Joel N Peabody

Joel Nute Peabody, 70, of Franconia, NH, passed away peacefully on January 18, 2017. A celebration of Joel’s life will be held at Maplewood Golf Resort on Saturday, March 25th at 10:30 followed by an informal gathering for friends and family to share memories.

Joel was born in Franconia, NH to Roger and Louise Nute Peabody on October 29, 1946. He went to Littleton High School and graduated in 1965. With the exception of some time spent out in Sandpoint, Idaho, Joel made his home in Franconia with his wife of 48 years, Tina Dudley Peabody, and raised his 3 daughters, Nicole, Samantha, and Heather.

Joel, or “Peabs”, as he was fondly referred to, spent his life dedicated to serving others: as the Assistant Ski Patrol Director at Cannon Mountain and NH State Parks employee in Franconia Notch State Park; as a police officer for the Town of Franconia, and as Chief of the Franconia Life Squad. His passion for helping others extended beyond the official work capacity; He could always be found helping his daughters and their teammates in the role of assistant coach or team EMT, assisting with Search & Rescue efforts, helping local Fish & Game officers, or in simply offering directions to a stranger passing through. Joel was always able to strike up a conversation with anyone and walk away having made a new friend.

After retiring, Joel found more time to spend on the golf course, a sport he loved and had always shared with his father Roger and brothers Jere, Jon, and Jay. He made new friends and golf buddies in his work at Maplewood Golf Resort in Bethlehem, NH and could be found there just about any weekend, if you got up as early as he did to water the greens.

For Joel, family was everything and he cherished the times he shared with those he loved. Family gatherings, whether nightly dinners at home, or reunions held at camps on Forest Lake, were a time filled with laughter, fun and food and if the gathering was big enough, you could be sure Joel was making a chocolate cream pie to share with everyone.

Joel was a caring husband, a loving father, and a friend to so many and his passing leaves a void that will never be filled in the hearts of his family and in the community he called home. However, Joel will always be home in the White Mountains of New Hampshire and in the words of John Denver, “Country Roads, Take me Home, To the place I belong…Take me Home, down Country Roads.”

Joel is preceded in death by his mother, Louise Nute Peabody and father, Roger Peabody.

He leaves behind his wife, Tina Dudley Peabody of Franconia, NH; daughters, Nicole (and husband Michael) Elliott of Victor, ID, Samantha McClary of Franconia, NH, and Heather (and husband William Jr) Hardy of Newport, NH; brothers Jere (and wife Nancy) Peabody of The Villages, FL, Jon (and wife Sue) Peabody, of Franconia, NH, and Jay Peabody of Lisbon, NH; sisters Janet (and husband Paul) Damiano of Port Orange, FL, and Jennifer (and husband Rick) Gaudette of Franconia, NH; as well as 5 grandchildren: Nicholas and Kayden Elliott of Victor, ID, Ayla & Kalin McClary of Franconia, NH, and Charleigh Hardy of Newport, NH; as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Joel’s name to either of the following:

Roland Peabody Memorial Fund, 270 Iron Foundary Road, Franconia, NH 03580

New Hampshire Law Enforcement Memorial Association, PO Box 3864, Concord, NH 03302

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the doctors and nurses at Littleton Regional Hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock, and North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency; and also to Ross Funeral Home, Trevor and Dana at Maplewood Golf Resort and the many family members, coworkers and friends that have been there over the years for Joel and his family. In Joel’s passing, you have all truly shown how much he not only meant to us, but to all of you as well.

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy, sunshine in my eyes can make me cry.
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely, sunshine almost always makes me high.
If I had a day that I could give you, I'd give to you the day just like today.
If I had a song that I could sing for you, I'd sing a song to make you feel this way.
~ John Denver  

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