Betty (Karekos) Church, 85, of Haverhill, formerly Merrimack, N.H., passed away Friday, April 8, at Penacook Place Nursing Home surrounded by her family.
Born in Haverhill, she was the daughter of the late, Charles and Rallou (Handakas) Karekos. She attended Haverhill Public Schools and Haverhill High School. Church was primarily a homemaker, moving to different parts of the country as her husband was employed by the U.S. government. Prior to settling in Merrimack, N.H., where she lived for more than 40 years, she and her family resided in Naples, Fla., and Camarillo, Calif. Having a fondness for dogs, especially Standard Poodles, she raised and entered many of her dogs for show. She and her late husband enjoyed traveling throughout the country and did so often.
The widow of Herbert E. Church, who died in 2003, she was also predeceased by her son, Herbert E. Church Jr, and her daughter, Pamela C. Kokaleski. She is survived by her siblings, including her custodian and caregiver, Dorothy Early, of Bradford, Eleanor Dagianis, of Haverhill, Lucy MacDougall, of Bradford, Steven Karekas and his wife, Dorie, of Tampa, Fla, Peter Karekas, of Newark, N.Y.; brother-in-law, Daniel Sullivan, of Haverhill; three grandchildren, Cary Chapman, of Gloucester, Alenna Whitmore, of New Hampshire, and Charlene Madera, of Nashua, N.H.; great grandchild, Asher E. Whitmore; and several nieces and nephews including Ricky Early III. She was predeceased by her siblings, John Karekos, Mary Varonfakis, Christos Karekos, and Patricia Sullivan, and brothers-in-law, William MacDougall and James Dagianis.
Ccalling hours were Sunday evening at the Kevin B. Comeau Funeral Home 486 Main St. Haverhill. Her funeral mass will be celebrated Monday at 1 p.m., at Holy Apostles Saints Peter and Paul Greek Church, 154 Winter St. Haverhill. Burial will follow in Linwood Cemetery, Mill Street, Haverhill. Memorial donations may be made in her name to the Penacook Place Activities Fund 150 Water St. Haverhill, MA 01830.