Stringer Funeral Homes Inc. & Crematorium

09/03/2026

Shirley Brown Bladen, 84, passed away peacefully at her family’s home in Cornish, New Hampshire surrounded by loved ones on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
She was born on December 31, 1941, in Bellows Falls, VT, the daughter of Robert and Sophie (Bechok) Brown. She graduated from Charlestown High School in 1959 and Burdett Business College in 1961. She married Robert “Bob” Bladen on June 10, 1961.
The family farm in North Charlestown was an important part of Shirley’s early life. She spent time living there and made many happy memories with her cousins. She loved reminiscing about their childhood adventures and time spent together on the farm. These memories remained incredibly special to her, and she enjoyed telling them throughout her life.
Early in her career, Shirley worked at Maple Avenue School and the vocational-technical school in Claremont. She later worked at Johnson & Dix, where she enjoyed 20 years of service and made many lasting friendships. After retiring, Shirley followed her dream of opening a country store.
Shirley and Bob moved to Cornish in 1978 with their two children. She was an active and proud member of the community and generously gave her time to many local organizations. In the early 1980s, she began volunteering with the Cornish Fair Association, serving in various capacities, including seven years as treasurer. She was also an active member of Grace River Church, where she served as church auditor and contributed her time and talents for many years.
With her husband Bob they opened the Cornish General Store which became one of the greatest joys of her life. For the next 10 years she could often be found behind the counter chatting with customers and friends. Her contagious laughter could be heard from afar.
After closing the store, Shirley and Bob traveled to Africa, Costa Rica and Alaska, proving to be favorite destinations.
Shirley will be remembered for her warm and welcoming nature, generous spirit, infectious laughter, deep love of family, and devotion to her community. She brought joy to the many people whose lives she touched and will be dearly missed.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Robert “Bob” Bladen, and her children, Laura (Bladen) Hammond and Robert Bladen Jr. She is survived by her son-in-law, Greg Hammond, of Cornish; her grandchildren, Sophie Hammond, also of Cornish; Dylan Bladen and his wife, Theresa Creighton of Charlestown and Molly (Bladen) Starcher and her husband, Josh Starcher of Newport; her great-grandchildren Harper Bladen, Nora and Emmitt Starcher; numerous cousins and friends.
Calling hours will be held from 4 to 6 pm on Wednesday, September 9th at Stringer Funeral Home in Claremont. A funeral service will be held at 11 am on Thursday, September 10th at Grace River Church in Claremont with burial to follow at Edminster Cemetery in Cornish. A reception will be held at the Cornish Town Hall following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cornish Fair Association, P.O. Box 245, Cornish Flat, 03746.

09/02/2026

Dean A. Garrapy, 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on August 28, 2026 at the Jack Byrne Center in Lebanon, NH.
Dean was born in Bristol, VT June 25, 1934 to Joseph & Hattie (Badore) Garrapy. In 1948, Dean and his mother moved to Reading, VT where he attended Reading Elementary School and met the love of his life, Beverley “Bev” (Becker). He attended Springfield High School until 1953 and shortly after married Bev on July 3, 1954.
Dean worked several jobs until finding his calling at Goodyear Tire and Rubber. He worked there for 33 years until retiring in 1986 when he became the town handyman. Dean served as a volunteer firefighter, helped with road repairs, was a committee member of Reading’s Old Time Ball for 25 years, and a 50-year member of the Windsor Elks. He drove the Reading school bus and enjoyed treating the kids to ice cream on the last day of school.
Dean loved racing, camping, wildlife, raising his beef cattle, and had a love for all dogs. He enjoyed a good barn dance and sharing memories of his life with his grandchildren.
Dean was proud of the home he and Bev built in Reading where he enjoyed spending time in his garage refinishing furniture, working on antique tractors, repairing whatever needed fixing, and spending time with family and friends. When telling people about Bev and his daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren, he always said with a big smile, “look at what we started.”
Dean is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Bev (Becker) Garrapy of Reading, VT, two daughters, Anna Tewksbury (David) of Springfield, VT and Debbie Ferland (Moe) of Lake Mary, FL., five grandchildren, Paul Tewksbury (Meghan), Shanon Tewksbury (Zach), Alden Tewksbury (Krista), Deanna Ferland (Brian), and Starsha Adams (Arthur), 11 great grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.
His is preceded in death by his mother and father, Hattie and Joseph Garrapy, half-brother Joe Brittel, half-sister Marguerite Allen, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A celebration of life will be held at Dean and Bev’s home in Reading, VT on October 3, 2026 from 1pm-4pm

