Kenneth H. Staples, Jr., 69, of Palm Bay, FL, formerly of Derry, NH passed away peacefully on April 30, 2007 at the William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay. He was born in Weymouth, MA on January 10, 1938, a son of the late Kenneth and Dorothy (Stewart) Staples, Sr. Prior to retirement, he was employed as a crane operator by the Crane Rental Co., Inc. of Tewksbury, MA for 35 years. Kenneth was a proud 50-year member of the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #4. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and also enjoyed snowmobiling. He was a wonderful husband and grandfather.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 33 years, Antoinette (Matarazzo) Staples of Palm Bay; a daughter, Wanda Dumas of Montreal, P.Q.; three step-children, Ann Marie Sullivan of Palm Bay, Bella Kirrane of Boston, MA and Michael Morin of Londonderry, NH; a brother, William Staples of Raymond, NH and a sister, Gail Skillan of Hooksett, NH.
IN HIS LIFE: He is also survived by a granddaughter, Davina of Vancouver, B.C.; step grandchildren, Suzanne, Stacie, Scott, Celeste, Stanley, Todd, Tracie and Jason; 11 great grandchildren; cousins, Debbie, Sandy and Corey; 9 sisters and brothers-in-law; extended family, Dan and Diane Buckley of Palm Bay; and also by many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours were on Sunday, May 6th from 2 to 5 PM in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A funeral service was held on Monday at 10 AM in the funeral home. Burial followed in Forest Hill Cemetery, East Derry, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the William Childs Hospice House, 381 Medical Plex, Palm Bay, FL 32909, the American Diabetes Association, 249 Canal St., Manchester, NH 03101 or the American Heart Association, Heart Gifts Processing Center, PO Box 3049, Syracuse, NY 13220-3049.