Esther J. Gilbert

Esther J. Gilbert, 81, of Gorham, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, June 1, 2021. She was born in Jefferson, NH on July 25, 1939. She was the daughter of Gerard and Helen (Roye) Laforce. Esther grew up in Berlin and graduated from Berlin High School in 1957.



Esther worked at the Appalachian Mountain Club for 17 years before taking a part-time job with the Berlin District Court. In 1986, the Clerk’s position became available, she applied and spent the next 24 years running the Court until her retirement in 2011. Esther was very well known. She was kind and compassionate, and treated everyone with respect. She had a very unique relationship with her colleagues, and truly showed interest in them and their families. This led to her creating a special place in her office for pictures of children and families she worked with. Esther was very patriotic. She had a great love of our military and law enforcement. She was an avid reader, especially books about history. Family was everything to Esther, and she enjoyed visiting with them. She will be dearly missed.



Family includes her daughter Wendy Gilbert-Neff of Gorham, NH; her granddaughter Chelsea Neff Wenzel and husband Cody of Berlin, NH; sister Ramona Olmstead and husband Keith of Gorham, NH; her dear friends Joyce Wilson Mayberry of Columbus, GA, and Helen Kramer of Shirley, MA; brother-in-law Raymond Lavertue of Berlin, NH; brother-in-law Bud White of Gorham, NH; and many nieces and nephews who all held a special place in her heart. She was predeceased by sisters Lois Lavertue, Peggy Qualls, and Geraldine Parks.



A private graveside service will be held at Lary Cemetery in Gorham at a later date. There will be no calling hours. Arrangements are entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home, Berlin, NH. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.bryantfuneralhome.net. For those who wish, donations in Esther’s memory can be made to the Call to Duty Memorial Scholarship Fun, c/o Berlin Police Department, 135 Green Street, Berlin, NH.