Haverhill – John C. Burnell, 77, husband of the late Arlene (Rollins) Burnell, passed away April 4, 2020 at Hannah Duston Healthcare Center in Haverhill surrounded by his loving family.
Born in Haverhill, he was the son of the late Milton and Eleanor (Page) Burnell. Raised and educated in the Haverhill school system, John attended Haverhill High School. For many years, he was a machine operator at Borden Chemical and Vernon Plastics. John also worked at the former Al’s Place in Haverhill, working side by side with his wife Arlene. Following Al’s Place, he worked as a porter at Hannah Duston Healthcare in Haverhill. After retiring he worked for the Haverhill School system as a crossing guard at Walnut School. John was an active member of the Hamilton-Wenham Grange and was an avid bowler on the men’s league at the former Pilgrim Lanes in Haverhill. He loved going on cruises, watching the Boston Red Sox and the New England Patriots, but his favorite was watching the college Army-Navy football game. A devoted family man, always putting his family first, he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
John is survived by his children, Lisa A. Johnson and her husband Matthew of Haverhill; Stephen J. Burnell and his wife Cheryl of Haverhill; grandchildren, Brett Johnson and Jessica Burnell; great grandchild, Hunter Hatfield-Lyon; brothers, Richard Burnell and his wife Betty of Haverhill and Norman Burnell and his wife Donna of Lewiston, ME; sister, Marlene Rodier of Candia, NH; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife Arlene, he was predeceased by his brother, Paul Burnell, sisters, Frances Maclean and Carol Suleski and brother in law, Raymond Rodier and William Maclean.
Due to the current healthcare crisis, funeral services at this time are private. There will be a burial in the spring in Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton. Arrangements are by the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main Street, Haverhill. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com
Condolences(2)-
-
Debra Oickle says
April 6, 2020 at 10:35 pmThere are few gentlemen left in the world but John was surely one of them.
Tom Richard says
April 20, 2020 at 1:42 amI always enjoyed saying hello to him in the hall on my way to visit my mom.