08/31/2026

With hearts full of gratitude and sorrow, we announce the passing of a beloved wife, mother and grandmother Dolores Koziol Wallenius. The angels came for her at Valley Regional Hospital on August 16, 2026. She was 83 years old.
Born on October 13, 1942, she was the loving daughter of Stephen and Amelia Koziol of Chicopee Massachusetts. A few years after she graduated from Chicopee High School, she was introduced to the love of her life by a mutual friend at a coffee shop. Not long thereafter he was drafted, and she waited for him dutifully to come back from his overseas service. She and Bill were married on May 7, 1966; a marriage that lasted 60 years.
They moved to Claremont in 1970 with their two sons, Michael and Eric. Their strong faith led them to become parishioners at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church; the perfect parish for them, given Dolores’s Polish Heritage. She delighted in the holidays, spending time with her brother, sister, nieces and nephews and in-laws every Christmas. One of her greatest joys was enjoying time with her three granddaughters.
Her love of children and her thirst for learning and self-improvement motivated her to go from volunteering as a Noon Aid at Maple Avenue School to being hired as the school librarian; a job she cherished for 27 years. During that time, she also served a term as the president of the local paraprofessional organization, which involved representing the organization in front of the Claremont School Board. She was also a member of the Lady Union Aide Society and performed in the Cardiac Capers Hospital fundraiser.
In retirement, Dolores resumed volunteering both at the Bluff School and as a ticket agent and usher at the Claremont Opera House. She also enjoyed preparing food for the annual Sports Night at St. Joe’s. She traveled with her husband Bill to visit Eric’s family in Texas, and they vacationed in Hawaii, Alaska, Italy and Mexico. In her down time, she enjoyed crocheting and reading Westerns. She was a great cook, who poured her heart into holiday meals, and was particularly good at Polish cuisine, including the best pierogis and gołąbkis.
Dolores was an enormously curious person, who delighted in learning new things, going to new places and meeting new people. She was gregarious and would strike up conversations with the most unlikely strangers everywhere from the grocery store to restaurants, airports and riding the T in Boston. She had an intensely positive outlook and a laugh that brought a smile to everyone around her. She was a ray of sunshine to her friends and family and will be deeply missed.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by Michael and his husband Dan Bellemore of Goffstown NH, Eric and his wife Laura (Nobel) of Palestine, Texas, and their daughters Ellen, Annika, and Katherine. She is also survived by her brother Stephen Koziol of Ludlow Massachusetts and was pre-deceased by her sister Joan Koziol Roberts of Chicopee. She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and grand-nieces and grand-nephews
Calling hours will be at Stringer Funeral Home at 146 Broad Street in Claremont from 9:30 to 10:30 on Saturday, September 19th immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Joseph’s Church at 11AM on Elm Street.
Her family asks that if lieu of sending flowers donations be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

08/24/2026

Arline Karpinski Marro, 100, of Nelmar Heights in Claremont, NH died on August 22nd, 2026, at her home surrounded by family. She was born in North Walpole, NH on June 20th, 1926, the daughter of Stanley and Eva (Johnson) Karpinski.
Arline was a graduate of Bellows Falls High School, Class of 1944. She was a graduate of the University of New Hampshire in 1948 and later the Dartmouth-Hitchcock School of Medical Technology, where she became a registered medical technologist and worked at the Mary Hitchcock Memorial Hospital in Hanover, NH.
She was a parishioner of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church where she served as the organist, director of the Junior Choir, and organizer of the annual Polish-American Heritage celebrations. Additionally, she organized community events such as the annual Sports Nights, Parish Picnics, Bazaars, the St. Joseph Church 50th Anniversary Celebration, and the Pastor 25th Anniversary Celebration. Arline was a proud member of the Catholic Daughters of America for 82 years. She served as the Local and State Regent and as the National Director of the Catholic Daughters. Arline was also the avid leader and founder of the Claremont chapter of the Junior Catholic Daughters, guiding generations of girls and young women. She loved to inspire young parishioners to participate in community outreach and creative activities.
Arline was an active and proud member of her community. She was a volunteer for the Well Baby Clinic, American Red Cross Blood Drive, and Cancer drives. She served as a volunteer at the Sullivan County Nursing Home for over 34 years. She was a member of the Ladies Union Aid Society. She was devoted to hard work and people in need.

