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Eleanor "Ellie" Kathleen Gustafson


FEBRUARY 8, 1934 - JULY 7, 2025

Eleanor (Ellie) Kathleen (Emmans) Gustafson (91) passed into glory on July 7, 2025 in Salem, New Hampshire. Her life was devoted to her savior Jesus Christ, and to serving others in His name.

She was preceded in death by parents Ralph and Lydia (Giveans) Emmans, brother Robert Emmans, and sister Marilyn (Emmans) Hunter. She is survived by sister Arlene (Emmans) Wilson and by husband James Gustafson, sons Eric Gustafson (Sue Beth) and Aaron Lee Gustafson (Heidi), and daughter Rachel Kuehne (Dale), as well as grandchildren April Gustafson, Naomi (Kuehne) Soulard, Leah Kuehne, Ryan Kuehne, Paul Gustafson, Glen Gustafson, Britta Gustafson, Hannah Gustafson, and five great-grandchildren.

Ellie was born on February 8, 1934 in Branchville, New Jersey to Ralph and Lydia (Giveans) Emmans, and was the youngest sibling of Robert, Arlene, and Marilyn Emmans. She grew up in rural Branchville, where she became an accomplished equestrian and organist while winning beauty pageants and valedictorian honors. She majored in organ performance at Wheaton College (Illinois) where she was also the equestrian instructor of future husband Jim Gustafson and competed with him for access to preferred organ practice rooms. They were married in Branchville in 1955. After Jim completed seminary in Pasadena California, they moved to Haverhill Massachusetts to lead the ministries of West Congregational Church. Ellie provided leadership for the choir and the youth group. After Jim became a college professor (in 1970), Ellie began to write essays and short stories, eventually publishing six novels (eleanorgustafson.com). A family hobby was tree farming in Chester Vermont, where they spent countless hours together improving the timber on 280 acres of woodland, making maple syrup, and cobbling together various locally-sourced wooden structures that miraculously remain standing today. In 1970 they read a few “how-to” construction books and built (with a little help from family and friends) a home on Liberty Street, where Ellie and Jim proudly lived for 55 years.

Ellie was a member of West Church (Haverhill) for over 65 years, and one of her greatest joys in life was the community she experienced there, worshiping together, serving her Lord alongside friends, and loving each other as Jesus commanded. She loved the outdoors, music, literature, writing, painting and gardening.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend her memorial service on Saturday, Aug. 9th at 11:00 in the West Church, 767 Broadway, Haverhill, MA, followed by visitation and snacks (around noon) at the church. Arrangements are by the H.L. Farmer and Sons Funeral Homes, Bradford - Haverhill, MA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to West Church Missions, 767 Broadway, Haverhill, MA 01832.

To share a memory or for more information, please visit www.farmerfuneralhomes.com.

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Nancy A. Doe

September 9, 1935 - January 10, 2025

HAVERHILL: Nancy A. (McCrackin) Doe, 89, passed away peacefully in her sleep on January 10, 2025, at home. Nancy was the loving wife of the late Ken Doe for 63 years

Born in Jenkins, KY, on September 9, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Glenn and Vivian (Hillman) McCrackin. Nancy moved to Uniontown, PA, with her family at the age of six, where she remained until going to college.

Nancy graduated from Uniontown's North Union High School before continuing her education at Barrington College in RI, where she met and later

married Ken. Nancy's duties as a mother soon followed, and she postponed her career until the kids were older, working for 25 years as a second-grade teacher in Sandown, NH. Nancy touched many lives during her tenure there, both colleagues and students, developing numerous lifelong relationships.

Nancy enjoyed all activities involving West Congregational Church, such as participating in the women's bible study and serving as church librarian. Sne was an avid reader of various genres. Nancy and Ken enjoyed traveling and their annual stays in Florida during the winter. She loved her fleet of cocker spaniels, including Mandy, her constant companion. Nancy's sister-in-law, Delores, lived in the same house. And we sincerely appreciate the care and comfort she provided.

Nancy was dedicated to her family and her Christian values. Nancy is survived by her children, Cher Spaulding and her husband David of Haverhill, Stan Doe and his wife Lisa of Haverhill; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Nancy was the sister of Harold McCrackin and his wife, Esther, and the late Glenn McCrackin and his wife, Delores.

Arrangements under the direction of Dole, Childs & Shaw Funeral Home, 140 Main St., Haverhill, will be private. A memorial service will be conducted at West Congregational Church on Saturday, January 25, at 1pm. Donations in Nancy's memory may be made to West Church Music & Arts, 767 Broadway, Haverhill, MA 01832.

Messages of condolence may be sent to www.dcsfuneralhome.com

Theodore (Ted) Steele

Theodore Philip Steele (Ted), 72, of Haverhill, husband of Elizabeth Ropes Steele, passed away peacefully on January 22, 2022, at Melrose Wakefield Hospital after a short illness.


