Coos County Democrat Obituaries, Lancaster, New Hampshire, Wednesday, April 14, 2004 Copyright of the newspaper. Permission to include in the USGenWeb Archives was received. Joseph Bodnar Firefighter for 30 years LANCASTER -- Joseph Bodnar, 93, formerly of Grange Road, died on Monday evening April 12, 2004, at the Country Village Health Care Center in Lancaster. He was born in Bridgeport, Conn. on March 4, 1911, the son of Julius and Mary Lou Bodnar. Raised in Fairfield, Conn., he started as a volunteer for the Fairfield Fire Department and later became full time, serving 30 years with the Department. In 1985 he moved to Lancaster. He was a member of the International Association of Fire Fighters. Family members include a son, Joseph J. Bodnar and daughter-in-law Mary Lou Bodnar of Northumberland; a daughter, Patricia Troy of San Bernadino, Calif.; six grandchildren, Stacy King, Cheryll San Pablo, Anne Thompson, Jacob Bodnar, Joshua Bodnar, Noah Joseph Bodnar; and five great-grandchildren, Nicole King, Rachel King, Noah Joseph Bodnar, Michael Troy, and Johnny Troy San Pablo. His wife, Mary (Hiza) Bodnar and a daughter, Virginia Bodnar died previously. There are no visiting hours. Burial will be held at the convenience of the family in the Lawncroft Cemetery in Fairfield, Conn. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. Barbara Irene Brooks Family caregiver, gardener DALTON -- Barbara Irene Brooks, 82, of 552 Whitefield Road, died on Saturday, April 10, 2004 at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, following a brief illness. She was born in Dalton the daughter of Jerry and Stella (Crane) Brooks. Over the years, she had been employed at The Mountain View Hotel, The Gilman Paper Company, the Sweet Wood Handle Company, Littleton, and Manchester Knitted Fashions, Whitefield, where she was employed for more than 20 years. She also spent much of her lifetime as a caregiver for her mother and sister. She was an avid gardener, and loved berry picking. She is survived by a son, George Brooks, Dalton; a grandson, Scott Brooks; and a great-grandson, Dalton Brooks, Waxahachie, Tex. Her brother Paul and sister Virginia died previously. Calling hours were held at the Ross Funeral Home, Whitefield Chapel, on Tuesday, April 13. Funeral Services will take place at the funeral home today, Wednesday, April 14, at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Thomas Golden officiating. Burial will follow in the Pine Street Cemetery, Whitefield. Those who wish may make donations in her memory to the American Diabetes Association, New England Region, 249 Canal Street, Manchester, NH 03101. Those wishing to sign an electronic register may log onto www.rossfuneral.com. Blanche Danforth Had a great love of family COLEBROOK -- Blanche (Leigh) Danforth, 84, of West Stewartstown, formerly of Corliss Lane in Colebrook, died on April 9, 2004 at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital. Born on March 14, 1920 in Hereford Hill, P.Q., Canada, she was the daughter of Thomas and Annie (Howe) Leigh. Beginning at a young age, Mrs. Danforth worked as a housekeeper for local doctors and teachers, often cooking for their families. She worked at Manchester Manufacturing for several years, sewing and repairing coats and jackets. Mrs. Danforth was a past member of the North Star Grange of Stewartstown and the Mohawk Grange of East Colebrook. She enjoyed sewing, knitting, and crocheting, and will be remembered for her love of family. The family includes a daughter, Hilda Hiltz of Middleton; a brother, Robert Leigh of Colebrook; a sister, Myrtle Rowell of East Clifton, P.Q., Canada; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Her husband of 56 years, Benjamin R. "Benny" Danforth and a daughter, Faye Gadwah, died previously. Calling hours were held on Tuesday, April 13 at Jenkins Funeral Home in Colebrook. The funeral service followed at the funeral home, with the Rev. Rose Howe and the Rev. Ronald R. Owen co-officiating. An interment service will be held later in the spring at Colebrook Village Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to All Saint’s Episcopal Church, c/o The Rev. Rose Howe, 259 Ch. Des Cotes, East Hereford, P.Q., J0B 1S0 Canada; or to the Coös County Nursing Hospital Activities Fund, P.O. Box 10, West Stewartstown, NH 03597. For more information, go to www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net. Duncan Estabrooks Hard-working mechanic, carpenter GUILDHALL, Vt. -- Duncan MacIntosh Estabrooks, 50, beloved father of three, died unexpectedly on Monday, April 5, 2004 at his home in Guildhall, Vt. He was born in Berlin on October 13, 1953, the son of Lebaron and Margaret Estabrooks. Duncan lived briefly in Jefferson until the family moved to Newton, Mass., where he was raised, along with three brothers and two sisters. He eventually returned to Jefferson