beautician, she owned and operated “Esther’s Beauty Shop” on High Street in Somersworth and New Rochester Road in Dover for 25 years. She was employed at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in the pharmacy for 15 years and was a volunteer at the hospital for 15 years. She was church secretary for the Christian Believers Fellowship of Somersworth, where she was also very active in the Sunday School program and the choir. She took part in the volunteer correspondence program to Africa. Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Peter Polychronis of Berwick, ME; two sons James P. Polychronis of Patterson, CA and John A. Polychronis of Rochester; one daughter Mrs. Tim (Georgia) Chabot of Alton Bay; one sister, Mrs. Anna Karavas of Temecola, CA; nine grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Friday, November 2 at Wiggin-Purdy-McCooey-Dion Funeral Home with Elder Andrew Polychronis officiating. Burial followed in Forest Glade Cemetery, Somersworth. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to the Christian Believers Conference Endowment Fund, c/o John Polychronis, PO Box 1681, Dover, NH 03820. Stacy Jo Fitzsimmons Loving, loyal and generous Stacy Jo (Bryant) Fitzsimmons, 37, of 240 Blackwater Road, went to be with the Lord October 31, 2001after a long and courageous battle with cancer at the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and Seacoast Hospice in Dover. At the time of her death, Stacy was surrounded by loving family and friends. Stacy was born in Jonesport, ME, on January 1, 1964 the daughter of Charles and Joyce (French) Bryant. She was a 1982 graduate of Jonesport-Beals High School and graduate of the DeLor School of Cosmetology in Brewer, ME. Stacy is survived by her husband Baden; an 11-year-old son, Jesse; two daughters, 10-year-old Jayme and six-year-old Randi all of Dover; her mother Joyce (French) Bryant of Jonesport, ME; a half-brother Jeffrey Bryant of Bangor, ME; a brother Troy Bryant of Addison, ME; a sister Courtney Bryant of Bangor, ME; her maternal grandmother Yvonne (Urquhart) Alley of Jonesport, ME; her father- and mother-in-law James and Charlotte Fitzsimmons of Jonesport, ME; and her brother- and sister-in-law Ivan and Becky Libby of Beals, ME. She will be lovingly remembered by all of her uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and her many friends whose lives she shared. She was predeceased by her father Charles (Charlie Boy) Bryant. Stacy was a loving, loyal, generous soul and the door to her home and heart was always open. She now resides in her home in heaven and waits to welcome us in. Services were held on Saturday, November 10 at the Community of Christ Church, Jonesport, ME, with The Reverend George L. Woodward officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Stacy’s memory to Seacoast Hospice, 662 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820. For more information or to sign an online guest book, please go to www.taskerfuneralhome.com. Katherine Graciano Loving wife and mother Katherine (Bernat) Graciano, 87, a longtime resident of Worcester, MA, died Friday, November 2, 2001 at St. Ann Home in Dover, following a long period of failing health. Katherine was born in Palmer, MA, March 25, 1914 the daughter of the late John and Karoline (Milos) Bernat. She was one of 14 children. Following the death of her parents, Katherine went to work after the ninth grade. Despite her lack of a formal education, she was an avid reader and loved to do crossword puzzles. She worked outside the home until her marriage in 1943. Subsequent to that, her life revolved around the raising of her three children and as caregiver for her daughter Carol, who died in 1981 at the age of 30, and her husband Leo who died in 1992. Katherine was an avid card player, a great cook, loyal Red Sox fan and devoted communicant and supporter of Our Lady of Angels Church in Worcester, MA. She is survived by her sisters Vera Mesiaszek of Wilbraham, MA and Mrs. Julie Wright of Three Rivers, MA; two sons, Dr. Joseph Graciano of Newington and Leo Graciano of Concord; six granddaughters and one grandson. She was predeceased by her parents John and Karoline (Milos) Bernat, her husband Leo, daughter Carol and 11 of her siblings. A Mass of Christian Burial was held Monday, November 5 at Our Lady of Angels in Worcester, MA, with Father Bill Champlin officiating. Burial followed at the Notre Dame Cemetery in Worcester. Those who wish are invited to make memorials in Katherine’s name to the Alzheimer’s Association GNHC, 10 Ferry St. Suite 419, Concord, NH 03301. For more information or