 Ted was born in Bath, New York on August 22, 1949. He grew up in Kennebunkport, Maine where his family owned and operated a poultry farm and an insurance business. He graduated from high school in 1968 and joined the Air Force. During the Vietnam War he served in Thailand and several other locations, repairing planes, and prepping them for combat. He graduated from East Coast Aero Tech with honors and went on to a long career repairing copiers, printers, as well as refurbishing used laboratory equipment for resale. He lived in the Haverhill area all of his adult life and has attended West Congregational Church for about 20 years. He enjoyed New England travel, museums and mountains, trains and musical theater and sang in several choirs over the years. He had a deep love for the Bible and spent many hours preparing and teaching Bible studies. Ted leaves his wife Beth, daughters Rebecca Eider and Rachel Hellman, son Benjamin and sons-in-law Benjamin Hellman and Jason Eider.


A memorial service will be held at West Congregational Church, 767 Broadway, Haverhill, MA on Saturday, February 5 @ 2pm. All attendees are requested to wear masks. Private interment will take place at a later date. Arrangements by Rogers Funeral Home, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the West Congregational Church Family Kitchen, a weekly food distribution program. A check can be sent to West Congregational Church, 767 Broadway, Haverhill, MA 01832 GIVE ONLINE 
WATCH LIVE, SATURDAY, 2/5/22 | 2:00PM

Linda (Gates) Mahoney

August 17, 1947 - January 4, 2022


Linda G. (Gates) Mahoney, 74, of Haverhill, wife of Michael J. Mahoney, passed away peacefully on January 4, 2022, with her loving family by her side.

Linda was born in Haverhill on August 17, 1947, daughter of the late Lester and Addie (June) Gates. Linda worked as an office manager for Metalflake, James A. Mahoney and Sons Contractors and Robert Wilson & Company Financial Services until she retired. Linda's passion was spending time with her family and friends at the home her husband, family and friends helped build 47 years ago. As a young woman, Linda was an accomplished equestrian and mentored many young women as the Ayers Village 4-H Horse Club Leader. She enjoyed attending West Parish Church, entertaining and decorating for the holidays, scrapbooking for her grandchildren and many other arts and crafts. She is survived by her loving husband, Michael Mahoney; her two children, Patrick Mahoney and wife Dannielle of Haverhill and Michael Mahoney Jr. and fiancée, Jessica of Haverhill; three grandchildren, Patrick Mahoney, Isabella Mahoney, and Charlotte Mahoney; a step-grandchild, Antonio Stuckey; a sister, Anne Perkins; and a niece, Dawn Macallan and husband Michael. The family would like to give their sincere thanks to the healthcare professionals at the Lawrence General Hospital for their wonderful care during this very difficult time.

Due to the pandemic, a private family funeral service will be celebrated at West Parish Church. Private interment will take place in Hillside Cemetery. A celebration of Linda's life will be scheduled at a later date. Arrangements by Driscoll Funeral Home, Haverhill. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Gift Funds: Linda Mahoney St. Jude Memorial Fund-Gift Funds for St. Jude). For guestbook and direct link to Linda's St. Jude Memorial fund, please visit www.driscollcares.com.
watch live, saturday, 1/15/22 | 10:30 am

Samuel Carmen Wallace

November 12, 2000 - November 5, 2021

Samuel Carmen Wallace, born November 12, 2000, found his peace on November 5th, 2021, after a long battle with Substance Use Disorder. His family will find comfort in the fact that he is finally at rest.


Sam inspired laughter, strength, and confidence in all who met him. His sense of humor was second to none and he loved wholeheartedly. Sam would be the first person to give you the shirt off his back. He has been described by those who knew him as truly one of a kind, charismatic, and being an overall bright spirit. He lit up every room he stepped into; his energy was infectious.

Sam was also known by many for his love of tattoos, weightlifting, drinking dunks, smoking menthols, slamming energy drinks, and the phrase ‘Be a Man.’ But most importantly, he was known for his empathy and lack of judgment toward others. Sam accepted everyone for who they were. Sam was a gifted wrestler which gave him the opportunity to showcase his trademark work ethic and tenacity. He was also extremely proud to be an uncle to his two nephews who aspire to be “strong like Uncle Sam”.

Sam was predeceased by his maternal grandfather Julius Carmen Palmero whom he loved dearly. Sam will be forever missed by too many to count including Mother: Laurie Wallace, Father: David Wallace Jr., sister: Jillian Hoffman, brother: Benjamin Wallace, nephews: Ryder and Reece Hoffman, grandmother: Carol Palmero, grandmother: Elinor Sutherland, grandfather: David Wallace Sr., as well as loving aunts, uncles, and cousins.


