February 12, 2013
Atkinson, Velma L.
Velma Louise “Dove” (MacEachern) Atkinson, a New Hampshire resident for the past four years, but formerly of Norwood and Westwood, died Monday, February 11, 2013 at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She was 82. Dove was born May 24, 1930 in Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of Ivan C. and Olga (Gill) MacEachern, immigrants from Canada. She graduated from Westwood High School and earned her undergraduate and Masters degree from Sargent College in Boston (now part of Boston University). Velma worked as a physical education teacher in the Westwood Massachusetts elementary schools for thirty years until her retirement in 1991. Dove enjoyed crossword puzzles and music and loved comedy and anything that would make her, and others, laugh. Dove is survived by her daughter, Joanne Burton, and her husband Craig, of Newton, New Hampshire; her son, Thomas M. Atkinson of Manchester, New Hampshire; her grandson, Jason Burton, of Newton, New Hampshire; and her siblings, Fred MacEachern, Vernon Maceachern, Corinne Dickie, Mabel Gracie, Margaret Lavargna, Virginia Costello; and many nieces, nephews, greatnieces and greatnephews. She was the former wife of the late Gordon H. Atkinson; and the sister of the late Ivan MacEachern, John MacEachern, and George MacEachern. Visiting hours will be held Friday, February 15th from 4 to 7 PM at the Folsom Funeral Home, 649 High Street, Westwood. Relatives and friends are invited to attend Dove’s funeral Saturday at 11 AM at the funeral home. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers donations to the National Kidney Foundation serving New England,30 East 33rd Street, NY, NY, 10016 would be appreciated.