Loretta B. BRASSARD

CONCORD — Loretta B. (Brassard) Russell, 96, died Sept. 26, 2005, at Havenwood-Heritage Heights in Concord after a short illness.She was born in Berlin on Dec. 27, 1908, the daughter of Philippe and Emma (Laforest) Brassard. Her father, Philippe, died in Berlin in January 1915 at the age of 41. Her mother, Emma, died in Berlin on July 18, 1956, at the age of 84.She graduated from Berlin High School in 1936. At age 17, she entered nursing training at the New Hampshire State Hospital in Concord. She furthered her education at Yale School of Nursing and obtained her certification in public health nursing at Simmons College in Boston. She studied orthopedics and physiotherapy at Harvard University and later obtained a degree in public health nursing and rehabilitation from Boston University. Following a short engagement in surgical hospitals in Brooklyn, she worked as a school nurse in the public school system in Berlin. She joined the state Public Health Department some time later.She enlisted in the Army Nurse Corps in February 1942. After a short indoctrination at Fort Devens with a group of enlistees from Massachusetts General Hospital and later at Camp Kilmer, she was sent to active duty in Africa and Italy where she spent four years performing various nursing duties and worked as an interpreter for the Army. She was honorably discharged on Feb. 20, 1946, as a first lieutenant. She receive five battle stars in recognition of her service in combat. After her discharge, she returned to New Hampshire and worked with the state Health Department, serving 14 towns in the northern part of the state until her retirement in 1967.She married Robert A. Russell, then of Woodstock, on Jan. 20, 1951. The lived in Lincoln where Mr. Russell was employed as comptroller of Franconia Paper Co. Mr. Russell died in December 1981.Following their retirement the couple spent much of their time in Bradenton, Fla. She moved from Florida to her retirement home at Heritage Heights in Concord in early 2000.Her family wrote, "Throughout her life, Loretta was an avid golfer, proud of her ability to walk the course instead of riding. She attributes being able to comfortably wear her military uniform with style and grace as recently as last year to her choice of walking instead of riding so many rounds on the course. Loretta was very involved with her extended families, her stepgrandchildren, her many nephews and nieces and their children; they were a source of love and great pride. She will be greatly missed by a great many who loved her dearly."She is survived by her stepdaughter, Mrs. Charles Marston of New London; her stepchildren, stepgrandchildren and many nephews and nieces, principally the children and grandchildren of her sister, Marie Rose and her three brothers, Eugene, George and Philip.Calling hours will be Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005, 9-11 a.m., at the Mayhew Funeral Home at 12 Langdon St., Plymouth. A funeral Mass will be held on Sept. 29, 2005, at 2 p.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lincoln. Burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Lincoln immediately following the funeral.Expressions of sympathy may be made to Havenwood-Heritage Heights, 33 Christian Ave., Concord, NH 03301, Attn.: Havenwood Endowment Fund.