Arline provided constant civic service to the city of Claremont. She was a member of the City Council Committee on Youth, member of the School Health Education Committee, Competency Program, Curriculum Steering Committee, and several PTA offices. Additionally, she would frequently visit classrooms to read to students, helping young learners and those with special needs. For the State, she served on the UNH President’s State Alumni Council, the board of the New Hampshire West Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the West Central NH Community Mental Health Service. Her contributions were numerous and impactful, especially for young people in her community.

Arline received numerous honors for her work including, but not limited to, the Grange Good Citizen Award, the Rotary Community Service Award, the St. Anne Award, the Great American Family Award, the Sullivan County Governor’s Volunteer Award, and the Claremont BPW “Women of Achievement” Award. Additionally, she was awarded as the 1990 Claremont Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Citizen of the Year”, being the first female recipient.
Arline’s hobbies were often tied to her civic engagement. She is fondly remembered for the geraniums, pecans, chocolates, and 20-20 tickets which she sold for fundraising events. Arline loved spending time with her family, particularly her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She is remembered as the host of family traditions and holiday events. Arline was a proud Polish-American and would participate in cultural events, preparing golumpki, chruścik (angel wings), and other cuisine for her Polish community. For her love of music and singing, she was an enthusiastic member of the Area Choir into her nineties. She also enjoyed watching sports, particularly the Boston Celtics and the New England Patriots, but especially her grandchildren’s sports.
Arline is survived by: her four sons, Nicholas C. Marro Jr. and his wife, Nancy, of Louisville, KY, Mark Marro and his wife, Wendie, of Bedford, NH, Peter Marro and his partner, Dustin Tucker, of Falmouth, ME, and Stanley Marro and his fiancé Sheila LaRoche, of Claremont; her daughter, Patty, and her husband George “Larry” Miller, of Claremont; her eleven grandchildren, Kylah Lent and her husband, Chris, Leigha Smolnik and her husband, Ryan, Hannah Marro, Nicholas “Bud” Marro and his partner, Courtney Carter, Emilee Marro, Jonathan Marro, Corey Marro, Jessica Marro and her partner, Scott Messer, Michael Miller and his wife, Gianna DeMarco, Sydney Miller and her spouse, Abby Williams, and Harrison Tucker; eight great grandchildren, Zakary, Zain, Zayden, Byron, Ryleigh, Julius, Paxton, and Geneva; her sister, Claire Barbieri; numerous nieces, nephews, in-laws, and cousins; and in addition, Bonnie Wyand, Kaleb Tarczewski, Chelsa Ayotte, and her dedicated caregiver and friend Marissa Schmidt. She is preceded in death by her husband, Nicholas C. Marro Sr., and her siblings Phyllis Martin and Stanley “Buddy” Karpinski.
Friends and family may call at the Stringer Funeral Home, 146 Broad Street in Claremont on Wednesday, August 26th from 5PM to 8PM.
A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Joseph Church, 58 Elm Street, in Claremont on Thursday at 11AM. Burial will follow in the West Claremont Burial Ground.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Lake Sunapee Region VNA and Hospice at the following address:

Lake Sunapee Region VNA & Hospice
P.O. Box 2209
New London, NH 03257
Or alternatively, online donations at lakesunapeevna.org.

