Francis J. Newell Jr.

It is with a heavy heart that this news is delivered, but I hope a few memories that follow will give us a little smile by remembering some old times…Francis “Squeakie” Newell Jr., 79, passed away on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at what became his home, in Littleton, NH, where he peacefully spent his days with his daughter, Jennifer Newell. 

Born in Brockton, MA on October 4, 1944, he is the son of Francis Newell and Lillian (Hannan) Newell. My father joined the National Guard in June 1965 and was an active member for 7 years. On February 25, 1966, he married my mother, Carole Doran.

Squeak held various positions of employment over the years ranging from working at the First National grocery store in Brockton many, many years ago (where he actually met my mother!), to having a delivery route with Frito Lay, and finally steadily working successfully in the construction industry as a drywaller/taper and insulation.

He is survived by his only child, his daughter, Jennifer Newell, as well as his loving sisters, Joyce (O’Neill) Newell and Janet (Cox) Newell and by his brother, Billy Newell and his brother and sister-in-law, Tommy Newell and Teri Newell. He is also survived by many well-loved cousins, nieces and nephews and friends that he held near and dear…blessed by so many that they wouldn’t all fit on this page.

Squeakie is predeceased by his loving parents, and also predeceased by his older sister, Maureen (Newell) Leblanc, and many other beloved family members as our family is wonderfully extensive. Also, he is most notably predeceased by his former wife, my mother, Carole (Doran) Newell. I was comforted to learn through conversations with my father during his end days that my mother was always the first and only true love of his life. I will always remember the smile on his face during these talks, which in turn put a smile on my heart when he shared with me.

We all know how Squeak loved to have himself a great card game! 45 was his favorite and playing at the Commercial Club on Wednesdays was a weekly event he looked forward to. And we also know that he was definitely a betting man who truly enjoyed visits to the casinos.

Anyone who knows Squeak also knows he’s a giant sports fanatic! While every sport known to mankind interested him, he tended to really lean into baseball, because he played ball as a kid growing up and through high school, and he even coached little league somewhere in his younger adult years. However, he was also an avid hockey fan in the earlier days, attending Bruins games frequently with my mother. His younger brother Tommy shared a memory with me that his big brother Squeakie and my mother were the first ones who took him to his first Bruins game at the Boston Garden!

Janet shared a couple of fond memories about her big brother, too. She remembers Squeakie and my mother babysitting them as kids (Tommy shared that memory, too!), and another was when her big brother Squeak comforted her with a doll after she had taken a big spill on her bicycle as a little girl. He knew she was a doll fanatic, so he brought her a doll…with blue hair…and that’s what really struck her, the blue hair on this doll! It still makes her giggle to this day, because that’s what she was doing when she shared this memory—she was giggling... about a doll…from her big brother…with blue hair!

Billy’s memory was learning how to drive…and who taught him…yup, big brother Squeak and my mother would take him out and teach him how to drive. Then the task of taking him for his driving test was left to Joyce…I think he passed!

Joyce remembers ice skating with Squeak…or at least attempting to. Her kids loved to bring Uncle Squeak because he wasn’t the greatest ice skater, and they got such a kick out of him skating across the pond on his ankles!! He was the entertainment! They would all have a good laugh with him…he was a super good sport and always gave it his best shot! He truly enjoyed spending time with family. 

I want to thank you, Dad, for choosing to spend the rest of your precious days with me in Mum’s house in New Hampshire. I know how much you enjoyed it here because of the love, peace, tranquility and support that was shared with you each day. I miss you much…always have and always will…love you.

My father will be sorely missed by all of us who love him…and I pray that he is resting peacefully with all the souls who went before him…

Since he opted out of formal services and expressed that he’d rather have a celebration, I will be having a celebration of life in the summer, to be announced, and I will be sure to notify in advance when it’s been booked…most likely at the Avon Rod and Gun where we celebrate my Mum, too. So, keep an eye out for the date and please come celebrate with us!

Squeakie’s family will be hosting a gathering sooner than that, to be held on Saturday November 2, 2024, at the Boston Tavern in Middleborough, MA from 12-4PM.