Dolores M. Verrill

Dolores “Dee” M. Verrill, 89, of Manchester, NH passed away on Sunday, August 3, 2025 at the Bedford Hills Center, in Bedford, NH.

Dee was born on April 14, 1936, in Manchester, NH, the daughter of the late Pedro and Carmina (Gomes) Gomes. She was a lifelong resident of Manchester, NH and was very proud of being an “Amoskeagger”, living on Saratoga Street in Amoskeag Village. Dee attended Amoskeag Grammar School and had perfect attendance from grade 1 – 8. She graduated from West High School in 1955 and never missed a day in 4 years. That could be related to the fact that she had an amazingly loving and supportive family - Her Mother and Father who doted on her, her 2 sisters, Alice and Fernanda who were like extra mothers, and her witty and sarcastic brother Joseph, who used to torture her by telling her she was adopted but who also secretly adored her too.

In 1974, she married the love of her life, her complete opposite and perfect partner, Philip Verrill. They could drive for hours without a word betwixt them because they were just so happy to be together. She loved his children, Diane and Danny like her own, and guided them through their early life. Dee and Phil had their own child, daughter Lea and together they became the Three Muskateers. She stood by her man for 51 years of marriage – through joy, heartbreak, and countless trips to Maine. He cheered upon crossing the bridge to Maine, and she cheered upon their return to the NH state line. They loved, laughed, danced, sang, agreed to disagree, but always came back to each other’s side. They looked out for each other, thought of each other, and took care of each other until she needed to be taken care of. Even then, she looked out for his feelings and he took amazing care of her every need for such a long time, right to the end.

Prior to her retirement, Dee held many executive secretarial roles including at places such as Amoskeag National Bank, where she was the senior secretary to the president, NH Finance Company, Hartford Insurance, Vermont National Life, and Members First Credit Union. Most notably, while her daughter was school-aged Dee held the very important and so very much appreciated role of Stay – at - Home Mama. She always had a devil dog and a glass of milk waiting for Lea when she got off the bus in the afternoon. That was the same bus which Dee had followed to school in the morning after waving Lea off at the bus stop, because she could not simply trust that the bus would get her precious daughter there safely. The level of devotion that Dee showed to her loved ones, especially her husband, daughter and grandchildren was fierce, absolutely extreme and totally unapologetic.

As a child, Dee and her brother Joe would rescue many stray animals. She had many special pets over the years, her most favorite and precious being Emma Bemma. Animals flocked to her because they could sense her kindness and pure spirit. Dee enjoyed swimming and softball in her youth, as well as attending and cheering ferociously for her beloved alma mater West High School during football games. She continued to cheer that way even when her daughter attended a rival school. Much later in life, Dee joined and was quite active in the Epsom-Chichester Lions Club with Philip. During her time with the Lions Club, Dee especially enjoyed choosing Pembroke Academy students to receive scholarships presented at graduation. Dee also worked on raising money for people who needed eyeglasses and was a member of the Security team at the NH Motor Speedway – She could be a tough cookie when she wanted! (Just ask her Mother-in-Law). She enjoyed helping others and was a quiet source of comfort, peace and love to so many. Dee was feisty, surprisingly sarcastic, deeply loving, beautiful, funny, and so so Kind.

Simply put though, after saying all of this, Dee is a woman that can never be replaced.

Members of her family include; her husband, Philip Verrill, of Manchester, NH; one daughter, Lea Verrill, of Manchester, NH, one stepdaughter, Diane Burnham (Dwayne) of Maine, one stepson, Daniel Verrill, of Maine; 5 beloved grandchildren – Rodney Lafond III, Hayley Lafond, Alexander Fesh, Lizzy Fesh, & James Fesh, 4 beloved step grandchildren - Nathan Mills, Benjamin Mills (2 beloved step great-grandchildren - Fox & Beau), Aaron Mills, and Sterling Burnham.

SERVICES: A memorial gathering will be held on Friday, August 8, 2025, from 10 – 11 AM at Phaneuf Funeral Homes & Crematorium, 243 Hanover Street, in Manchester, NH. A memorial service will follow at 11 AM in the funeral home chapel. Interment will take place at a later date.

It has been suggested that those who wish may make memorial contributions to Bedford Hills Center, 30 Colby Court, Bedford, NH 03110, in memory of Dee, who they cared for with great empathy, compassion and kindness.

Phaneuf Funeral Homes and Crematorium assisted the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please go to https://phaneuf.net/