Morgan remembered as fighter for equal rights

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February 16, 2013

Morgan remembered as fighter for equal rights

Anonymous The Eagle-Tribune The Eagle Tribune Sat Feb 16, 2013, 12:12 AM EST

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. (AP) — Charlie Morgan, a chief warrant officer in the New Hampshire Army National Guard, is being remembered as a fighter for equal rights.

A memorial service was held in a Portsmouth church Thursday for the 48-year-old Morgan, who lost her battle with breast cancer Sunday. She fought to repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act barring her wife from receiving benefits to help care for their daughter.

Morgan’s widow, Karen, discussed the couple’s participation in a lawsuit seeking the same benefits for same-sex couples that the U.S. military provides for heterosexual couples.

The Portsmouth Herald reports (http://bit.ly/11Kh6pa) Mark Lahey, Morgan’s supervisor during their deployment to Kuwait, said Morgan was dealt the “cruelest” of ironies. He said she was charged with ensuring military personnel had equal opportunities, but was denied the same.

On Thursday night, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., introduced a measure to make additional benefits available to all military spouses and families, regardless of sexual orientation. It’s called the Charlie Morgan Military Spouses Equal Treatment Act.

Currently, the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs are limited in what benefits may be made available to the spouses of same-sex couples. Shaheen and co-sponsor Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said the measure would require those departments to honor any marriage that has been recognized by a state and provide a number of key benefits to the spouses of all service members.

By allowing for an individual to be considered a “spouse” if their marriage is valid in their state, the bill ensures that same-sex military families receive many of the same benefits as heterosexual couples in particular states.

According to the group Outserve-SLDN, there are more than 100 benefits granted to service members, veterans and their families contingent on marital status. The group says the Charlie Morgan Act would extend some of these benefits, including access to the military health care program Tricare; funding to allow a service member’s spouse to accompany them when he or she is assigned to a new duty station; and surviving compensation for the spouse of a deceased service member.

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Obituaries

Anna Marie C. Cain, 99

Lawrence — Anna Marie C. (O’Carroll) Cain, 99, a longtime resident of Lawrence, Mass., died Sunday, June 16, at the Mary Immaculate Health Care Center in Lawrence, Mass.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
Benjamin A. Peabody, 83

Georgetown — Benjamin A. Peabody, 83, of Georgetown, passed away June 13, at Hannah Duston Healthcare Center in Haverhill, Mass., after a long illness.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013
Blance (Krawiec) Fortuna, 95

Andover — Blanche (Krawiec) Fortuna, 95, of Andover, died peacefully on Saturday, June 15. Born, raised and educated in Lawrence, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Koluta) Krawiec.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
Deborah (Perrino) Axford, 64

Methuen — Debby passed away peacefully on Sunday at The Merrimack Valley Hospice House. She was the daughter of the late Luigi and Marie Perrino of Reading, Mass. She enjoyed working with the elderly and any activity that would involve her family, which included going out for dinner, shopping, and spending time with the grandchildren. Her surviving family members include her loving children, Lisa O'Keefe and husband, Christopher of Raymond, N.H., Jennifer Pardoen and husband, David of Methuen, Mass.; and grandchildren, Abbey and Zoe, Pardoen and Zachary and Madison Laliberte. She leaves behind brothers, Luis Perrino and wife, Linda of Peabody, Mass., and Earle Perrino of New Hampshire. Debby also leaves behind several nieces and nephews.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
Irene Golden, 86

Groveland, MA — Irene (Belanger) Golden, 86, of Groveland, formerly of Lawrence and North Andover, passed away peacefully Saturday, June 15, at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill. Born in Lawrence, she was the daughter of the late Emile and Leda (Matton) Belanger, and was one of nine children. Irene was a graduate of the former McIntosh Business School in Lawrence, and later was employed by the Textile Workers Union CIO for 10 years, prior to staying home to raise her family. Upon returning to the business world, she was employed as the administrative assistant to the president of the former Arlington Trust Company in Lawrence. She retired in 1987, after 26 years of service, and spent her later years making quilts for her family, friends and homeless shelters.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
Irene S. (Rubin) Sher, 83

North Andover — Irene S. Sher, 83, formerly of North Andover and Winthrop, Mass., passed away Monday, June 17 at Exeter Hospital, Exeter, N.H.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013
Joseph N. Herdade, 95

Portland, Maine — Joseph Nunes Herdade, 95, of Salem, N.H., died June 15.

