GLOUCESTER: Horace E. “Pete” Hodgkins, Jr., 80, died peacefully on Saturday, April 12, 2008 in the Addison Gilbert Hospital surrounded by his family and friends following an extended illness. He was the husband of Maureen (French) Hodgkins.
Born in Gloucester on December 24, 1927, he was the son of the late Horace E., Sr. and Ruth E. (Stanley) Hodgkins. He was a lifelong resident of Gloucester and a graduate of Gloucester High School class of 1945. He was also a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Pete worked as a stevedore for Elliott Stevedoring in Gloucester for twenty-five years before retiring in 1980. In retirement he worked for Gloucester Supply and Colcord & Son in Rowley. He was a member of the Teamsters Union Local #43 of Lynn, the American Legion and the AMVETS Post #32. A former member of the Cape Ann Sportsmen’s Club, he was an avid marksman and hunter. He also enjoyed snowmobiling, motorcycles and traveling.
In addition to his wife of thirty-one years, he is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Kathleen Mary and Yousef S. Ghannam of Springfield, VA and Cynthia M. and Richard Pierce of Gloucester, a son, Peter C. Hodgkins of Norfolk, a granddaughter, Lillianna M. Ghannam of Springfield, VA, a brother, David and his wife, Marlene (Parsons) Hodgkins of Gloucester, a sister, Madith Hersey of Peabody, seven sisters-in-law, Carolynne (Martin)Lawyer of Central Bridge, NY, Joan (Pierce) Sikorski of Gloucester, Alice (French) and her husband, Chris Bethune of Strong, ME, Margaret (French) and her husband, Ronald Perrin of Gloucester, Helena (French) and her husband, James Creamer of Allston, Maryjo (Fitzgerald) French of Gloucester and Jocelyn French of Greely Hill, CA, three brothers-in-law, Mark and his wife, Shirley (Harris) French of Gloucester, William O’Connor of Rockport and Joseph Ciarametaro of Sierra Vista, AZ and many nieces and nephews. He was also predeceased by a brother, Robert Hodgkins, his first wife, June (Pierce) Hodgkins, two sisters-in-law, Carol A. (French) O’Connor and Kathleen M. (French) Ciarametaro and two brothers-in-law, Gerald N. French, Jr. and Kevin M. French, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Gerald N. French, Sr. and Florence (Carroll) French.
His funeral services will be held on Wednesday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 10:30 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday evening from 4 – 8 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the VNACare Network, 5 Federal St., Danvers, MA 01923 or to the Shaughnessy-Kaplan Rehabilitation Hospital, 1 Dove Ave., Salem, MA 01970. Interment will be held in the Seaside Cemetery, Lanesville.