Virginia C. McNeil

UNION, N.H. - Virginia C. McNeil, 75, of Brewster Road, died Sunday, June 6, 1999, at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester after a sudden period of illness.

Born Feb. 7, 1924, in Dover, she was a 1942 graduate of Dover High School. Raised in Dover, she also lived in Rollinsford and in Union for the past 16 years.

A homemaker, she was a member of the Union Congregational Church and Unity Fraternal Chapter No. 21 Order of the Eastern Star in Union. She was a former volunteer for the Wakefield Food Pantry and with Senior Meals.

She was also a ham radio operator.

She was the wife of the late Robert Henry McNeil, who died in 1966.

Survivors include four grandsons, Shawn N. Perry and wife, Annette, of Union, Aaron M. Perry of Camp Pendleton, Calif., William D. Perry III of Sanbornville, N.H., and Donald J. Perry of Center Ossipee, N.H.; and one great-grandson, Nathaniel Graham West of Rochester.

She was predeceased by her only daughter, Sharon Perry, in 1995.

Robert H. Brooke Sr.

YORK - Robert H. Brooke Sr., 89, of 14 Raydon Road, died Saturday, June 5, 1999, at York Hospital.

Born June 2, 1910, in Boston, he was the son of John and Eva Brooke. He moved to York in 1970, coming from Natick, Mass., where he had lived for many years.

During World War II, he was a machinist at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

He was a mechanic at many auto dealerships, including Cochituate Motors of Wayland, Mass., for 12 years until his retirement in 1970.

He was known as a handyman who could fix anything at his house or help his neighbors. He was also a member of the York Senior Center.

He was the husband of the late Edna (Hunt) Brooke, who died in 1966, and the husband of Madeline (Slipp) Brooke, who died in 1991.

Survivors include his companion of seven years, Madge Prescott of Cape Neddick; two sons, Robert H. Brooke Jr. of Framingham, Mass., and Russell T. Brooke of Ashland, Mass.; one daughter, Gail C. Cotsonas of Madison, N.J.; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Brooke, Robert Brooke III, Lynda Smith, Cheryl Brooke Dunbar, Brooke Kanal, and Brian and Courtney Cotsonas; and four great-grandchildren.

Eleanor C. Leonard

EXETER - Eleanor "Ellie" Leonard, beloved mother, 87, died Friday, June 4, 1999, at Exeter Hospital. She had recently resided at Exeter Healthcare Inc.

She was born April 6, 1912, to the late Carl A. and Maria K. (Ojala) Carlson of Boston.

She lived in New Hampshire for the past 39 years, and in Vermont and Massachusetts prior to that.

Mrs. Leonard worked at Howard Johnson in Brattleboro, Vt., for many years.

Her greatest achievement and what gave her great satisfaction were the years she volunteered at the New Hampshire State Hospital, working with patients.

She enjoyed woodcarving, painting, museums, plays and spending time with her grandchildren.

She was the widow of Norman B. Leonard, her husband of 30 years, who died in 1969. She was predeceased by one brother, Carl Carlson.

Survivors include three daughters, Norma Champagne of Loudon, Joyce Al-Darraji of Somersworth and Carol George of Exeter, with whom she resided since 1992; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

A memorial to celebrate her life will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on July 11, 1999, at 202 Back Road, Dover, at the Al-Darraji residence.

Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to Exeter Healthcare Inc., 4 Alumni Drive, Exeter, NH 03883.

Mrs. Leonard donated her body to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vt.

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