Joseph was born in Brazil and raised in Newark, N.J., after his family emigrated from Portugal. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was an engineer with Raytheon Service Co., and upon retiring in his 70s, he enjoyed gardening, yard and barn work at the house, reading, PBS programming, classical music, art, politics, history, and sports. In recent years, he was a resident of the Osher Inn of Portland, Maine.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013
Lorraine H. (DeRosier) Andrews, 82

Derry, NH — Lorraine H. (DeRosier) Andrews, 82, of Derry, formerly of Danvers and Middleton, passed away Monday, June 17, at the home of her daughter, Marie, with her loving family at her side. She was born in Lynn and was the daughter of the late Francis and Edna (Parker) DeRosier.
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Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
Nancy H. Anderson

Exeter, NH — Nancy H. Anderson, of Exeter, died Friday, June 14, 2013, at Colonial Poplin Nursing Home in Fremont.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013
Paul V. Meli, Sr., 84

Lawrence — Paul V. Meli, Sr., 84, of Lawrence died Monday June 17, surrounded by his loving family at Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill. Paul was born in Lawrence and was the son of the late Vincenzo and Vincenzina (Monastra) Meli. Paul was educated in Lawrence and graduated from Lawrence High School, Class of 1946.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
Rose Spagnola, 85

Clearwater, Fl — Rose (Terry) Spagnola, 85, of Clearwater, Fla., passed away on May 27, 2013, Memorial Day, at Tarpon Bayou Nursing Home, Tarpon Springs, Fla. Rose was born in Lawrence. She was preceded in death by her dear husband, James. She is survived by her loving family and friends. Her immediate family includes her son, John, her daughter, Theresa Carvello, and two grandsons and two great-grandchildren.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013
Vincent O'Keefe, 93

Methuen, MA — Vincent R. O’Keefe, 93, died on June 13, at Methuen Health and Rehabilitation Center, after a short illness. Born in Lawrence, Mass., he was the son of the late John O’Keefe and Isabella (Boxendale) O’Keefe. Vinnie lived for many years on Tower Hill in Lawrence and also lived in Methuen.
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The Eagle Tribune Tue, June 18
Jun 18, 2013 1 Photo
Monday, June 17, 2013
Cosmo J. 'Sonny' Sasso, 78

Methuen — Cosmo J. “Sonny” Sasso, 78, of Methuen passed away Sunday, June 16, at the Academy Manor Nursing Home in Andover, after a long illness. He was born in Lawrence and was a graduate of Lawrence High School.
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The Eagle Tribune Mon, June 17
Jun 17, 2013 1 Photo
Louis J. 'Kuffy' Kfoury, 92

Methuen — Louis J. “Kuffy” Kfoury passed away on Saturday, June 15, surrounded by his family.
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The Eagle Tribune Mon, June 17
Jun 17, 2013 2 Photos
Mary T. Torrisi, 92

Methuen, Ma — Mary T. (Piazza) Torrisi, 92, died Thursday at the Nevins Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre.
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The Eagle Tribune Mon, June 17
Jun 17, 2013 1 Photo
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Jeanot Raymond, 55

Methuen, MA — Jeanot Raymond, 55, of Methuen, died June 11, at Methuen Health and Rehab. Born in Canada, Mr. Raymond had been an area resident most of his life. He worked as a carpenter and enjoyed spending time with family and friends. He was the son of the late Roland Raymond, and is survived by his mother, Regeanne (Deschenes) Raymond; four sisters, Francine Begin of Derry, N.H., Lise Rodrigue of Canada, Danielle Michaud of Methuen, and Pauline St. Pierre of Methuen; three brothers, Gaston Raymond of Canada, Alain Raymond of Lawrence and Carol Raymond of Derry; and several nieces and nephews.
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Jun 16, 2013 1 Photo
Lois P. Knight

Hampstead, NH — Lois P. (Chase) (Jendrick) Knight, 94, passed away peacefully early Friday morning, June 14, at Genesis Healthcare of Exeter.
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The Eagle Tribune Sun, June 16
Jun 16, 2013 1 Photo
Louise Silvestro, 88

