Concord Funeral Home

12/16/2025

IN OUR CARE
Dr. Joan McGowan passed away peacefully on December 1, 2025, in Concord, Massachusetts.

Born in Boston, Joan was a lifelong learner with a deep commitment to education. She graduated from Boston Girls’ Latin School and later earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Emmanuel College. She received her master’s degree from the University of Vermont and later earned her doctorate in Learning and Teaching with a focus on mathematics.

Joan devoted her professional life to higher education and academic leadership. She served as Assistant Dean at Bunker Hill Community College and later retired from Salem State University, where she was Dean of Planning and Information.

Beyond her career, Joan had many interests that brought her joy, including painting, gardening, cooking, and travel. She especially loved traveling with her late partner of more than 50 years, Leah Knowlton, to Hawaii, a place that held a special place in her heart and where they shared many happy memories with close friends.

In her later years, Joan greatly enjoyed her time at Newbury Court, where she formed many meaningful friendships and was an active and valued member of the community.

Joan is survived by her nieces, Debbie Connolly and Tricia Hayes.

A spiritual celebration of Joan’s life will be held on January 19, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. in Duval Chapel, 80 Deaconess Road, Concord, MA. Burial at Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, will be private and held at a later date.

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12/16/2025

IN OUR CARE
David Wells Lenth, 98, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025. Born on July 26, 1927 in Providence, RI, he was raised in Cranston and Foster, RI, the loving son of George and Grace Lenth. He graduated from Cranston High School in June, 1945 and enrolled in the V-12 College Training Program for the Navy at St. Lawrence University. He served in the Navy Reserve until he was honorably discharged in July, 1954.

David graduated from Rhode Island State College (now URI), in 1949 with a degree in agricultural chemistry. After college, he worked on a survey of the milk supply in the greater Providence area. The survey was instrumental in uncovering quality concerns and improved the health and safety in the dairy industry. After further education in radiological health, David pursued a career in chemistry and health and safety. He worked first for Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station in Rowe, MA, and later at Connecticut Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in East Haddam, CT.

On June 17, 1950, he married the love of his life, Mary Elizabeth Doliber (Betty). They moved from Foster to Rowe, MA, then Deep River, CT as they raised their two children, Jacquelyn (now of Lincoln, MA) and David Ray Lenth (deceased). They had 72 wonderful years together, and loved traveling in their motorhome to the ocean in the Florida Keys and coastal Maine. When Betty passed in 2022, David moved to a very supportive community at Concord Park in Concord MA.

David was a skilled woodworker and gardener, first renovating an antique farmhouse and later, in retirement, moving back to Rowe to build a post-and-beam sugarhouse-style home and barn. He was always there with a ready hand to help with any house renovation project. He loved woodcraft. Creating projects for his grandchildren was a passion without bounds: a puppet theater, treehouse, doll houses, bird houses, and bird feeders by the dozen, all crafted lovingly. He was a patient gardener. Each layering or cutting of a rhododendron, azalea, or blueberry was carefully cultivated in a meadow nursery until replanted. Many are now towering 15’ tall.

He is survived by his daughter, Jacquelyn Lenth and her husband, Andrew Falender of Lincoln, MA; a grandson, Jason Falender and his wife Minxian; great grandson Leon of Sudbury, MA; granddaughter Rebecca Falender and her husband Aditya Dave; great granddaughter Anna Dave of Portland, OR; and by his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Elaine Doliber of Wakefield, RI.

A private service and burial will be held for family and close friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in David’s memory to:
Alzheimer’s Association
P.O. Box 96011
Washington, D.C. 20090-6011
www.alz.org

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12/11/2025

IN OUR CARE
Ellen Edith (Harvey) Robinson, 87, of Wells, Maine, passed away peacefully on Thursday, December 4, 2025, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Ellen was born on November 1, 1938, in Waltham, Massachusetts, to Edith (Orrill) Harvey Rice and Earle Harvey, and grew up in Lincoln before moving to Concord, where she lived until retiring to Wells in 1998.

A Concord High School graduate, Ellen worked at Minuteman Chevrolet, East Coast Aero Tech, Appleby & Wyman Insurance Company, and later at Concord Municipal Light Plant, where she retired in 1998. Those who knew her will remember her strength in facing hardship, unfiltered opinions, fierce loyalty, and her desire to make others feel happy and welcome.

Ellen met her husband of 61 years, Bob, in high school. They worked together at Minuteman Chevrolet and East Coast Aero Tech, began dating there, became engaged while Bob was stationed in Japan, with the Navy, and were married in 1964. Ellen was a devoted mother and loving grandmother, always stocking her pantry with everyone’s favorite foods when they visited. She loved to bake, and her signature lemon pudding cookies were a family favorite.