to sign an online guest book, please go to www.taskerfuneral.com. Gary Marshall Leighton Carpenter Gary Marshall Leighton, 46, of 174 Henry Law Avenue, died October 29, 2001 at his residence. Born August 18, 1955 in Dover, he was the son of Otto and Carol (Wiggin) Leighton. He was a self-employed carpenter. Survivors include his parents of Dover; his former wife Doreen (Tripp) Leighton of Rochester; two sons, Beau Leighton of Somersworth and Chance Leighton of Rochester; two daughters Bree and Lindsay Leighton of Rochester; two brothers, Clifford Leighton of Orlando, FL and Eric Leighton of Dover; one sister, Mrs. David (Kim) Tsopas of Barrington; one niece and one grandson, Ryan. He was predeceased by a son, Ryan Lee Leighton. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Make-A-Wish Foundation of NH, 66 Hanover St. Suite 101, Manchester, NH 03101-2230. Ann L. Michal Avid seamstress, gardener Ann L. Michal, 91, of 60 Middle Road, died Wednesday October 31, 2001, at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital. Born in Czechoslovakia on July 27, 1910 the daughter of Ludwig and Amelia (Trason) Smolka, she and her late husband raised their two daughters in New Hyde Park, NY and later moved to Morganville, NJ where they lived for 35 years. She came to Dover in 1997 after the death of her husband. While living in New Jersey she was active with the senior citizens groups there. Mrs. Michal was an avid seamstress and enjoyed gardening. She was the widow of Joseph Michal to whom she was married for 64 years, and is survived by two daughters and their husbands, Carol and Rick Stambaugh of North Berwick, ME and Barbara and Kevin Conroy of Farmingville, NY. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Michael Conroy, John Conroy, Laura Stambaugh, Barbara Stambaugh, Christopher Stambaugh, and a great granddaughter Megan Conroy. Funeral services were held at Tasker Funeral Home, officiated by the Reverend Tom Coover. The family requests that memorials in her name be made to Langdon Place, Activities Fund, 60 Middle Road, Dover, NH 03820. Gertrude M. Green RN Gertrude M. Green, 96, of 3 Whittier Street died Saturday, November 3, 2001 at the Langdon Place of Dover. Born in Boiestown, New Brunswick, Canada on June 13, 1905 the daughter of Herbert and Ellen (MacDonald) Hinchey, she had lived in Dover for all of her adult life. She was a graduate of the Wentworth Hospital School of Nursing, class of 1929 as a registered nurse. She worked at the Wentworth-Douglass Hospital and Frisbie Memorial Hospital as well as many private duty cases. The widow of Joseph Green who died in 1995, she is survived by a daughter and her husband Barbara A. and Manuel B. Mello of Dover; three grandchildren Joseph Callaghan of Bedford, Deborah Freeman of Hampstead, Sharon Mitchell of Bow; seven great-grandchildren; two sisters Grace Flinn of Fredericton, NB, Canada and Ellen McMillen of Bonnet Shores, RI; a bother Glenn Hinchey of Hawaii; and nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held Tuesday, November 6 at the Tasker Funeral Home with Pastor David Blakeley of the Barrington Assembly of God officiating. Burial followed in St. Mary New Cemetery. For more information or to sign an online guest book, please go to www.tasker.fh.com. Those who wish are invited to make memorials in her name to the Gideon’s Bible Society, 2900 Lebanon Rd., Nashville, TN 37214. Theodore Mantos Golfer, social club retiree Theodore “Ted” Mantos, Sr., 81, of 8 Constitution Way died Friday, November 2, 2001 at the Riverside Rest Home. Born in Dover on October 10, 1920 the son of William and Christina (Sicklas) Mantouvalos he was a graduate of Dover High School. He was a former employee of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and was the manager for the Dover Social Club until his retirement in 1985. Ted loved to golf and was a former member of the Cocheco Country Club. He is survived by a son Theodore “Ted” Mantos, Jr. and his wife Diane, of Milton, two grandchildren Ted Mantos III and Jennifer Mantos, two brothers Peter Mantos and Charles Mantos both of Dover, and nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents he was predeceased by two brothers Louis Mantos and John Mantos, a sister Alice Plance, and his former wife June Louise (Caron) Austin who died earlier this year. Funeral services were held at Tasker Funeral Home, with Reverend Constantine Newman, pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation officiating. Those who wish are invited to make memorials in his name to the Riverside Rest Home, County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820. Lloyd