Methuen, MA — Louise B. (Gigliotti) Silvestro, 88, died June 7, at the Methuen Health and Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Haverhill, February 10, 1925, and was the daughter of Samuel and Virginia (Volpe) Gigliotti. She was educated in Haverhill schools and was retired as a crossing guard for the Town of Methuen. She was the wife of the late Carl Silvestro. She is survived by two sons, Michael Silvestro and his wife, Sandra of Methuen. and Dana Silvestro of Methuen; grandchildren, Michael Silvestro Jr. of Haverhill and Jennifer Silvestro of Methuen.
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The Eagle Tribune Sun, June 16
Jun 16, 2013 1 Photo
Robert H. Ela, 75

N. Andover and Aloha, OR — Robert H. Ela of North Andover and Aloha, Ore., passed away peacefully on June 7, at Providence St. Vincent Hospital.
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The Eagle Tribune Sun, June 16
Jun 16, 2013
Robert M. Diltz, 91

Hampton, NH — Robert M. Diltz, 91, of Hampton, N.H., formerly of Hampton Falls, passed away June 10, 2013, at Langdon Place of Exeter.
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The Eagle Tribune Sun, June 16
Jun 16, 2013
Vincent F. Riviezzo

Dover, NH — Vincent F. Riviezzo, 74, of Dover, formerly of Salem, N.H., died Friday, June 14, surrounded by his loving family after a long battle with cancer.
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The Eagle Tribune Sun, June 16
Jun 16, 2013 1 Photo
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Antoinette Czesniuk, 96

Lawrence — Antoinette (Fusco) Czesniuk, 96, passed away Thursday June 13, 2013, at Neville Care Center in Cambridge, Mass.
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The Eagle Tribune Sat, June 15
Jun 15, 2013
Arnold A. "Arnie" Sheltra, 76

East Hampstead, NH — Arnold A. Sheltra, 76, of East Hampstead, passed away on June 4, 2013, at Parkland Hospital in Derry, N.H., from complications with Myasthenia Gravis.
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The Eagle Tribune Sat, June 15
Jun 15, 2013
Bernadine F. "Bunny" Bradley, 71

Methuen — Bernadine F. “Bunny” (Phair) Bradley, 71, of Methuen passed away peacefully Thursday at the Whittier Rehabilitation Hospital in Bradford. She was born in Lawrence and was the daughter of the late Francis and Virginia (Walton) Phair.
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The Eagle Tribune Sat, June 15
Jun 15, 2013 1 Photo
Frank M. Strykowski, 63

Haverhill, MA — Francis “Frank” Michael Strykowski, 63, died June 12, 2013, at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Mass., after a period of failing health.
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The Eagle Tribune Sat, June 15
Jun 15, 2013
Joanne M. Gibbons, 80

West Newbury, MA — Joanne M. Gibbons, 80, passed away on Friday, June 14, 2013. She was born January 22, 1933, in Lowell, Mass., to Karl D. Lay and Grace C. Lay, the youngest of five children.
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The Eagle Tribune Sat, June 15
Jun 15, 2013 1 Photo
Friday, June 14, 2013
Alan M. Schwartz, 57

Lawrence — Alan M. Schwartz, 57, of Lawrence died unexpectedly Tuesday morning, June 11.
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The Eagle Tribune Fri, June 14
Jun 14, 2013
Andrew W. "Bill" Waring, 72

Lawrence, MA — Andrew W. "Bill" Waring, 72, of Lawrence, passed away on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, at Lawrence General Hospital.
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The Eagle Tribune Fri, June 14
Jun 14, 2013
Angelo Melle, 83

Chelmsford — Angelo Melle, 83, of Chelmsford, died unexpectedly Friday, June 7, 2013, at his home. He was the husband of the late Marsha (Palermo) Melle, who passed away in 1991.
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The Eagle Tribune Fri, June 14
Jun 14, 2013
Beatrice H. Brear, 91

Lawrence, MA — After many years of good health, during which she enjoyed life and her family, Beatrice H. Brear died peacefully at Merrimack Valley Hospice House after a short, unexpected illness on Wednesday, June 12, 2013.
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Jun 14, 2013 1 Photo