08/23/2026

Sandra Lee (Papps) Lemieux, 84 of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away in her home on July 27, 2026, with her husband by her side. Sandy, as she was known to most, was born in Claremont, NH on December 25, 1941. She was the second child to Harvey “Chuck” and Wanda (Gierlatowicz) Papps. While attending Stevens High School, Sandy worked at the Claremont Community Center and as a lifeguard at the outdoor community pool. After high school Sandy worked at Perkins School for the Blind and later Grants department store. She married Romeo Paul Lemieux on November 26, 1960, raising two sons, Michael Paul and Scott Alan. Sandy and her family moved from Claremont to Cornish in 1972, where they enjoyed “living in the country” for 6 years before returning to Claremont. They enjoyed belonging to the Newport Regional Snowmobile Club and Claremont Moose Lodge. Together, Sandy and Romeo operated their own business for several years in Claremont, Rosan Amusements (“The Gameroom”) on Washington Street, where she took pride in providing great entertainment, birthday parties, and food to area residents for over ten years. Following retirement in 2006, they spent summers in York Beach, Maine and eventually moved fulltime to Punta Gorda, Florida to enjoy year-round sunshine and warmer winters.

Sandra is survived by her husband Romeo of 65 years, her son Michael and his husband Rick Scott of Falls Church, Virginia, her son Scott and his wife Patricia Robinet of Cape Neddick, Maine, her four grandchildren Sandi, Trevor, Rollan and Charese, two great grandchildren Ryleigh and Nathan, her brothers Michael, Donald and Raymond Papps and her sister Joan (Papps) Benware, as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was predeceased by her parents.

Sandra’s family will be honoring her wish and no formal memorial will be held. Please honor her life by giving those nearby a hug and visit or call those that are further away.

08/20/2026

Martin Lee Haugsrud, 71, of Claremont, NH, passed away on May 7, 2026 in Claremont. He was born in Claremont on July 23, 1954 the first born son of Norman and Nellie (Adamovich) Haugsrud. He was pre-deceased by his mother and father and brothers Jon and Alan as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Marty grew up in Claremont and was a graduate of Stevens High School. He worked many years as a sawyer. The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to two special friends whose friendship and caring over the years he greatly appreciated.
Marty was buried in the Haugsrud family plat in Union Cemetery in Claremont.

08/14/2026

Victor George Bergeron of New Port Richey, Florida, passed away peacefully on August 10, 2026, with his wife of 62 years, Linda, by his side.
Vic is survived by Linda; his daughter Jackie Bergeron and her husband Robert Mancino of Sanford, ME; his son George Bergeron of Phoenix, AZ; his brother Charles Bergeron and his wife Linda of Seattle, WA; his sister Linda Giner of Rocky Mount, VA; his sister Dorothy Demorest and her husband Everett of Lafayette, IN; and his sister-in-law Sally Buxton of New Port Richey, FL. He is also survived by his stepfamily: Linda and Tim Buzzell, Pamela Lefebvre Parkinson, Paul and Joan Lefebvre, and Susan and Michael Monetta.
He adored his four granddaughters and always looked forward to time spent with them: Amanda Coscia of Shelby, MI; Natasha Adams and her husband Vaux of Warren, MI; Eleanor Bergeron of Seattle, WA; and Emilia Bergeron of Bellingham, WA.
He was loved and will be missed by many others as well including niece Barbara Bertuccio who was always there for guidance and support over the last few years as his health declined. He leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, in-laws, peers, and the many friends he made so easily throughout his life that will miss his smile and easy nature.
He was predeceased by his father, George Bergeron; his mother, Frances (Wirrell) Bergeron; his stepmother, Jean (Varney) Lefebvre Bergeron; his stepbrother, John Lefebvre; his brother-in-law, Frank Giner and niece Laurie Bateman.
Victor was born on December 30, 1941, at Claremont General Hospital. He graduated in 1959 from St. Mary's High School, after twelve rambunctious years at the Catholic school. He met his beautiful future wife, Linda Buxton, in 1962 at the A&W Drive-In on Washington Street, and they were married on September 29, 1963.
He then spent the better part of his life serving the city of Claremont, NH, first as a career firefighter, rising to Assistant Chief and retiring after 23 years in 1995. He also served the State of Vermont for 17 years as a HazMat instructor and cadet instructor, retiring in 2007.
Victor served Claremont in numerous other ways as well, as a school board member, city council member, and Assistant Mayor. In 2005, he was honored with the Citizen of the Year Award by the Greater Claremont Chamber of Commerce.
He spent 25 years as a member of the Claremont Kiwanis Club and was honored in 2004 with the George F. Hixson Fellowship Award. He was also a devoted member of St. Mary's Parish, where he spent countless Sunday mornings serving the community at pancake breakfasts, always with a smile and a joke. His time with the church was among the most important of his life and included serving as a sacristan.
Victor was also a lifelong Celtics, Red Sox, and Patriots fan who rarely missed a Sunday afternoon game and who celebrated like so many of his generation when the Sox won in 2004.
In 2018, Vic and Linda left their many friends and family in Claremont to spend their later years in New Port Richey, FL, where he once again served his community, this time as his neighborhood's HOA President.
Vic will be remembered for his smile and for the genuine interest he took in everyone he met. He listened more than he spoke, offered support before anyone had to ask for it, and mentored many people who only realized it years later.
He will be missed most by his wife, Linda, to whom he devoted his life and whom he adored dearly.
A service and celebration of life will be scheduled for the fall of 2026 in Claremont, NH.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to AccentCare.