In her free time, Ellen enjoyed playing tennis and, for many years, competed in doubles for the Thoreau Club team. After retiring to Maine, she enjoyed reading, walking on the beach, doing jigsaw puzzles, dining at local seaside restaurants, and traveling to Hawaii and California, as well as on many trips to midcoast and northern Maine and Canada.

Ellen is survived by her husband, Robert Robinson; her children, Nancy Cole and her husband, Brian, and Sharon Carroll and her husband, Paul; and her grandchildren, Ryan Bartlett, Greg Bartlett, Peter Bartlett, Olivia Cole, Erin Carroll, Camden Cole, and Natalie Carroll. She was preceded in death by her brother, Russell Harvey.

A private service and burial will be held for family and close friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Ellen’s memory to Beacon Hospice in South Portland, ME, who gave such loving care to Ellen in her final months.

Donations can be mailed to:
Amedisys Foundation, c/o Amedisys, Inc.
3854 American Way, Suite A
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
or online at https://www.amedisys.com/services/hospice-care/donations/ directing funds to the South Portland location.

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12/05/2025

Our COAT DRIVE FOR KIDS is on now through December 15. We are collecting NEW winter coats for children: infants to young teens. Please leave your donation in the box on the front porch, 74 Belknap Street. Thank you 🙏❣️for your generosity.

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/23/2025

IN OUR CARE
Edward W. Andrews, age 93, of Carlisle, formerly of Lynnfield, originally from Allston [OFA], passed away on November 12, 2025, in the comfort of his home. He was the loving husband of the late Leona Andrews for 60 wonderful years.

Edward William Andrews was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on April 11, 1932, the loving son of the late Edward W. and Edna [Payne] Andrews. He was raised in Allston and was a proud graduate of English High School. He served his country honorably in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict.

Edward had a long and successful business career spanning over six decades as the founder and president of Andrews Gunite Co., a pioneering New England swimming pool industry institution. And as an owner and partner of multiple harness horse racing stables, he enjoyed many trips to the winner’s circle with numerous champion harness horses.

As a beloved father, Edward is survived by Edward Andrews of Carlisle and daughter-in-law Yvonne Andrews of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, Jane Andrews of Littleton, Scott Andrews of Jupiter, FL and Nancy Taylor of Littleton; cherished grandfather to Tyler, Zachary, and Benjamin; joyful great grandfather to Savannah, Evan, Easton, Paige and baby on the way Nora. He was predeceased by his devoted brother Rodney Andrews, and dear son-in-law Michael Taylor.

Ed was a great friend to many.

A private service with U.S. Military Honors will be held for family members at Green Cemetery, Carlisle.

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11/17/2025

IN OUR CARE
Frederick Whiting Hays, a dedicated surgeon who served his country in Vietnam and practiced medicine for more than four decades, passed away on November 7, 2025 in Concord, MA, at the age of 91.

Born on June 19, 1934, in New York City—the son of William H. Hays, Jr. and Elizabeth St. John Whiting Hays—he grew up in Greenwich, CT, and attended St. Paul's School in Concord, NH. After graduating from Yale University, he received his medical degree from New York Medical College in 1960.

In 1958, he met Helen Davis Hibbard of Milton, MA, and they married five years later.

He completed seven years of residency training in both general and thoracic surgery at San Francisco Hospital, Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, and New York Medical College's Flower and Fifth Avenue Hospitals. As a reward for this accomplishment, he was drafted into the U.S. Army on July 28, 1967.

Dr. Hays served from 1967 to 1969, completing basic training at Fort Sam Houston before deploying to Vietnam with the 18th Surgical Hospital in Quang Tri. He served during the first Tet Offensive and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service from March to October 1968. He was discharged with the rank of Major.

Following his military service, Dr. Hays settled with his family in Concord, MA, where he pursued a distinguished career as a surgeon until his retirement in 2013. He was immensely, if privately, proud of his work in medicine.

He took great pleasure in spending time with his family, and they traveled often, including adventures in Montana, Italy, Scotland, and Alaska. Closer to home, he loved relaxing at the family’s seaside home in Little Compton, Rhode Island.

A lifelong fly fisherman, Dr. Hays made annual pilgrimages—accompanied by his children and grandchildren—to Maine’s Rapid River to catch native brook trout and landlocked salmon. These trips were less about the number of fish and more about spending time together in nature.

In his later years, he loved nothing more than watching his grandchildren grow and swim in his pool, as his own kids had done.

His beloved wife, Helen, passed away in 2010, and Dr. Hays remained in Concord until his death.

He is survived by his daughter, Daphne Davis Hays of Woburn, MA; his sons, Frederick (Suzanne) Whiting Hays, Jr. of Harvard, MA, and William (Penny) Sanders Hays of New York City, NY; and his grandchildren—Samuel, Ben, Henry, and Avery Hays.

