Life on Northwood Lake Changed With Death of Mother, Daughter

Members of the Northwood Lake community are mourning the loss of two long-time residents who died just days apart.

Frances Cameron (Lavoie) Klop, 86, died on June 4. She was a lifelong resident of New Hampshire, born to William and Reatha (Cameron) Lavoie of Bedford in 1935, according to her obituary.

Fran, as her friends knew her, owned the white house with a red deck which sits on a point that drivers can see as they pass by the lake using Route 202. During the summer months, a pontoon boat could be seen coming in and out of the dock, sometimes multiple times a day on the weekend.

Fran and her husband, John "Jack" Klop, met during their freshman year at West High School in Manchester and they had five children. Jack worked in the press room of the New Hampshire Union Leader, and they had a home in Bedford in addition to their Northwood Lake camp where summers were spent outside.

"On Northwood Lake, she enjoyed every minute whether it was waterskiing, sailing, fishing, or sunset boat rides. She was adored by all, always there with a smile and a hug, a homecooked meal, and of course a bit of advice," Fran's obituary says.

In her retirement, Fran travelled back and forth to Naples, Fla., and lived on Northwood Lake during the warmer weather.

Fran died three days after her eldest child, Kathy Bennett, passed away after a battle with cancer at the age of 63.

Kathy lived just a few houses away from Fran and was a year-round resident, treasuring her time on Northwood Lake with family members and friends.

"She loved her boat rides, picking blueberries and baking her blueberry buckle, making bread, reading and enjoying life. She had a special fondness for the wildlife on the lake and watching her vegetable garden grow," Kathy's obituary says.

Kathy worked at Puritan Backroom Restaurant in Manchester. Last week, employees posted a tribute to her on Facebook.

Both women were to be remembered at an outdoor memorial service and celebration of life on Saturday.

Contact Managing News Editor Kimberley Haas at Kimberley.Haas@townsquaremedia.com.