Gloria E. Mersereau

Rochester, NH: Gloria E. Mersereau, died peacefully surrounded be her family, on April 14, 2006 at Wentworth-Douglas Hospital in Dover after a brief illness. She was a loving, warm, caring child of God, who took each day one day at a time.

Born March 2, 1935, in Everett, MA, the daughter of Harry Soper and Ruth (Pearce) Soper of Corbonear, Newfoundland, she is now at rest with her beloved childhood sweetheart the late Elwood “Al” Mersereau. She is survived by her children Marjorie Mersereau and James Riley of Rochester, John Mersereau of Portsmouth, Glenn and Linda Mersereau of Apex, NC, her grandchildren Ryan and Kaitlin Mersereau, her brothers and sisters, the Rev. Harry and Val Jean Soper of Concord, MA, Al and Marjorie Harding of Malden, MA, Doris Downey of Fitchburg, MA, adopted sisters; Gerry, Janis and Sharon and several nieces and nephews, beloved cousins and countless friends.

She was educated in Everett public schools, a graduate of Everett High School, the Whidden School of Nursing and Granite State College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science. She had a wonderful career in the medical field of almost forty years, working as a registered nurse at the Whidden Hospital, Boston City and Frisbie Memorial Hospital, where she served in the delivery room and counseling staff of the Chemical Dependency Unit. Upon retiring from nursing, she focused on her other passion, teaching, spending two years working with her “kids” at the Paul School in Wakefield, NH as a teacher’s aide.

Church was always at the center of her life. As an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Rochester since 1968, she served as a devoted Sunday School teacher, choir member, Trustee and Lay Leader. She was also a member of James Farrington Chapter, OES and the New Hampshire Nurses Association.

Her passions were her church, her family, her friends, music, reading, nature, the beach, shopping and traveling. She will be missed by the many whose lives she touched.

Visitation will be held at the H. J. Grondin & Son Funeral Home, 177 North Main Street, Rochester, NH on Friday from 2 – 4 and 6 – 8PM. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main Street, Rochester with burial in Rochester Cemetery at a later date.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Wentworth Homecare and Hospice, 113 New Rochester Rd., Suite 4, Dover, NH 03820, as well as the music program at the First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main Street, Rochester, NH 03867. To sigh the on-line guest book, go to www.GrondinFuneralHome.com.