Eloise H. Croteau

Dummer, NH

Eloise H. Croteau, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and community leader, of NH Route 16, passed away Friday September 21, 2012 at Androscoggin Valley Hospital in Berlin, NH. She was 85.

Born on November 30, 1926 in Gorham, NH, she was the daughter of Edwin and Lottie (Millet) Howe.

Eloise grew up in Milan, NH and was a graduate of Berlin High School. She attended Business School in Portland ME.

On August 18, 1949 she married Oneil J. Croteau. They settled on the family dairy farm in Dummer and together they raised a son and two daughters.

In earlier years, she worked as a bookkeeper at Brown Company and as a factory worker at Converse Rubber Company in Berlin.

She worked in the family insurance company, Croteau Agency, Inc., of Berlin, NH for many years.

Over the years, she was active in many community organizations including: Civil Air Patrol, Androscoggin Valley Hospital Board of Directors in Berlin, as an EMT with the Milan & Dummer Ambulance, and as Tax Collector for the Town of Dummer.

Her faith was very important to her. She was a member of the Dummer Community Church and was a member of the Women's Aglow and the Women's Society at the church. She and her family also helped to build the church. She enjoyed having her family together for feasts and was known for her delicious pies.

Several brothers and sisters died before her.

She leaves her loving husband of 63 years, Oneil J. Croteau of Dummer

A son David Croteau and his wife Lucy of Milan and Two daughters: Lorraine Gallagher and her husband Dennis "Red" of Conway, NH And Colleen Tewksbury and her husband Steven of Hebron, NH

Grandchildren: Amanda and Sarah Croteau both of Twin Mountain, NH Maliaka Cote of Windham, ME Liesl Turner and her husband Stephen of Windham, ME SSGT Matthias Bleicken of Alexandria, VA Mary Beth Letourneau and her husband Michael of Belmont, NH And Ryan Tewksbury and his wife Meghan of Merrimack, NH

Great-Grandchildren: Tyler and Ella Cote both of Windham, Maine Kipp Bleicken, McGavin and Grayson Turner all of Windham, Maine Isaiah Knowlton and Liam Letourneau both of Belmont, NH Addison and Nolan Tewksbury both of Merrimack, NH

Several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 5, 2012 at 10am at Dummer Community Church in Dummer. Burial will follow at Gate Cemetery in Dummer There are no calling hours.

Memorial donations may be made to the Dummer Community Church, 11 Hill Rd., Dummer NH 03588.

Arrangements are entrusted to Fleury-Patry Funeral Home, 72 High Street, Berlin, NH.

Online guestbook at www.fleury-patry.com.