LACONIA ---- Gwendolyn A. Bastraw, 93, died Thursday, January 25, 2024, at St. Francis Home in Laconia, NH.
Gwendolyn was born December 13, 1930, in Laconia, the daughter of the late Gordon and Pearl (Higgins) Chapman. She was a lifelong resident of Laconia. After graduating from Laconia High School, she also graduated from Houle’s Beauty Academy, Manchester, NH. She then went to work as a Bank Teller at Laconia Savings Bank and was a Bookkeeper at O’Shea’s Department Store, Laconia.
Gwen was a great woman of faith and very involved with St. Joseph’s Parish. She was very passionate with knitting baby blankets for LRGH, Laconia Pregnancy Center, and made lap blankets for the Belknap County Home. A Gold Member of the Laconia Historical & Museum Society, she also provided annual financial assistance to Lakes Region General Hospital. She contributed to many charitable endeavors such as the Laconia Food Pantry and Lakes Region General Hospital Nursery Guild.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Bastraw of Laconia; son Michael Bastraw, Laconia; daughters, Kristen Bastraw, of Laconia, and Barbara (Bastraw) Reid, Richmond, VA; three grandchildren, Jennica and Jaimon Hancock, and Caitlin (Hancock) Wayne; two sons-in-law, Randy Hancock and John Reid; nieces, Marcia Cotter, Connie Baron, of Laconia, Debbie Strankman, of WA, Jolynn Dobie, of TX, Robin Leming, of TX; nephews, Todd Chapman, of TX, and Greg Chapman, of TX. In addition to her parents and siblings, Lewis Chapman, Robert Chapman, and Helen Ertenberg, Gwen was predeceased by a daughter, Peggy Hancock.
She passed away with her family by her side and her husband holding her hand.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 6, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Ave, Laconia, NH.
For those who wish, the family suggests that memorial donations in Gwendolyn’s name be made to the Lakes Region Humane Society, PO Box 572, Laconia, NH 03247.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.