Haverhill – Peter Karekos, a retired US Army and Air Force Veteran and life-long resident of Newark, NY, formerly of Haverhill died peacefully on July 12th, 2021 at the age of 88 while being a current resident at Monroe Community Hospital in Rochester, NY and the VA Medical center in Canandaigua, NY.
Peter was born in Derry, New Hampshire on August 18th 1932 to the late Charles and Rallou Karekos. He was an inspiring family man but a man of honor and always did the right thing by furthering his training to be the best he could be by making outstanding accomplishments and received not only many military honors but also was presented with the Commanders award for Civilian service. He was raised in Haverhill and enlisted in the army at 18 years old, serving from 1949 until 1951 in Korea. He was wounded in action on September 4, 1950, the only survivor out of his platoon. He received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for his bravery. Peter then enlisted in the United States Air Force and served from 1953 until 1956. He married and raised his family in Newark, Peter was retired from the Seneca Army Depot in Romulus, NY after many years of service. He liked hunting and fishing and family picnics. He not only retired with honorable discharges from the United States Army and United States Air Force but also received several medals of Honor and just recently was nominated as a distinguished honoree of the Veterans Hall of Fame which recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions in both military and civilian life. He was a dedicated kind gentle spiritual man of selfless service not only to his family, the church and God but also to his country and his community. He always reached out with love first to those in need. He believed that when holidays did come around, that meant for him that families are to gather, celebrate and thank God for the love, joy and goodness that they share and what families really are all about. What an outstanding individual he was! Peter was raised with his big family, being one of ten children. His military banner, with his brother Steve who served his country for 20 years, hangs proudly on Merrimack Street in Haverhill. The family would like to thank the Exchange Club and the Public Works Department for their efforts in hanging Peter and Steve’s banner. His family is very proud of his service and he is their hero.
He will be deeply missed by his friends, family and all who knew him.
Peter is survived by his sisters, Eleanor Dagianis of Haverhill, Lucy MacDougall of Haverhill and Dorothy Early and William Chase of Haverhill; brothers, Steve Karekos and his wife Doris of Tampa, FL; brothers in law, Dan Sullivan and Dick Early, Sr. and his wife Aida of Atkinson, NH,all of Haverhill; many loving nieces and nephews of Haverhill and NH; and extended family in the NY area. He was predeceased by his sisters, Mary Varonfakis, Patricia Sullivan and Betty Church and brothers John Karekos and Christo Karekos.
Funeral services were held in Newark, NY in July. Assisting the family is the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home, 486 Main Street, Haverhill. Donations may be made in his memory to the Boys and Girls Club of Haverhill, 55 Emerson Street, Haverhill, MA 01830 or The Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, 10 Reed Street, Haverhill. Please visit Comeau Funeral Home on Facebook or www.comeaufuneral.com
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