Roussel Veteran, Moose, Legionnaire “Sonny” Lloyd George Roussel, 68, of Franklin Street, Somersworth, died Wednesday, October 31, 2001 at the VA Hospital in Manchester after a period of failing health. “Sonny” lived in the Dover/Somersworth area and was a Somersworth resident for 20 years. He was a US Army veteran of the Korean War from 1953–1955, serving with Company 618th Medical Corps. He was a lifetime member of the DAV and the Dover Lodge of Moose. He was also a member of the Somersworth American Legion Post 69. He was employed as a general worker in local shoe shops including Continental Shoe, Miller Shoe, Weiss-Lawrence, Duchess, Rollinsford Shoe, Tiara and Dover Shoe, and retiring in 1980. Survivors include a brother, Edward J. Roussel of Somersworth; a sister, Beatrice Brown of Dover; several nieces, nephews and cousins. Graveside services were held Friday, November 9 in Pine Hill Cemetery with The Reverend Paul Gregoire, pastor, St. Charles Church officiating. Ruth Pisano Waitress Ruth Pisano, 83, of 21 Beech Road, South Berwick, ME, died Friday, November 2, 2001 at the Dover Rehabilitation & Living Center after a long and valiant battle with cancer. Born in Boston, MA on February 20, 1918 the daughter of Martin and Katherine (Leary) Peterson and had resided in Wakefield, MA prior to moving to the seacoast five years ago. Prior to her retirement she was a waitress at the Fantasia Restaurant in Cambridge, MA. She is survived by her husband Adam Pisano, a son Richard Pisano, and two grandchildren Adam and Damian Pisano, all of South Berwick, ME; a son Peter Pisano of Wilmington, MA; two sisters Anne Meehan of Amherst and Patricia Geisert of Concord, MA; a brother John “Jacky” Peterson of Medford, MA; and nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, a daughter Bonnie McKeague predeceased her. A Memorial Funeral Mass was held Thursday, November 8 at St. Michael’s Church in South Berwick, with Reverend H.J. Cameron officiating. The McIntire-McCooey Funeral Home assisted with arrangements. For more information or to sign an online guest book, go to www.mcintiremccooeyfh.com. Those who wish are invited to make memorials in her name to the charity of one’s own choice. Eleanore M. Kenney Twin State Gas retiree Eleanore M. Kenney, 85, formerly of Fisher Street, died Thursday November 1, 2001 at Langdon Place of Dover. Born in Rochester on December 30, 1915 that daughter of George and Charlotte (Sykes) Lord, she had lived in Dover for most of her lifetime. She was the former bookkeeper and secretary for the Twin State Gas & Electric Co. Her husband Michael J. Kenney, who died in 1994, and her son George B. Kenney, who died in 1999, predeceased her. Private graveside services and burial were at Pine Hill Cemetery, officiated by The Reverend Robert Cole, pastor of St. Joseph Church. Grace Edith Dexter Mother, wife, volunteer Grace Edith (Nelson) Dexter, 82, of 140 Court Street, Portsmouth, passed away on Saturday, October 27, 201 at Sunbridge Rehabilitation and Care Facility in Rochester after a brief illness. Born December 2, 1918 in Boston, she was the daughter of George O.E. and Grace L. (Faulkner) Nelson. Raised in Quincy, MA, she graduated Quincy North High School in 1936. She was a past Worth Advisor for the Wollaston Order of Rainbow for Girls. Grace married Walter A. Dexter in Wollaston, MA, in 1940. In the late 1950’s she moved to Weymouth, MA. Eventually, in 1974, Grace settled in Portsmouth. During World War II she worked for the US Navy Department at the Quincy Shipyard. Later, she worked for the Veteran’s Services Department for the City of Quincy as a clerk typist. She also worked for South Shore Heating Company and Alston Studios in Weymouth, MA, McAuliffe and Burke Co. in Dorchester, MA, and College Town, Inc. in Braintree, MA. After relocating to Portsmouth, she was employed by the Green Thumb Senior Citizen’s Program at Portsmouth City Hall. She was the loving mother of Elaine R. (Dexter) Morganella and her husband Joseph D. Morganella of Somersworth, and grandmother of Deirdre M. Morganella and Jeffrey R. Morganella of Somersworth. She is also survived by her former husband and loving friend, Walter A. Dexter of Quincy, MA, and her nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, her sister Virginia L. Nelson, and brothers Judge George F. and Robert K. Nelson. A memorial service was held Saturday, November 3 at Tasker Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are appreciated to the American Cancer Society, Gail Singer Memorial Building, 360 State Route 101, Suite 501, Bedford, NH 03110-5032.