Winter/Holiday Drop-in Grief Group – no commitment required:
Tuesdays from 3:00-4:30pm
Cornerstone VNA Community Room
178 Farmington Road, Rochester NH 03867
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Patricia Rainboth founded Victims, Inc. in October 1991. Her mission began after stopping at a crash that killed a child. Victims, Inc provides support for victims of crime, crashes and trauma in Rockingham and Strafford counties.
"I came upon a crash and knelt in the snow with a dying child for about 25 minutes, and it changed by life," Rainboth said. She then went on to work for DWI prevention for the state before creating her organization.
Rainboth and her volunteers respond to incidents such as suicide, overdoses, fatal accidents and other untimely deaths to provide support. They also reach out after the incident, by providing information, keeping track of what's happening in the system and laminating obituaries.
Rainboth says since the incidents are unexpected, people don't typically know what's next. "So to have somebody sitting with them who does know, and can sometimes tell them ahead of time what's next, prepare them or just be comforted," Rainboth said. "Once you begin this work, you understand that there's not a greater honor than to be trusted with people's pain," Rainboth said.
The 83-year-old answer calls to help crime and trauma victims at any time of the day, even in the middle of the night. She even attends court hearings with families. "She is an angel in disguise, not only with her ability to listen and comfort, but to provide the perspective and support that many people need to cope with their loss," a volunteer said.
Rainboth has no plans to retire from her work, “When I look back, I feel like I gained more than I gave”.
Lillian (Lil) Boudreau loved her family. She would never hesitate to jump in at any time to care for her grandchildren whether it be a few hours or several days. She also enjoyed many social engagements such as Rochester Chamber of Commerce business after hours, Opera house events, luncheons with her friend including a few former City mayors. Lil was civic minded and politically connected. She was always willing to help her favorite local candidates provided it did not include phone calls.
Lil’s family was much larger than her immediate family. She loved her volunteer work at Frisbie Memorial hospital. Lil would be in her driveway first thing in the morning cleaning snow off her car to get to work. This was at 8:00 am in freezing temperatures while in her mid-eighties. Barely able to see over the steering wheel of her car she would head off to her most favorite job of all, volunteer work. She enjoyed the camaraderie with other volunteers and staff. She loved them all and they loved her. Sadly, COVID 19 took that away, but she remained optimistic she would return to volunteering at some point. It was fun to watch this incredible woman of 110 pounds pushing patients, often much larger than she, throughout the hospital in wheelchairs as part of her duties. She loved the connection she made with people.
Lil was a funny and friendly person. Never did she have a bad thing to say about anyone (or at least she kept it to herself). She was a kind heart. Always positive and always with a smile was how she operated. A great woman and a friend to anyone who met her.
Irene Therese Creteau was born April 25, 1938 in Laconia, New Hampshire the daughter of Wilfrid and Lucienne (Roy) Creteau, graduated from Holy Rosary High School in 1956, and went on to attend college at Notre Dame in Manchester and UNH.
Irene started her career in public relations representing NH at the 1964 World’s Fair in NY and at Expo ’67 in Montreal. She worked in several hotels as an office reservation manager including Wentworth by the Sea in New Castle and the New England Center in Durham. She particularly loved Stowe, Vermont where she worked with the Mt. Mansfield Company and the Trapp Family Lodge.
Irene moved back to her roots in Rochester where she worked in Real Estate for more than 25 years. She had worked for Brookside Realty, Century 21 Home Team, Kendall Real Estate and completed her career with Hourihane Cormier Real Estate where she made many good friends.
A lifelong Democrat Irene had a love for politics and volunteering. She served as a Rochester City Councilor and two consecutive terms as a NH State Representative. Irene volunteered on countless committees, she enjoyed counting ballots on election day in Rochester and was a board member for the Gafney Home and the Rochester Visiting Nurses Association (Cornerstone VNA).
Charles F. Hervey, was born on June 10,1935 in Rochester, New Hampshire. He was the son of Richard and Alice (Meacham) Hervey. Charlie graduated from Spaulding High School, Class of 1955. Soon after graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army and served two years in the Presidential Honor Guard in Washington D.C., during the Eisenhower administration. He married Jane Fernald, and after his service they settled in Rochester. They were married for 68 years.
In 1964 Charlie took over the family business, Hervey’s Tire Company, and began expanding it into what it is today. Charlie was a very well respected businessman in the Rochester community, and in the national tire industry as well. In 2021 he received the Hall of Fame Award from the New England Tire & Service Association (NETSA). In addition to running the tire shop, Charlie also served for 13 years with the Rochester Fire Department from 1956-1969 as a call-man with the Rank of Lieutenant, but his business was continuing to expand and he had to step down. Later, from 1980-1987, Charlie served on the Rochester City Council, representing Ward 2 under the administration of his good friend, Mayor Richard (Dick) Green.
Charlie contributed much to the Rochester community with charitable donations over the years and was a longtime member of The Rochester Elks Lodge #1393, Club Victoire, and the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce. In 2010, he was the recipient of the Chamber’s Business Leader of the Year award. People in Rochester knew Charlie and Hervey’s Tire for another reason, which was “The Sign” that features daily inspirational quotes, something that Charlie started doing in the late 1970’s. Charlie would put up a new quote every business day, May through October, with the sole purpose of inspiring or amusing people when they passed by. What he started back then on a large window in the office of the tire shop evolved to the large exterior electronic sign of today.
Charlie loved animals, especially dogs, and he had a big place in his heart for English bulldogs. He could be seen every day walking with his dog, and in later years he would walk his son Alan’s dog Max and they would stop by a local bank and “make the rounds”. Charlie was very active all his life with walking and riding his bike, even into his 70’s. At times would ride all the way to the family camp on Merrymeeting Lake from Rochester on an old bike with only one speed.