Gail Laraine Szostak

Gail is survived by her children, Julie Ely and her husband Bob Ely of New Hampton, NH, William Szostak and his wife Phoenix Mayet of Rollinsford, NH, and Natasha Long and her husband Will Long of Concord, NH; grandchildren Hosanna and Maranatha Emery of Boscawen, NH, Alyssa Ely of New Hampton, NH, and Tiahna Fifield and her fiancé Donald (DJ) Dubois, and Corey Fifield of Concord, NH; and great-grandchildren Hazel and Charolette Dubois of Concord, NH. She is preceded in death by her parents, Philip Morrell, Sr. and Arline Burnell Morrell of Windham, Maine, and her beloved son Leroy Szostak of Penacook, NH. Gail was the youngest of 8 children, brothers Philip (Stanley) Morrell, Jr., Robert Morrell, Kent Morrell, Melvin Morrell, Roger Morrell, Duane Morrell, and sister Jean Crockett of Windham, ME.

Gail was born on March 3, 1947 in Gray, Maine and grew up in Windham, Maine. She graduated from Windham High School in 1966. Gail held a Master’s degree in Education from Notre Dame College in Manchester, NH and an Associate’s degree in Human Services from New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord. She taught at Pine Haven residential school in Suncook, Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, and the Student Assistant Program in Andover, and she counseled students at the Outward Bound program at Beech Hill Hospital in Dublin, NH.

Many different connections helped bring Gail joy throughout her life. She was an active member of St. Paul’s Episcopal church in Concord, NH, sang in many different choirs, sang Handel’s Messiah in the Concord Community Chorus for four years, worked in the Stephen Ministry as a care-giver, volunteered at the Concord Soup Kitchen, and volunteered in children’s summer camps. In 1990 she fulfilled a lifelong dream by traveling to Mozambique and working at an orphanage for two months. She also spoke often of her fond memories of travels to Israel and the Flathead Reservation in Montana.

Although Gail suffered from Parkinson’s disease and lived in Merrimack County Nursing Home for the last few years of her life, she remained active, making art, writing stories, and helping others. She received a Citizenship Award for her work on behalf of the residents at the nursing home. Gail’s motto was “Always growing.” She believed that people are never too old to learn, and encouraged everyone to “Look at yourself where you are, with hopes of doing better each day.”

Visiting hours are scheduled for Tuesday, August 21 from 5-7 pm at Bennett Funeral Home, 209 N. Main St., Concord, NH. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, August 22 at 10 am at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 21 Centre St., Concord, NH. A procession will proceed to the Woodlawn Cemetery, 130 Village St, Concord, NH 03303, for a short committal service. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Gail’s life. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at https://www.BennettFuneral.com for the Szostak family. Donations may be made in Gail’s name to the Friendly Kitchen in Concord, NH.

The family would like to thank the staff at Merrimack County Nursing Home and Concord Hospital for their excellent care and kindness.