where he met his wife, Mary (Cargill) Estabrooks. They were married for 23 years and had three children, Ian, Matthew and Dylan. Duncan was well known around the North Country for his talented work, first as a mechanic, then as a carpenter. He took pride in working hard to serve his customers’ needs. It made him happy to know that he was making a difference in someone’s life. Aside from work, Duncan enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved the outdoors; family vacations consisted of camping trips to the coast of Maine, where Duncan would take his wife and boys deep-sea fishing. He dreamed of one day retiring on a sailboat with his wife. All will remember him as an honest, hard-working, compassionate man. A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 17 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 113 Main Street in Lancaster. Donations can be sent to the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) at NAMI, Donor Services, 2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300, Arlington, VA 22201-3042; online at http://www.nami.org; by phone at 1-800-950-6264; or by fax to 1-703-516-7223. Thelma B. Hall 40 year career as telephone operator COLEBROOK -- Thelma B. Hall, 96, died on April 4, 2004, at Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital. Miss Hall was born on Sept. 22, 1907, in Bloomfield, Vt., the daughter of William and Myra (Moulton) Hall. She grew up in Bloomfield and was graduated from Stratford High School. She worked for the Willard Nugent family before taking a job on Dec. 31, 1926, with Coös Telephone Company, later known as New England T&T, as an operator, a job she held for more than 40 years, sometimes traveling to Laconia, Rochester and Everett, Mass. She finally finished her career in Littleton. She cared for her nephew, Wilfred Laramee, at a very young age, and she also cared for other family members, such as her parents and siblings, enabling them to remain home rather than be placed in a nursing home. Her interests included gardening, fine needlework, sewing, cross-stitching, cooking and dining out. She also enjoyed dancing, and often frequented the Bluebird Pavilion in her younger years. She was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and Bloomfield Methodist Church, and also supported Trinity United Methodist Church in Colebrook. Family members include two cousins, Erva Kempton and Theo MacWilliams, both of Newport; four great-nieces and nephews; four great-great-nieces and nephews; and her housekeeper and dear friend, Margaret Young of Colebrook. Calling hours were held on Friday, April 9, at the Jenkins Funeral Home in Colebrook. A funeral service followed at the Trinity Methodist Church in Colebrook, with Rev. Priscilla Hull officiating. A spring interment service will be held at Bloomfield Cemetery. Donations in her memory may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church Organ Fund, c/o The Rev. Priscilla Hull, Bridge Street, Colebrook, NH 03576. For more information visit www.jenkinsfuneralhome.net Phyllis M. Hartshorn. Mother, grandmother LANCASTER -- Phyllis M. Hartshorn, 82, formerly of the McKee Inn, died on Wednesday evening April 7, 2004, at the Morrison Nursing Home, Whitefield. Mrs. Hartshorn was born in New Brunswick, Canada, on November 25, 1921, the daughter of Zenus and Pearl Donovan. During her youth her family moved from Canada to Maine and eventually Groveton, in the mid ‘30s. On April 16, 1944, she married Bernard "John" F. Hartshorn Sr. at which time she took up residence in Gilman, Vt. There she raised her family and worked for a short time at Gilman Paper. In the early ‘50s she moved to Lancaster and was employed for a time at Lancaster Shoe and the Lancaster Motor Inn. In 1985 she and John moved to the McKee Inn. Phyllis enjoyed her family, and her grandchildren were her life. She also enjoyed gardening. John died previously in 1997. She was a member of Christ United Methodist Church, Lancaster, the Methodist Women’s Auxiliary, and Colonel Town Senior Citizens. Family members include two sons, Bernard F. Hartshorn Jr. of Lunenburg, Vt., Timothy M. Hartshorn of Manchester; two daughters, Linda J. Owen of Durham, Me., and Cynthia L. Hayes of Scarborough, Me.; five brothers, Perley Donovan of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., Douglas Donovan of Ocala, Fla., Richard Donovan of Sun City, Ariz., Lincoln Donovan of West Palm Beach, Fla., and James Donovan of Pompano Beach, Fla.; three sisters, Frieda Beaton and Arlene Donovan both of Tucson, Ariz., and Verna Moulton of Tilton; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. There are no visiting hours. A memorial service will be held on Saturday morning, May 1, at 11 at the Christ United Methodist Church, Lancaster. The Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Bentum, Pastor, and the Rev. Curtis W. Smith will co-officiate the service. Burial in Summer Street Cemetery will be held at the convenience of the family. