Gertrude B. Joscelyn

Our dear Aunt, Gertrude Blanche Dubia Joscelyn, a long-time resident of the
Northfield-Tilton area, passed peacefully on Saturday November 16, 2024, at the
age of 99.
Gertrude (aka Gert, Aunt Gert, Aunt Blanche), was born in Franklin, NH, on May 10,
1925, the daughter of Frank and Annie Dubia. Her family also included four
brothers and one sister, now deceased: Norbert, Otis, Richard, Arthur and Annie L.
Manning. She was also predeceased by her husband Donald Joscelyn.
The 1st quarter of her century consisted of growing up on Bay St. in Northfield.
Gert and her brother Arthur would walk downtown and play their harmonicas and
guitar on the main street and at the theater to get food. Life was not easy in the
30’s and early 40’s. Gert graduated from Tilton Northfield High School and then
cared for her parents until their deaths in 1959 and 61.
Gertrude’s 2nd quarter of her century included working at Arch Appliance. She and
her brother Nob lived and took care of the family home on Bay St. after Nob came
home from the war (WWII) in 1945. Gertrude was gifted at being very musically
inclined and had a talent for drawing and painting, as were her siblings. She
especially enjoyed painting pictures of pets, her own, her friends, and her
relatives.
Going into her 3rd quarter of the century, she met Don Joscelyn, and they married.
Don, Nob and Gert built their home at the top of the hill on Joscelyn Lane in
Tilton. Gert worked at Hall Library and was a “Grammy” at Union Sanborn School
in Northfield, both of which she truly enjoyed.
Gertrude entered the last quarter of her century being an active 75-year-old. Most
days she could be found walking (she never had a driver’s license) into town to do
errands and go to the post office and chat with acquaintances. She sold her home
on Joscelyn Lane and eventually moved to Franklin into the same complex as her
sister. She enjoyed going to the Senior Center in Tilton for Bluegrass Jam Sessions
on Wednesday nights, where she was still playing her harmonica and yodeling.
In early 2021 due to health issues, she went to live at Mtn. Ridge Nursing Home
until the time of her death. For almost 4 years she was known at Mtn. Ridge for
going up and down the hallways yodeling and playing her harmonica and singing
her little limericks.
Gertrude lived a life filled with faith, love, strength and an amazing sense of
humor. She was a loyal fan of her Red Sox. Her cats that she had over the years
were the loves of her life.
Aunt Gert/Aunt Blanche’s family members include many nieces and nephews that
extend out 4 generations. She will be especially missed by her niece Lana
Manning Wrzesinski and her husband Michael, her nephew Brian Dubia and his
wife Barbara and her beloved friend Mona Player.
A calling hour will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2024 from 1:00 PM until the
time of the service at 2:00 PM at the Paquette-Neun Funeral Home, 104 Park St.,
Northfield, NH. Burial will be held at a later date in Park Cemetery in Tilton.
In Lieu of flowers, donations in the memory of Gertrude Joscelyn may be made to
the Franklin Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 265, Franklin NH 03235-0265.