Francis J. Berube, 88, Funeral Director, Accountant Active in Haverhill Civic Groups

Francis J. Berube, 88, a lifelong resident of Haverhill, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and business owner, died Tuesday evening, Jan. 8 at Portsmouth Regional Hospital.

Born, raised and educated in Haverhill, Berube was the son of the late Frank B. and Rose A (Lavallee) Berube, and attended Saint Joseph Grammar School. He was a member of the Saint James High School Class of 1947 and later received his degree in accounting from Northeastern University in 1956.

Berube was a public accountant and was first employed as a bookkeeper and accountant for the former American Grocery Co. of Haverhill. He later took on several clients and opened his first professional office in Lafayette Square in Haverhill. He expanded his business by becoming an independent insurance agent and moved his business to its present location on Broadway known as Francis J. Berube Insurance and Accounting.  He served several generations of Haverhill residents helping them with their insurance, accounting and tax preparation needs. Berube was later a co-owner of the former Westville Market, on Route 125 in Plaistow, N.H., and a partner in establishing Westville Supply as well as Grand Rental Station.

In 1966, Berube returned to school and attended The New England Institute of Mortuary Science in Boston, receiving his certificate in funeral service and was licensed as a registered funeral director and embalmer by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 1968, he purchased Comeau Funeral Service on Broadway in Haverhill, which is now in business as Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, and still serves the greater Haverhill community.

An active member of All Saints Parish and the former Saint Joseph Parish, he was a former member of the parish council finance committee and over the years served on several parish committees including as co-chair of the Saint Joseph Parish centennial celebration. He was a fourth degree member of Fr. O’Doherty Assembly of the Knights of Columbus and member of the former Holy Name Society, and longtime member of the Saint James High School Class of 1947 reunion committee

He was a member of the Haverhill Lions Club for over 55 years, and served for several years as treasurer. He was also a former member of the board of directors of Career Resources Inc. of Haverhill and member of the board of directors of the former Family Bank of Haverhill.

Berube enjoyed spending time with his family and boating at Lake Winnipesaukee, where he had built a second home and spent much of his relaxation time “puttering around” and finishing “projects.” He also enjoyed traveling, cruises, and vacationing in Aruba. In his later years he developed an interest in golf and enjoyed being a member of the Saint Joseph/All Saints golf leagues.

He will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his devoted and loving wife and best friend of 68 years, Alicia M. (Fiset) Berube, daughters and sons-in-law, Andrea E. Kingsley of Melrose, Alicia M. and Michael Murray of Haverhill, Rosemary and Thomas Kilbridge of Ocean Isle Beach, N.C., and Ellen L. and Paul Sickel of Plaistow, N.H., a son and daughter-in-law, Francis J. Jr., and Charlene Berube of Plaistow, N.H., sister-in-law Lucine Goudreault and her husband Richard of Atkinson, N.H., and sister-in-law Elaine Barker of Haverhill, 15 grandchildren, Sean Kingsley, Allison (Kingsley) Parker, Heather Kingsley, Gregory Berube, Kevin Berube, Melissa (Berube) Conte, Monica (Berube) Thibault, Christopher Murray, Shauna (Murray) Upham, Tim Murray, Lauren Sickel, Kadi Sickel, Derek Sickel, Julie (Sickel) Campbell, and Chelsea Sickel, 11 great-grandchildren, several nieces, nephews and cousins.

The family of Francis and Alicia Berube would like to acknowledge and thank Sheila Mendelsohn and Donna Bowman for their loving care and assistance in helping our parents maintain their independence in their home as long as possible as well as to the kind and supportive staff of Atria Merrimack Place in Newburyport, where they have lived for the past several months, and finally to the doctors and nurses of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit of Portsmouth Regional Hospital for their excellent care and thoughtful guidance in our father’s care during his last days.

Relatives and friends are invited to Berube’s calling hours and life celebration to be held on Sunday, Jan. 13, from 3-6 p.m. at Berube-Comeau Funeral Home, 47 Broadway, Haverhill. His funeral will begin on Monday at 8:45 a.m. from the funeral home with a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in All Saints Church, 120 Bellevue Avenue Haverhill. Burial will follow in Saint Joseph Cemetery. The family requests that memorial donations be made to The Haverhill Lions Club, c/o John Pettis, 52 Hadley Road, Merrimac, MA or to Massachusetts Lions Eye Research, c/o Dr. James Roth, 43 Stewart Terrace, Belmont, MA.