M. Lynch

M. Elaine (Capeles) Lynch, 86, died Friday, April 24, 2009, at Merrimack Valley Hospital, Haverhill, after a brief illness.She was born in Haverhill, Nov. 10, 1922, daughter of the late Edmund G. of Haverhill and C. Ethel (Sharkey) Capeles, of South Groveland. She was the widow of John J. Lynch, former Haverhill High School tennis coach, who died in 2003. She was a lifelong Haverhill resident.She was a graduate of Haverhill High, Class of 1940. She was active in planning her class reunions, and was especially proud of her friendship with illustrious members of that class, including Bob Montana, creator of Archie Comics, and Don Atwood, former Deputy Secretary of Defense.Elaine also was a 1942 graduate of the Fay School, Boston. She then worked as a secretary for Rose &amp Associates, a Boston law firm. She then worked at the L. H. Hamel Leather Co, Haverhill, where she was personal secretary to Louis Hamel until the birth of her first child. Later, she was a homemaker, raising 10 children with her husband.Elaine was a 30-year summer resident of Wyman Greeley St, Salisbury Beach, and she also enjoyed winter visits to Hilton Head Island, S.C. She enjoyed knitting, Scrabble, Parcheesi and crossword puzzles. She also was an amateur artist and poet, and was always able to compose a humorous ditty for any occasion.She was a lifetime member of St. James Parish, serving as a member of the Parish Council, Ladies Sodality, CCD Teacher, and was a founding member of its former Mothers’ Circle. She was also a Den Mother in St James Cub Scouts Pack 9.In addition to her parents and husband, she was predeceased by her brothers, Edmund Grey Jr., who died in infancy, and Joseph Grey., who died in 2001.She leaves eight sons, John J. Jr. and wife Maria, Mark F. and wife Barbara, Peter G. and wife Lisa, David M., Timothy P. and fiancee Pamela Shimanski, all of Haverhill, Michael E. of Salisbury Beach, Stephen T. and wife Kari of Burlington, Thomas A. and wife Lisa of Ipswich two daughters, who cared for her in her final years, Kathryn E. and husband Timothy Devaney of Haverhill, Patricia A. and husband Frank Hathaway of Marblehead 13 grandchildren, Patrick, Brian, Kevin and Cameron Lynch, Matthew, Andrew and Benjamin Devaney Haverhill, Julia and Kellsee Lynch, Burlington, Carolyn and Katie Lynch, Ipswich, Meagan and Emma Hathaway, Marblehead a brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Anne Lynch of Cherry Hill, N.J. a sister-in-law, Claire Lynch of Woburn several cousins, and numerous nieces and nephews.ARRANGEMENTS: Calling hours will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 27, at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St., Route 125, Haverhill. Funeral services will begin at 9 a.m Tuesday, April 28, from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St James Church, Winter Street, Haverhill. Interment will follow in St James Cemetery, Primrose Street, Haverhill. Donations may be made to the St James Capital Improvements Fund, 6 Cottage St., Haverhill, MA 01830. The family would like to thank the staff of SarahCare, Hampstead, N.H., for their services during Elaine’s final months. www.comeaufuneral.com.