HAVERHILL: Doreen M. (Burke) Francis, 69, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 1, 2012 at her home. She was the wife of the late Edward R. Francis, who died on May 7, 2009.
Born in Liverpool, England on May 18, 1942, she was the daughter of the late John and Ellen (Leary) Burke. Doreen spent her earlier years in England and after finishing high school she came to the United States on a secretarial work program. She has been a resident of Haverhill since the early 1960’s where she and her husband Edward chose to raise their family.
Doreen worked throughout her career at several local doctors’ offices helping out in any department that she could. She spent many years at the Women’s Healthcare Center in Newbury, finally retiring from Pentucket Medical Associates in January of 2011.
She was a member of St. James Church and a woman of great faith. For many years she regularly attended religious retreats sponsored by the church with her friends. In her leisure time she liked to read, do jigsaw puzzles and word search games. She loved and enjoyed the company of her cat Shadow. Doreen was very proud of her English heritage and was known for watching the Royal Family and all their activities. Above all she enjoyed being with her children and grandchildren, especially during the holidays. They will miss her very much.
She is survived by her three sons and two daughters-in-law, Michael J. and Cay Francis of Epping, NH, Steven M. Francis and June Dunne of Hampton, NH and Lee A. Francis of Haverhill; four grandchildren, Christopher J. Francis and his wife, Francine of Atkinson, NH, Patrick M. Francis and his wife, Debbie of Plaistow, NH, Kelsey R. Francis of Allston, MA and Jason Dunne and his wife, Melissa of Newton, NH; a great-grandson, Ryan P. Francis of Plaistow, NH and two great-granddaughters, Olivia M. and Madison E. Dunne of Newton, NH; three sisters, Joan Perra and her husband, Frank of Groveland, Maureen McMurrie and her husband, Phil and Helen Faulkner and her husband, Jim all of Liverpool, England; two brothers, John Burke of London and Edmund Burke of Liverpool, England; two brothers-in-law, Richard Francis and his wife, Patricia of Raymond, NH and Donald Francis and his wife, Maureen of Danville, NH and many nieces and nephews.
Her funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday in St. James Parish, 161 Winter St., Haverhill at 10 a.m. Visiting hours will be held on Monday in the Linnehan-Grondin Funeral Home, 129 Kenoza Avenue, Haverhill from 5 – 7 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her memory to the MSPCA, 400 Broadway, Methuen, MA 01844. Interment will be held in the Riverview Cemetery, Groveland.