Service Time: Saturday, November 13, 2021 | 1:00PM


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| John Nazaretian |

June 14, 1943 - February 19, 2021

John Nazaretian, 77, of Atkinson, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 19, 2021 at High Pointe Hospice House in Haverhill just after being diagnosed with leukemia a week earlier.

John was born on June 14, 1943, the son of the late John and Virginia J. (Antaramian) Nazaretian. His father died defending freedom in World War II when John was just an infant. Little “Johnny” was the darling of his loving grandfather, aunts and uncles and the apple of his mother's eye!

He was a man who combined the rare gift having both a high I.Q., able to remember incredible details and high E. Q. Joking and putting people at ease with his humor and friendly manner.
He played football for Haverhill High School where he was dubbed "Naz" by his teammates. He graduated in 1961 then attended Boston University.

After BU he joined the Haverhill Gazette as a reporter where he quickly became familiar with the city government and the internals of his beloved city. After several years at The Gazette he moved into the position of community director for the city of Haverhill and remained there until he retired.

John loved to read. He was active in his church and involved in prayer ministry. He loved trips to the beach where he would collect sea glass. He enjoyed visiting Nubble Lighthouse and loved spending time with family. He was a loving husband and father, a role which became his most cherished as the family grew and he became "Papa" to seven grandchildren. He and his beloved wife Carol passed their love for Jesus on to their children and grandchildren creating a continued legacy of love and faith.

He was predeceased by his cherished wife of 37 years, Carol J. (Stirzaker) Nazaretian who passed away on August 12, 2020. He is survived by his two daughters; Rhonda J. and her husband Matthew Pierce of Plaistow, NH and Renee J. and her husband Javier Villafane of Atkinson, NH. He was the loving Papa to Amanda Pierce, Michael Villafane, Bradley Pierce, Marcus Villafane, Mathias Villafane, Cara Pierce and Monica Villafane. His wit and wisdom, especially his mastery at Trivial Pursuit, will be missed by his many surviving cousins who will always remember their dear "Johnny".

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend his visitation on Wednesday, February 24th from 9:30-10:30 AM at West Church, 767 Broadway, Haverhill, MA. The visitation will also be streamed live at: https://www.facebook.com/westcongregationalchurch .  Funeral services to follow the visitation at West Church. Due to current guidelines, face coverings and social distancing will be required at church. Interment will be private in Linwood Cemetery. Arrangements are by the H.L. Farmer & Sons Funeral Homes, Haverhill-Bradford.

Contributions in his memory may be made to God’s Mighty Voice of Atlanta Georgia.

To share a memory or for more information, please visit www.farmerfuneralhomes.com
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Nazaretian please visit our Tribute Store.
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Linda Jo (Rose) Parsons

August 29, 1942 - November 28, 2020

Groveland - Linda Jo (Rose) Parsons, 78, wife of Darrell J. Parsons, passed away November 28, 2020 with her loving family by her side.

Born in Gloucester, she was the daughter of the late Ernest and Bertha (Russell) Rose. She was a graduate of Rockport High School and obtained her Bachelor of Education degree from Bridgewater State. Linda Jo was a teacher for many years, in early education at Gloucester West Parish in Mass., early education in Pleasanton, Calif., High School at Whittier Vocational School in Haverhill, Essex Agriculture School in Danvers and finished her extensive career at Lawrence High School.

Linda and her husband were passionate about and shared a love of gardening and farming. For many years they would travel to area farmers' markets to sell their homegrown vegetables and flowers. Beaver Brook Farm was well known in the area as Linda had a recognizable laugh and would always greet her customers with a warm smile. A longtime resident of Groveland, she was involved in many community organizations. Linda Jo was a long standing member of the Groveland Garden Club, serving as past president and flower show judge, and known for her award winning flower arranging and bow making. She was involved in a local knitting club, book club and participated in the Veasey Arts Festival. Linda enjoyed golfing, horses, the beach and was rarely without a pet by her side. A talented and creative artist, she attended art classes for senior citizens sponsored by the Pentucket Art Foundation. Linda Jo enjoyed spending time gardening, baking and creating artistic projects with her grandchildren. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and valued friend by many, she will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

In addition to her loving husband Darrell, she is survived by her children, Darrell Jaime Parsons and his wife Erinn (Cowie) Parsons; Katherine M. Giannatsis and her husband Basil J. Giannatsis; grandchildren, Daniel J. Giannatsis, Timothy D. Giannatsis, Grace I. Giannatsis, Brayden A. Parsons and Wyatt E. Parsons; as well as several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, Michael and Jesse Rose.

Family and friends are respectfully invited to attend calling hours with blessing to follow on December 12 from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at the West Congregational Church, 767 Broadway, Haverhill. Arrangements are by the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main Street, Haverhill. Donations may be made in her memory to Pentucket Art Foundation (PAF) Pentucketarts.org or Groveland Garden Club, 8 Ashcroft Circle, Groveland, MA 01834. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com.

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Jean (Lockerbie) Ware