Donna L. Shepherd, 70: Loved helping people

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MANCHESTER, NH – Donna L. Shepherd, 70, of Manchester, passed away on Thursday, November 16, 2017, surrounded by her family and friends. She was born in Manchester, NH on March 21, 1947, to Harold F. Ellis and Evelyn May (Holoway) Ellis. She was raised in Manchester, NH, moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where she attended 4th grade then moved to Somerville, MA, where she graduated from Somerville High School in 1965.

Donna moved to Manchester with her parents after graduation. She was employed by New Hampshire Insurance Company where she met and married her husband, George M. Shepherd in 1969. She moved to Fort Lee, VA with her husband and returned to Manchester with their daughter, Lisa, when he was deployed to Viet Nam. She continued to work for New Hampshire Insurance until after the birth of their second daughter, Kimberly.

Donna returned to work at Cotter and Company in 1977 and subsequently held administrative jobs at Big Brothers, Big Sisters in Manchester, Foundation for Blood Research of Scarborough, ME, McBee Systems, Inc. of Portland, ME and Merchants Bank in Manchester.

Donna loved her family and spending time with them. She loved people and loved even more helping them. She was a volunteer with Visiting Nurse Association for both respite and on their vigil team. She loved volunteering at First Congregational Church as a receptionist at the door, as a Friend of the office and as a greeter. She particularly loved her work as a member of the Parish Visitors group.

Donna is survived by her husband of 48 years, George M. Shepherd; two daughters, Lisa D. Egan and her husband Shawn of Litchfield, NH and Kimberly L. Boschi of Manchester, NH; four grandchildren, Kaitlyn T. Egan, Haley S. Egan, Kasey A. Boschi and Brendan M. Boschi; two sisters, Joan V. Gosselin and her husband Richard of Hooksett, NH and Charlene M. Hill of Wakefield, MA; two brothers-in-law, James N. Shepherd, Esq. and his wife Karen of Tilton, NH and Karl W. Shepherd and his wife April of Tilton, NH; two sisters-in-law, Josephine L. Faux and her husband James of Keene, NH and Cynthia J. Kennett and her husband Walter of Pottsville, PA; a close cousin, Lloyd A. Cheney and his wife Debra of Fairhaven, MA and several nieces and nephews. Donna was predeceased by her brother, Charles “Skip” E. Ellis, in 2015.

ARRANGEMENTS: Visitation will be held in the Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 243 Hanover St., on Monday, November 20, from 4-7 p.m. A Celebration of Life will be held at First Congregational Church, 508 Union St., Manchester on Tuesday, November 21 at 10 am.m Internment to follow at the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Hwy, Boscawen, at noon. Friends and relatives invited. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to First Congregational Church, 508 Union St., Manchester, NH 03104 or to Visiting Nurse Association, 107 Holt Ave., Unit 4, Manchester, NH 03109. The family wishes to acknowledge and thank the CICU staff and the Palliative Care Team at Elliot Hospital for their exceptional care, counsel and consideration for Donna and her family during her final days.

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Phaneuf Funeral Homes

Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium