Vasilia Maglaras Bellemeur, 93, passed away at her home in Dover, NH on June 12, 2022.

She was born on October 31, 1928 in Dover, NH, the daughter of Dionysios Maglaras and Constantina Sousounis Maglaras.

Upon graduating from Dover High School in 1947, Vasilia worked as a telephone operator for New England Telephone until 1962. She married Ernest Edward Bellemeur, May 31, 1953. Together they opened Lone Oak Ice Cream in Rochester, NH in 1962. They operated this successful drive-in restaurant known for its ice cream until 1976, when they opened the Sea Loft Restaurant in Dover, NH. Following the sale of the Sea Loft, Vasilia worked as a baker at Hannaford Supermarket in Rochester, retiring in 1993.

As a young woman she loved sports, and was a skilled softball player. She played for and captained the Dover, NH Clarostat Girls softball team from 1949-1953, winning a state championship in 1949 and 1950. She was a longtime fan of the Boston Red Sox, who relished the end of their World Series drought. Vasilia remained active throughout her life, exercising and enjoying the pool with her many friends at the Works in Dover until her nineties.

Vasilia was an outgoing and active member of her community, known for her generosity. As a proud graduate of Dover High School, she served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Class of 1947 Association for more than thirty years. The group provided yearly scholarships for deserving Dover High School graduates. She also spent many hours volunteering at the Wentworth Home.

Vasilia had many hobbies. She was an adept knitter, who created countless hats, scarves, and sweaters for her family and friends. There was always a work in progress in her knitting bag. She enjoyed cooking and was a particularly skilled baker, who will be remembered fondly by many for her Greek pastries (especially her baklava), whoopie pies, chocolate chip cookies, and donuts. Vasilia also loved to travel and enjoyed her adventures in Greece and many of the US National Parks. When she wasn’t traveling, she enjoyed the outdoors feeding and watching the birds and gardening. She was always happy to share her harvest of vegetables with family and friends. She was an avid reader who enjoyed a good mystery, a cooking magazine, and the local paper.

Vasilia was predeceased by husband Ernest in 2006, siblings Charles, John, Pauline, Arthur, George, Mary and Evangelia and son in law Paul Montminy. Vasilia is survived by her sister Ourania Maglaras Marshman, sister-in-law Estelle Plummer, daughters Marcia Montminy Lane and her husband Garry of Dover, and Susan Sanfacon and her husband Michael of San Jose, CA, grandchildren Tim Montminy (Sandra) of Portsmouth, NH, Gordon Sanfacon (Angela) of Phoenix, AZ, and Alison Sanfacon (Holly) of Pittsburg, PA, great grandchildren Adelaide and Everett Sanfacon, and many nieces and nephews.

Her selfless love of her family, strong work ethic, strength and determination will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Friends are invited to visit with Vasilia’s family on Sunday, June 19th from 2-4pm or 5-7pm at R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St, Rochester NH 03867. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 20th at 10am in the chapel of the funeral home, with a burial to follow at the Rochester Cemetery, in Rochester, NH.

Published in Portsmouth Herald/Foster's Daily Democrat/Seacoast Sunday, Portsmouth Herald/Foster's Daily Democrat/Seacoast Sunday

Vasilia Maglaras Bellemeur, 93, passed away at her home in Dover, NH on June 12, 2022.

She was born on October 31, 1928 in Dover, NH, the daughter of Dionysios Maglaras and Constantina Sousounis Maglaras.

Upon graduating from Dover High School in 1947, Vasilia worked as a telephone operator for New England Telephone until 1962. She married Ernest Edward Bellemeur, May 31, 1953. Together they opened Lone Oak Ice Cream in Rochester, NH in 1962. They operated this successful drive-in restaurant known for its ice cream until 1976, when they opened the Sea Loft Restaurant in Dover, NH. Following the sale of the Sea Loft, Vasilia worked as a baker at Hannaford Supermarket in Rochester, retiring in 1993.

As a young woman she loved sports, and was a skilled softball player. She played for and captained the Dover, NH Clarostat Girls softball team from 1949-1953, winning a state championship in 1949 and 1950. She was a longtime fan of the Boston Red Sox, who relished the end of their World Series drought. Vasilia remained active throughout her life, exercising and enjoying the pool with her many friends at the Works in Dover until her nineties.

Vasilia was an outgoing and active member of her community, known for her generosity. As a proud graduate of Dover High School, she served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Class of 1947 Association for more than thirty years. The group provided yearly scholarships for deserving Dover High School graduates. She also spent many hours volunteering at the Wentworth Home.

Vasilia had many hobbies. She was an adept knitter, who created countless hats, scarves, and sweaters for her family and friends. There was always a work in progress in her knitting bag. She enjoyed cooking and was a particularly skilled baker, who will be remembered fondly by many for her Greek pastries (especially her baklava), whoopie pies, chocolate chip cookies, and donuts. Vasilia also loved to travel and enjoyed her adventures in Greece and many of the US National Parks. When she wasn’t traveling, she enjoyed the outdoors feeding and watching the birds and gardening. She was always happy to share her harvest of vegetables with family and friends. She was an avid reader who enjoyed a good mystery, a cooking magazine, and the local paper.

Vasilia was predeceased by husband Ernest in 2006, siblings Charles, John, Pauline, Arthur, George, Mary and Evangelia and son in law Paul Montminy. Vasilia is survived by her sister Ourania Maglaras Marshman, sister-in-law Estelle Plummer, daughters Marcia Montminy Lane and her husband Garry of Dover, and Susan Sanfacon and her husband Michael of San Jose, CA, grandchildren Tim Montminy (Sandra) of Portsmouth, NH, Gordon Sanfacon (Angela) of Phoenix, AZ, and Alison Sanfacon (Holly) of Pittsburg, PA, great grandchildren Adelaide and Everett Sanfacon, and many nieces and nephews.

Her selfless love of her family, strong work ethic, strength and determination will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Friends are invited to visit with Vasilia’s family on Sunday, June 19th from 2-4pm or 5-7pm at R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St, Rochester NH 03867. A funeral service will be held on Monday, June 20th at 10am in the chapel of the funeral home, with a burial to follow at the Rochester Cemetery, in Rochester, NH.

Published in Portsmouth Herald/Foster's Daily Democrat/Seacoast Sunday, Portsmouth Herald/Foster's Daily Democrat/Seacoast Sunday