North Haverhill, NH – Lillian Irene Whalen, 88, formerly of Woodsville, died on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at the Grafton County Nursing Home.

Lillian was born on November 14, 1927 in Haverhill, NH to Henry C. and Florence (Blair) Carpenter.  She was a graduate of Woodsville High School.  On October 26, 1946, she married Bernard James "Bernie" Whalen.

Lillian worked at Hale's Tavern prior to her marriage and later in life worked for 18 years at Bagonzi's Restaurant in Woodsville.

Lillian was a Communicant of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Woodsville where she was also a member of the women's club.  She belonged to the American Legion Auxiliary Unit #20 of Woodsville.

She loved her family dearly and especially enjoyed cooking for them.  Her other hobbies included doing jigsaw puzzles, gardening, and holding yard sales.  She spent numerous hours sitting on her front porch watching the cars drive by.  Following Bernie's retirement, they spent winters at Riverwoods Plantation in Estero, FL as well as traveling throughout the country visiting their children and grandchildren.  From her early life, Lillian was a loving caretaker to many of her family members, caring for them in the home in which she was born.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bernard J. Whalen on January 9, 2011; her parents, Henry and Florence Carpenter; and two sisters, Mildred Makin on August 23, 1994 and Addie M. Darling on February 1, 2009.

She is survived by a daughter, Susan L. Whalen and wife Susan Power of Andover, NH; three sons, Michael B. Whalen and wife Beverly of Estero, FL, Timothy T. Whalen and wife Mary Jane of Williston, VT, and Stephen H. Whalen and wife Karen of Woodsville; grandchildren, Tammy and Brad Colby of Mooringsport, LA, Wanda and Eric Reid of Columbia, MD, Debra and Tim Kelley of Malvern, PA, Jennifer and Israel Rouscher of Limerick, PA, Casey Whalen Hess of Lititz, PA, Kee Gibson of Sherman Oaks, CA, Sarah Gibson of Chicago, IL, Joy and Paul Fichiera of Chandler, AZ, Jennifer Whalen and Jeffrey Ho of Williamsburg, VA, Jesse and Chris Tyler of Landaff, NH and Meghan Richardson of Andover, NH; and 24 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

Calling hours will be on Friday, April 29, from 6 to 8 PM, with a prayer service at 7:30, at the Ricker Funeral Home, 1 Birch Street, Woodsville.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, April 30, at 10 AM at the St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 15 Pine Street, Woodsville with Father Alan Tremblay, officiating. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery, Swiftwater Road, Woodsville.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grafton County Activities Department, 3855 Dartmouth College Highway, North Haverhill, NH 03774.