Services to be announced.

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11/14/2025

IN OUR CARE
Jeanette A. (Arnold) Doherty, age 96, of Clearwater, FL, and formerly a 50-year resident of Concord, MA, passed away peacefully with family at her side on November 9, 2025.

Jeanette Agnes Arnold was born December 25, 1928, to the late Berry W. and Elizabeth Dewey Arnold and grew up in Reading, MA, attending RMHS class of 1946, where she played the clarinet in the school band.

Jeanette was a devoted and loving wife of the late Stephen J. Doherty III for 59 years, and together they raised their family in Concord, MA. She created many lasting friendships in Concord and enjoyed entertaining friends and family in their homes throughout the years in Silver Springs, MD, York Beach, ME, and Clearwater, FL.

Always the life of the party, Jeanette never missed an opportunity to dance on the dance floor and loved to talk to anyone and everyone she met. She kept busy in her later years, attending as many sports and band events for her grandchildren or traveling with her family, most notably to Alaska. When asked how she stays so young, she was quick to reply, "being active and laughing every day".

She is survived by her four children, Stephen E. Doherty of Maynard and his wife, Kathy; Richard A. Doherty of Reading and his wife, Connie; Linda S. Blake of Goffstown, NH, and her husband, Fred; and Marcia J. Doherty of Gardner. Her pride and joy were being Grammy (Gram) to her eight grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Jeanette was predeceased by her brothers Berry W. Arnold Jr. and Ret. LTC Robert W. Arnold and sisters Shirley Meier, Patricia Cassidy, and Dorothy Curtin. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Family and friends will gather to honor and remember Jeanette for visiting hours on Saturday, November 22, 2025, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm in the Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA. Her funeral service will immediately follow at 4:00 pm. Burial will be private in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Concord, MA.

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11/11/2025

VETERANS DAY 2025 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Honoring All Who Served
We Remember Armistice Day Nov. 11

10/30/2025

IN OUR CARE
Dr. Frank “John” Potter, age 77, passed away on Friday, October 17, 2025, at Emerson Hospital in Concord, MA. He was a long-time resident of Nashville, TN, and the devoted husband of 54 years to Kathryn “Kit” Weigl Potter. He was also the proud father of Valerie Helen Friedlander and Megan Ruth Potterbusch and grandfather of Morgan, Tristan, and Shiloh.

Born on September 6, 1948, in Troy, NY, to Frank J Potter and Margaret Jean Rowell, John never had a fixed ambition for what he “wanted to be when he grew up.” Instead, he followed the opportunities life presented through applying his creativity, curiosity, and desire to be of service.

He began his studies at Clarkson College of Technology before serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, where he specialized in radar repair - eventually teaching it, and then repairing projectors overseas in Vietnam. After returning home, he married his college sweetheart and completed studies at Orange County Community College, later earning a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, a master’s in chemistry, and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Vanderbilt University.

Though he chose chemistry over art as a profession, John’s creative spark never dimmed. From cartoons and paintings to woodworking, costume props, and even whimsical “plastic fork creatures,” he was always creating something.

John’s professional path was one of continual reinvention. Over the years, he worked variously as an environmental chemist, technical editor, video editor, teacher, computer technician, and knife sharpener. Looking back, he would say that each chapter built on the last, giving him new skills and insights to carry forward. “When one door closes, another opens,” he’d chuckle and add, “I guess that makes me a great philosopher but a terrible cabinet maker.”

In retirement, John and Kit moved to Frost Farm in Massachusetts to be near family, where he quickly became an integral part of the community, serving as board chair and continuing his “daily smiles” — a ministry of humor and encouragement he began during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Throughout his life, John lived by the guidance of the 12-Steps and Quaker practice, led by a deeply felt moral compass grounded in the philosophical teachings of Taoism.

He made friends everywhere he went and was an amazing example of the difference that can be made in small, meaningful ways by a perfectly imperfect person who is dedicated to always learning, growing, and being of service. With a generous heart, he was a friend to those in need; in need of a laugh, compassion, advice, information, a muffin, a ride, or some change. He was always more than happy to help and often became the “go-to” guy for many, approaching each project with enthusiasm and detailed care. A master of analogies, his advice typically came through a thoughtfully crafted story or comparison, and he never judged - well, maybe sometimes - but he never held onto it. He'd say, "Here's my advice, but do what you want; I know you will anyway."

John lived a life marked by resilience and service. While never financially successful, John was immensely successful in all the ways that really matter in being human. He leaves behind a legacy of wit and wisdom, and the reminder that “sometimes when things seem to be falling apart, they’re actually falling into place.”

