Gloria E. Bunnell

CANAAN - Gloria Evelyn Bunnell, 91, of Canaan, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Monday afternoon, April 28, 2025, at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital in Colebrook. She was born on Hill Road in Pittsburg to Thomas and Evelyn (Haynes) Dorman. Living was hard on the farm when Gloria was young. She would recall how freeing it was to have a day off from farm chores to pick strawberries. Gloria attended school in Pittsburg and was one of only two graduates in 1951. She was a voracious reader and read every book in the town library. After high school, she spent her first year of college at Keene State and then transferred to Plymouth State and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in education. After teaching science for a year, she moved to New York City and worked in a typing pool. After some time, she returned to the North Country and helped her father run the Sunoco Station in West Stewartstown. Soon after she met Dean Bunnell. They fell in love and were married on April 28, 1959. They made their home in South Canaan with Dean’s son, Deanie. Gloria then became a telephone switchboard operator in West Stewartstown. She was hired with two other woman and all were told not to get pregnant. All three of them became pregnant within a few months of each other. In March of 1960, Dean and Gloria’s daughter Roberta was born. In 1965, Gloria and Dean opened Bunnell’s Sales and Service on Park Street in Colebrook, selling and repairing Ski-Doos, Evinrude outboards, Starcraft boats and Lawnboy lawnmowers. In 1971, they moved their business onto their property on Route 102 in Canaan. After retiring from being a business owner, Gloria became the librarian at the Alice M. Ward Memorial Library in Canaan. She took a one-room library and transformed it into a thriving library providing the children in the community a place to learn and be accepted. Soon after she left the library, she started to work for the Chamber of Commerce. Once again, she took a small group of businesses and brought them together to form a thriving organization. However, she was so much more than the sum of her accomplishments. Gloria was a force to be reckoned with. Her family was the most important thing in her life. To quote one of her caretakers, “Gloria was such a strong woman. She was a fierce mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.” Gloria worked hard, played hard and loved life to the fullest. She loved to play cards, go ski-dooing, ride motorcycles, go to camp, do puzzles, travel, read, and sit in the sunshine. Her most happy moments were when family would gather at her home for birthdays and holidays. She was a loyal friend, a loving wife, a supporting mother, and a fighter. Her mark on the world will remain for generations to come. Gloria is survived by her sister, Betsy Little of Littleton, her daughter Roberta (Peter Keddy) Bunnell of Canaan, her daughter in law, Janet Bunnell of Colebrook, her grandchildren Jody (Tanya) Roy of Colebrook, Gina Roy of Contoocook, NH, Deanna (Sebastiaan) Bunnell Roy of Stanstead, Quebec , Richard Bunnell of Colebrook, Kara (Bill Cochran) Cummings of Bellingham, MA, Katie (John) Bunnell of Rochester, NH, Airole (Justin) Warden of Canaan, Jonathan (Rebecca) Bunnell of Palmyra, Maine, 10 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Gloria is predeceased by her husband Dean E. Bunnell, her son Dean L. Bunnell, her sister Nella Laughton, and her brothers Thomas Dorman Jr., Sherman Dorman and Benjamin Dorman. There will be no public calling hours. A private celebration of life will be held by family and friends. In honor of Gloria: work hard, play hard, sit in the sun, love your family ferociously and be a loyal friend. Make your own mark on the world and be a beacon of light for generations to come. Condolences may be offered on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home in Colebrook.

Gloria E. Bunnell

August 26, 1933 - April 28, 2025