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made in her memory to the Methodist Women’s Auxiliary, 135 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584. Arrangements are under the direction of the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. Donald H. Haynes Veteran, volunteer, golfer COLEBROOK -- Donald H. Haynes, 76, died on April 6, 2004 at his home. He was born in Colebrook on May 9, 1927, the son of Harley and Elsie Ida (Bumford) Haynes. Mr. Haynes was graduated from Colebrook Academy, class of 1945. He enlisted in the Army soon after graduation. Upon returning home from the Army, he worked on the family farm for several years before working for Public Service of New Hampshire as a meter reader. He married Edna Oliver on March 21, 1998. Mr. Haynes gave freely of his time, volunteering as a National Rifle Association hunter safety instructor, and building various items out of wood to donate to local church sales. He enjoyed playing golf and especially liked to travel to play different courses. Mr. Haynes enjoyed woodworking and spending time at his camp on Diamond Pond. He was an avid sports fan, following sports from the local to the national level. The family includes his wife, Edna Haynes; a stepson, Michael Oliver of Wheelock, Vt.; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. His first wife, Barbara (Vancore) Haynes and a daughter, Kathy (Haynes) Smith died previously. Calling hours were held on Friday, April 9 at Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook. The funeral was held on Saturday, April 10 at Trinity United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Priscilla Hull and the Rev. Albert Bellefeuille officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be in Colebrook Village Cemetery later this spring. Memorial donations may be made to Two Rivers Ride for Cancer, c/o Rosemary Mulliken, First Colebrook Bank, 147 Main St., Colebrook, NH 03576. Barbara Gallus Mother, grandmother BERLIN -- Barbara (Covell) Gallus, 82, of 292 Prospect Street in Berlin died on Sunday morning, April 11, 2004 at the Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin. She was born in Enfield on April 13, 1921, the daughter of Timothy and Marance (Lavale) Covell, and had lived in Berlin for most of her life. Mrs. Gallus was a member of Good Shepherd Parish. She was a great mother and grandmother. The family includes her son, John Gallus and his wife Peggy of Berlin; a grandson, Timothy Gallus of Berlin; and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Her husband, John Francis Gallus died previously. Calling hours were held on Tuesday at the Bryant Funeral Home in Berlin. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 14 (today) at St. Anne Church of Good Shepherd Parish, 345 Pleasant Street in Berlin. Interment will be in the St. Kieran Cemetery. Anyone who wishes may make a donation to a charity of one’s choice in her memory. Michael E. Lambert Veteran, outdoorsman WHITEFIELD -- Michael E. Lambert, 50, of Union Street, died on Wednesday April 7, 2004, at the Veterans Administration Medical Center, White River Jct., Vt., following a short illness. He was born in Gardiner, Me., a son of Joseph and Maralyn (Goodwin) Lambert. He had resided in Whitefield for the past 13 years. Prior to that he lived in Whitehall, N.Y., and was employed as a carpenter for the Carpenter’s Local Union #229, of Glens Falls, N.Y. He served in the United States Marine Corp during the Vietnam era. He was a Life-member of the VFW, and was also a member of the American Legion. He belonged to the Head Injury Support Group, Littleton, and was a past Board member of the Traumatic Brain Injury Association. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and 4-wheeler enthusiast. Family members include his wife, Jini Lambert, Whitefield; his father, Joseph Lambert, Whitehall, N.Y.; a son, Michael Lambert, II, presently serving in the USMC in Iraq; a daughter, Carla Baldwin, Whitehall, N.Y.; two step sons, Matthew Baker, Hyannis, Mass., and Jeffery Baker, Providence, R.I.; a step-daughter, Kristin Brown, Whitefield; five grandchildren; three brothers, Richard Lambert, Whitehall, N.Y., Peter Lambert, Berlin, and Dale Lambert, Groveton; three sisters, Francine Millette, Searsport, Me., Marie Bartz, Boscawen, and Cora Sullivan, Canaan. Visiting hours were held on Saturday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., with a funeral immediately following at the Ross Funeral Home, Whitefield Chapel, with Father George Majka officiating. Military Honors were provided by the American Legion Post #41 of Whitefield. Burial followed at the Park Street Cemetery. Those wishing to sign an electronic register may log onto www.rossfuneral.com.