08/13/2026

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of David R. Davis on August 12, 2026 after a very long struggle with dementia. David was the first-born child of Ralph and Alice (Morse) Davis, born April 14, 1938 and was a lifelong resident of Charlestown.
David joined the US Navy right out of high school and served for three years where he spent most of that time on an aircraft carrier. He worked in machine shops, mostly in the Springfield VT area retiring from Lovejoy Tool Company on his 62nd birthday.
He had many hobbies, it’s hard to say which was his favorite. He loved to hunt and was especially proud of being able to have claimed a mule deer, black bear and an elk along with hundreds of white tail deer and turkeys. He loved to fish and took great joy in fishing with his brother-in-law for many years and seeing who could catch their limit first both claiming they taught the other one how to fish. He always had a large garden and for the last 50 plus years had a small apple orchard in his back yard that he tended and pressed his own cider. David was a volunteer fireman for the Town of Charlestown for 20 years, served on the Charlestown Ambulance Service as an EMT, was a Chief Hunter Safety Instructor for NH Fish and Game for 20 plus years. But above all his favorite place was Corbin Park where he ‘worked’ for years feeding the animals and finding holes in the fence that needed to be repaired. He loved to bring his granddaughter there every chance he got and teach her everything he could about the animals. He always referred to being at the park as Heaven on Earth!
David leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Josephine (Currier) Davis, his daughter Krista (Davis) St. Aubin, his granddaughter Taylor St. Aubin, his sisters Janet Cheney and Cora LaClair (Ronald), his brother Robert Davis (Sarah) as well as several nieces and nephews. He is predeceaced by his parents, his son-in-law Brett St. Aubin, his brother Nelson Davis and his brother-in-law Harley Cheney.
There will be a graveside service at Hope Hill Cemetery, North Charlestown NH on August 22, 2026 at 1:00 pm.

