Bertrand E. Peabody, 88, of Derry, died Tuesday, June 21, 1994 at the Parkland Medical Center in Derry following a lengthy illness. Mr. Peabody was born on October 12, 1905 in Londonderry, a son of the late Elwin C. And Minnie M. (Fling) Peabody. He attended schools in Londonderry, Pinkerton Academy in Derry and later graduated from the New England Institute in Boston, MA with a degree in Funeral Service and Embalming. In 1933 he established the Peabody Funeral Home on Birch St. in Derry. He was a former member of the Derry Kiwanis Club for over 40 years and had served as President in 1953, and later as Treasurer. He was named Kiwanian of the Year in 1977. He was a 50 plus year member of St. Mark’s Lodge #44 F & AM of Derry, a 32nd degree member of the NH Consistory of Nashua and the Bektash Temple, Shriners of Concord. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Ransford Chapter #3 of Derry. He was a past Noble Grand of the Echo Lodge of Odd Fellows in Derry, a past Chancellor Commander of Rockingham Lodge and a member of the Knights of Pythias of Derry. He served as President of the NH Funeral Directors Association from 1942 to 1943. He was elected President of the Derry Co-operative Bank on July 11, 1966 and held that office until its merger with the Manchester Federal Savings and Loan Assoc., having been a director for many years. He had been Treasurer and Trustee of the Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry for more than 50 years. He was also a member of the Londonderry Grange for more than 70 years. In April of 1982, he was named Citizen of the Year by the Greater Derry Chamber of Commerce.
He is survived by his wife, Goldie (Chase) Peabody of Derry, one son, Glenn E. Peabody of Derry, one daughter, Shirley R. Stratton of Derry, one granddaughter, Robin J. Stratton of Burlington, VT, three grandsons, Jeffery B. Stratton of Manchester, Erik E. Peabody of Derry and Craig B. Peabody of Londonderry.
Calling hours will be held on Wednesday from 2 - 4 and 7 - 9pm at the Peabody Funeral Home, 15 Birch St., Derry. St. Mark’s Lodge #44 F & AM of Derry will conduct a Masonic ritual at 8:00pm during calling hours. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10:00am in the funeral home. The burial will follow in the Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry. The family requests that donations in his memory be made to the NH Heart Assoc., 309 Pine St., Manchester, NH 03103.