1919 - 2016
Visitation
March 11, 20164:00 to 7:00 P.M.
Dolan Funeral Home
No Funeral Date Scheduled
Violet (Howard) French, 97, of Chelmsford died March 7, 2016 at Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Chelmsford.
Born in Chelmsford, MA on February 20, 1919, she was the daughter of the late John and Ella (Billings) Howard. She attended the Chelmsford school system and graduated from Chelmsford High School with the class of 1936. She attended the Remington School of Boston for Banking Machines.
She was married to the late Jason H. French, who died April 24, 1988.
Violet worked as a Bookkeeper at the Caldor Department Store in Chelmsford before retiring in 1994. She previously worked at the Lowell General Hospital and the Bon Marche Department Store in Lowell. She also helped operate her family’s Furniture Restoration Business.
She enjoyed knitting and crocheting, and playing dominos and cards. She loved spending time with family.
Violet was a member of the N. Chelmsford Congregational Church and the Bennington Congregational Church in Bennington, NH. She was a member of the Chelmsford Senior Center and the Chelmsford High School Alumni Association.
She is survived by two daughters, Sally Bourque of Chelmsford and Susan Leavitt of Nashua, NH; one son, John and his wife, Julie French of Louisville, KY; 9 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
She was predeceased by her son, James French of NH, and 4 brothers, Rev. Donald Howard of NY, Lorne Howard of Everett, MA, W. Hersey Howard of CT and J. Albert Howard of N. Chelmsford, MA.
Visiting hours Fri. 4-7pm. A private funeral service will be held at the convenience of the family. Burial at Riverside Cemetery, N. Chelmsford, MA. For those that wish contributions in her memory may be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), 60 Walnut St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.
Donna Howard
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Sincere wishes of peace and healing for our cousins and their families. Aunt Violet was a gracious and generous woman. She was an inspiration to us all of love and devotion to her family, despite challenges that would have overpowered others. I will always remember the resonance in her beautiful voice; as a child it reminded me of church bells.
Ann Thresher
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Rest in peace Aunt Vi. As a young niece, I remember how novel it was to me that you totally unwrapped the box of ice cream and sliced it into uniform pieces for all at the family get-togethers. Your humorous quit wit delighted us all and resulted in your little nieces mind putting two and two together. I always found you gentle and kind and with a bright mind. Much love and my sincerest condolences to Sally, Susan and Johnny’s families. We will miss you Violet French. You are one of a kind.
Jim Lankford
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Sincerest condolences.