John is survived by his wife, Kathryn “Kit” Potter, their daughters Valerie Helen Friedlander (spouse Keith Joseph Friedlander) and Megan Ruth Potterbusch (spouse Kristin Potterbusch). He is also survived by his favorite grandchildren, Morgan, Tristan, and Shiloh, sisters Susan Philips (spouse Lonnie Philips) and Mary Peeso (spouse Jerry Peeso), and his brother David Potter (spouse Karen Potter).

John is buried in the natural burial ground at Highland Cemetery in Montague, MA.

To celebrate his life, there will be an open memorial meeting in the manner of Quakers held at Framingham Friends Meeting on Monday, November 24, 2025, at 1 pm Eastern.

For those who wish to attend services remotely, please contact Valerie at vhpotter21@gmail.com for more information.

To hear more about John’s life in his own words, you can watch his Ignite Talk and listen to his interview on Valerie’s podcast:

Ignite Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w_dP0qqQ9E&t=2s

Interview: https://unlimited.buzzsprout.com/1479082/episodes/13120738-resilience-through-unexpected-career-shifts-with-f-john-potter

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10/27/2025

IN OUR CARE
John Alexander Scheffel, age 85 of Frederick, Maryland, and more recently of Concord, MA, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 19, 2025. He was the husband of Ruth (Briskey) Scheffel.

John was born in Elk Lick Township, Somerset County, Pennsylvania, on March 8, 1940, a son of the late Lee H. and Annie M. (Miller) Scheffel. John graduated from Salisbury-Elk Lick High School in Salisbury, PA, in the class of 1957.

John and Ruth married on June 8, 1963, in the Greenville Lutheran Church and settled in Frederick, Maryland, for the majority of their 62 years of marriage. John had a successful career participating in and selling to food processing companies, including Queen City Dairy, Diversey Wyandotte Corporation, and Ecolab Corporation.

John enjoyed fixing broken stuff, gathering with his family, exploring new locations, including visiting every state in the United States and a host of international destinations.

John is preceded in death by his siblings Alvin, Jonas, David, and Catharine King (Scheffel).

Along with his wife, he is survived by his son Douglas Schiffel and his wife Elizabeth Johnston Scheffel of Concord, MA, and his grandsons Samuel, John, and William. He is also survived by his sibling, Paul Scheffel, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Thanks to all the care providers who supported John and his family.

Services for John will be private.

Donations in his memory may be made to: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, 322 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10001, www.alzfdn.org

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10/22/2025

IN OUR CARE
Phyllis Pomeroy, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025 in Concord, MA at age 91.

Born in Logansport, Indiana, on March 20, 1934, Phyllis moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, at a young age. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Cincinnati, followed by a year-long dietetic internship at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, New York, after which she qualified as a Registered Dietitian, working first at Hillside Children’s Home as a food buyer and dietitian, and later at Strong Memorial Hospital, in Rochester, NY where she specialized in therapeutic diets.

It was in Rochester that Phyllis met the love of her life, Richard Pomeroy. Their paths first crossed when Richard happened to knock on a friend’s door—and met Phyllis instead. Three years later, they reconnected at a church adult group, where Richard asked if she’d like to go to the Ice Capades. They were married on September 24, 1960, and recently celebrated 65 years of marriage.

Together, Phyllis and Richard raised three children in Rochester. Phyllis was deeply involved in her community—serving as a volunteer Girl Scout leader, teaching Sunday school, and working on her church’s social action committee. She was especially devoted to helping immigrant families and political asylum seekers settle into new lives, often opening her home to teachers and exchange students. She was an avid bridge player, and enjoyed ice skating, and skiing, and worked in VT as a ski instructor for young children.

Phyllis was also active in civic life, volunteering on the Greece, NY Town Board’s planning committee that developed a new town center. After moving to Westfield, MA, she became a member of the downtown business planning board.. Her love of antiques led her to organize church antique shows, which grew into a successful business she and Richard ran together for many years.

Phyllis and Richard shared a deep love of travel, visiting twenty-six countries together as well as 46 states. They visited many Western and Eastern European countries, from Iceland to Turkey, several Central American countries, and Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Richard; children Bob (Tiffany) of Concord, MA; Carol (Pat) of Woodville, OH; and Tom (Donna) of Mahopac, NY; grandchildren Daniel Kwan (Gaby) of Vancouver, WA; Marissa Kwan of Tigard, OR; and Declan and Adalia Pomeroy of Concord, MA. She is also survived by her sister, Peggie Elsnau of Concord, NH, and many beloved nieces and nephews, including Kathryn, John, Paul, and James Elsnau; Susan Peters; Katherine Kohnhorst; Barbara Redmon; and Joanne Sigler.

She was preceded in death by her brothers John and Tom Sigler and nephew Bill Sigler.

Phyllis will be remembered for her warmth, compassion, and intellect.

Services will be private.

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