08/13/2026

Nancy Louise (Pelkey) Walker, age 92, passed away on August 11, 2026. She died peacefully after a long illness in her home at the Earl M. Bourdon Centre, an independent living facility in Claremont NH. She had been a resident there since the passing of her beloved husband, Theodore (Ted) Walker, in August 2013. She was born in Bellows Falls VT on September 24,1933.
She was the daughter of the late Harold Pelkey of Springfield VT and the late Annette (Royce) Clark of Fenton MI. Her stepfather was the late Ward Clark of Fenton, MI.
Nancy and Ted were married for over 60 years, living at Mountain View Farm on Borough Road in North Charlestown, NH which had been in Ted’s family for 5 generations. It was there that Nancy continued the farm’s legacy through building a full life and community that deeply cherished both the couple and the land. The farmhouse was constantly filled with laughter and chatter from friends, neighbors, and loved ones who were always welcome to stop by. She loved having company over and was generous with whatever was available whether it be a hot cup of coffee, freshly baked goods, or a seat at the table for lunch. Nancy was warmly regarded as a good neighbor to all.
She was also an active participant in the North Charlestown Mother’s Club, the North Charlestown Methodist Church and the North Charlestown Grange Hall. Having an affinity for cooking and baking, Nancy deeply enjoyed participating in church suppers by baking pies and working in the kitchen. When her husband, Ted, began logging on his own land, the farm earned a membership of the Tree Farm Association, and they became very active in the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association (NHTOA). Every year this group set up a booth at the Cornish Fair (NH) where Nancy drove her personal antique John Deere tractor in competitions and won obstacle course races with it. Another one of her many passions included raising Charolais cows, most notably a sweet calf named Robby. Well-known for her love of cows, Ted and Nancy’s farmhouse was filled with cow décor, many were gifts from friends and family.
In the late 1970’s she was a cook at the then popular restaurant Indian Shutters in North Charlestown, but for most of her working life she was a Certified Nursing Assistant at what is now known as Elmwood Nursing Home in Claremont, NH and at the County Nursing Home in Unity, NH. She had a compassionate heart and was a strong advocate for the patients in her care.
Nancy and Ted loved traveling on the backroads of New Hampshire and Vermont and annually went to the coast of Maine, which was Nancy’s favorite. They deeply treasured their 50th wedding anniversary trip to Scotland.
Nancy is survived by her two children, three grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. Her son Robert B. Walker (Martha, deceased), grandson Robert S. Walker (Erin), great grandson Martin, granddaughter Mary Walker, two great granddaughters, Michaela Walker and Emma Walker, all of Yarmouth Port, MA. Daughter Karen (George) Schumacher of Ann Arbor, MI and granddaughter Zoe Schumacher of Cambridge, MA. She is also survived by two sisters, Laverne Caputo (Jim, deceased) of Swartz Creek MI and Carolyn McAdams (Al, deceased) of Peebles, OH. Two brothers Burt Clark (Kathy) and Benton Clark, both from Howell, MI as well as multiple nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by infant son Matthew Lyman Walker and sister Joanne Ryan.
Special mention and much love to Elizabeth Kern of Worcester MA and Michael Kern of Fitchburg MA; Cathy Adams of North Charlestown and her daughters, Wendy, Kelsey, Emily and Lindsey; her nephew and his wife, Jim and Linda Callum of Unity, NH; her nephew and his wife Bill and Hope Ryan of Little Compton, RI and to good friend Susan Augustinowicz of Unity, NH.
Also special thanks to her neighbor, friend and caretaker, Joyce Hubbard.
There will be a graveside service at Hope Hill Cemetery on Saturday, August 29, 2026 at 2pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lake Sunapee Visiting Nurse and Hospice at:

LSRVNA is a registered 501c3 home health organization. Your donation is tax-deductible. Your generosity will directly help those in the community.

08/12/2026

ROCK HILL – Theodore J. “Ted” Marek, 85, passed away on June 16, 2026.

Born on June 7, 1941, in Claremont, New Hampshire, Ted lived a life defined by curiosity, service, family, and adventure. He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force for six years, attaining the rank of Airman First Class. Following his military service, Ted built a successful career in the insurance industry and retired from Peoples First Insurance in Rock Hill—not once, but twice—a testament to how much he enjoyed his work and the relationships he built throughout his career.

A lifelong learner, Ted attended numerous colleges over the years simply because he loved to learn. He was an avid reader who enjoyed collecting stamps and coins and was a devoted cat lover. Outside of his family, Ted’s greatest passion was baseball, especially the Boston Red Sox. If he wasn’t wearing his Red Sox gear, he could often be found proudly wearing his veteran’s hat.

Another of Ted’s great loves was travel. Whether by car, plane, cruise ship, or tour bus, he was always ready for the next adventure. In retirement, Ted and his beloved wife, Phyllis, enjoyed many cruises together and traveled throughout the western United States, touring national parks alongside his siblings and their spouses. These trips created cherished memories that he treasured throughout his life.

Ted also looked forward to his weekly Thursday breakfast gatherings with “the guys,” where conversation and friendship were always on the menu. A true people person, Ted never met a stranger. He had a remarkable ability to strike up a conversation with anyone and make them feel like an old friend. He will be remembered for his generous heart, his love of family, his sense of humor, his endless curiosity, and his appreciation for life’s simple joys.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Phyllis; daughters, Jennifer Drummond (husband, James), and Valerie Marek; son, Daniel Marek; brother, Peter Marek and his wife, Cheryl; sister, Elaine Coburn and her husband, Bob; grandson, Caleb Marek; and granddaughters, MacKenzie Drummond and Alexa Marek.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudolph and Bernadette Marek; and his sister, Alice Jane “Janey” Dube.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a veterans’ organization, animal rescue organization, or a charity of one’s choice in Ted’s memory, reflecting the generosity and kindness that he shared throughout his life.