Carol Elise (Riecks) Goss

Carol Elise Goss

Beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend,

Carol Elise (Riecks) Goss, 86, of Pelham, New Hampshire, passed away on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at D’Youville Senior Living in Lowell, Massachusetts.

She was the cherished wife of Harold H. Goss, who predeceased her in 2004.

Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, December 16, 1937, the daughter of the late Edman Riecks and the late Rhoda Frances (Waterman) Riecks, she grew up in Billerica, attended local schools and graduated Valedictorian from Billerica Memorial High School Class of 1955. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Massachusetts School of Art in 1959, and later her teaching certificate from Rivier College in 1978.

A full-time homemaker, she also dedicated 30 years building ‘the business’ as an Amway Distributor, side by side with her husband, Harry. She was also a Certified Art Teacher, tutoring many students over her lifetime, spent years as an art layout specialist at the Salem Observer, and in the office for Nashua Ford. She was a talented artist and spent a lifetime drawing and painting, amassing a large body of work including many portraits. These were in a variety of mediums including oils, watercolors, pen and ink and pastels. She also was proud of her work as an illustrator, which recently was published in a locally set book.

Active in her community, Carol spent much of her time with a variety of local groups, acting, singing, directing, set designing, creating musical arrangements, and choreographing, including Actor Singers in Nashua, Sweet Adelines Merrimack Valley chorus, and as a drama coach for Pelham High School.  Carol played piano and clarinet and loved all types of music.

She was deeply involved in her churches and was a member of First Congregational Church in Billerica, MA, First Congregational Church in Pelham, the Assembly of God Church in Methuen, MA, and the Crossing Life Church in Windham, NH. She developed a deep love of sacred music and spent many years in her church choirs as an alto and soprano singer, bell ringer, and rhythmic choir leader.  Carol's broad interests led her to become a Girl Scout Leader, a member of the Rainbow Girls, and a member of the Windham Community Band.

In her spare time, as an avid reader, she loved to study the bible and history. She loved to travel, taking multiple trips to Israel, and one to China with her late husband.

Carol is survived by three sons, Thomas D. Goss and his wife Sandra of Pelham, NH, Christopher R. Goss and his wife Beth of Plaistow, NH, and Randall S. Goss and his wife Janice of Newton, NH; two daughters, Amy M. Goss of Tamworth, NH, and April D. Goss-Baker and her husband Steven of Billerica, MA; a grandson, Ryan Goss and his wife Jessica; four granddaughters, Kaitlin Szacik, Hannah Goss, Gracie Goss and her husband Giovanni, and Cayleigh Goss-Baker; one great grandson, Jude Goss; 6 nieces and nephews, Eliese C. (Atkins) Moore and her husband Frank, Mark Atkins, Raymond Atkins, Jeremy Riecks, Rebecca Riecks, and Amanda (Riecks) Kurshinsky; three grandnephews, Jonathan Moore, Julian Moore and his wife Audrey, and Jared Kurshinsky; and two cousins, Sandra Smith and Harold Smith.

She was the sister of the late David E. Riecks and the late Natalie Atkins and the aunt of the late Peter Atkins.

Friends may call at the PELHAM FUNERAL HOME 11 NASHUA RD. in PELHAM on Thursday September 12, 2024, from 4 to 7 P.M. Her Funeral Service will take place Friday morning, September 13, 2024, at Crossing Life Church in Windham, NH at 11:00 A.M. with a burial to follow at the Gibson Cemetery in Pelham, NH. E-condolences and directions can be found at www.pelhamfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to: Crossing Life Church, 122 North Lowell Road, Windham, NH 03087. Arrangements by Funeral Director James F. O'Donnell, Jr. (603) 635-3333

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