Eleanor Welch

Haverhill – 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, class of 1934. Mrs. Welch was employed many years as a cook at St. James Grammar School and 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 #436, and Court Sacred Hearts #864 for 70 years, at one time serving as Grand Regent.Mrs. 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.Mrs. Welch 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, a daughter in law Gayle (Dow) Welch, of Amesbury, five grandchildren Jesse Welch and his wife, Judith, of Rochester, NH, Vanessa (Welch) Michael and her husband, Samson, of Malden, Nicole LaBranche, of Pooler, GA, Douglas LaBranche and his wife, Joana of York, ME and Jefferson Welch and his wife, Chalsee, of Manchester, NH, 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 respectfully invited to calling hours on Tuesday from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main St. Haverhill. Funeral services will begin on Wednesday morning at 9:00 AM from the funeral home with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10:00 AM at St. James Church, Winter St. 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. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook, or www.comeaufuneral.com