Eleanor F. ‘Ellie’ (Hurteau) Welch, 102, Former Cafeteria Worker in Haverhill Schools

Eleanor F. “Ellie” (Hurteau) Welch, 102, a lifelong resident of Haverhill, passed away peacefully June 9 at the Hannah Duston Healthcare with her family by her side.

Born in Haverhill, she was the daughter of the late, Orie J. and Frances V. (Doughty) Hurteau. She attended Haverhill public schools and was a graduate of Haverhill High School with the class of 1934. Welch was employed many years as a cook at St. James Grammar School and in the Haverhill High School cafeteria. She also sold products for Avon for several years. A woman of strong faith, she was an active parishioner of St. James Church and member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. James No. 436, and Court Sacred Hearts No. 864 for 70 years, at one time serving as Grand Regent.

Welch along with her late husband, enjoyed traveling, making several trips to Hawaii and day trips to Foxwoods. She was an avid Boston sports fan.

She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. The widow of William A. Welch who died in 1997, she leaves her children Martin J. Welch and his wife, Jane (Gallant), of Haverhill, Deborah A. (Welch) LaBranche and her husband, Alan, of Amesbury, daughter-in-law Gayle (Dow) Welch, of Amesbury, five grandchildren Jesse Welch and his wife, Judith, of Rochester, N.H., Vanessa (Welch) Michael and her husband, Samson, of Malden, Nicole LaBranche, of Pooler, Ga., Douglas LaBranche and his wife, Joana of York, Maine, and Jefferson Welch and his wife, Chalsee, of Manchester, N.H. She will be remembered by six great grandchildren Olivia and Fiona Welch, William, Elliana, and Charles LaBranche and Samuel Michael, and several loving nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a son, William B. Welch, a sister Evelyn M. Thornton, and a brother, Kenneth Hurteau.

As she called the Hannah Duston Healthcare her home for the past four years, she considered the staff there her extended family. Her family wishes to thank the good people of Hannah Duston Healthcare for their compassionate care during her stay.

Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Tuesday, June 12 from 4-7 p.m. at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Haverhill. Funeral services will begin on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. James Church, Winter Street, Haverhill. Burial will follow at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, North Broadway, Haverhill. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the St. Vincent dePaul of St. James Parish, 6 Cottage St., Haverhill, MA 01830.