Mona L. Dore, 89

Mona Lee Dore (née Clark) passed away on May 22, 2026, joining her lifelong love, Guy Stanley Dore. She was 89 years old.

Mona was born July 23, 1936, in Laconia, to Everett and Esther Clark, the oldest of four siblings. At 5 years old she moved with her parents to Avery Street in Laconia, where she would soon meet the love of her life, Guy Dore. Guy lived just a few houses down, and Mona, a secret lover of romance (she once submitted a romance story to Readers Digest) knew he was her perfect partner. She convinced her friends to change seats with her at church so she could sit next to him, and by 12 she asked him on their first date to a Rainbow Girls dance. They were married about five years later on June 26, 1954.

Mona was a woman of strength, resilience, and candid honesty. As a newlywed at 18 years old she and Guy moved to Newfoundland, Canada, for Guy’s service in the Air Force. Far from family and friends, and without convenient ways to be in touch, Mona and Guy built the foundation of their 61-year marriage. Mona became a mother in 1955, and spent the rest of her life deeply connected to her four devoted children.

After moving around a bit while Guy was in the service, they eventually settled in Derry, where they raised their children and sent them to Pinkerton Academy. She taught her children and grandchildren the significance of hard work, family, and playing to win (she continued to “get Bruce,” her oldest son, in cribbage until her last days). Upon retirement, Mona and Guy moved to Hernando, Florida, where they enjoyed the warm weather, trips to Cypress Gardens, going out to eat, and playing thousands of games of cards and Yahtzee.

Mona spent many years volunteering at Florida Citrus Hospital, was an avid reader, and enjoyed crocheting, especially Christmas stockings and afghans.

Mona lost her life-long love in 2015, when Guy passed, but she carried a picture of him with her everywhere she went after that: the weddings of three of her grandchildren, her oldest great-grandchild’s high school graduation, and trips all around the world with her children. Mona is sure to be catching Guy up on the last 10+ years, however, she’ll probably leave out that she took up playing mahjong for quarters and learned to love a glass of the best top-rated wines.

Mona was predeceased by her husband, Guy Dore, and her brother, Mark Clark. She is survived by her four children, Bruce Dore and his wife Lynne, David Dore and his wife Anne, Gina Ruth and her husband Don, and Eric Dore. Mona was Nana to four grandchildren, Jennifer Flannelly and her husband Dennis, Stephanie Kingston and her husband Tanner, Christine Trant and her husband Mark, and Michael Clark Dore and his wife Jenna; and nine great-grandchildren, Jack, Will, Christopher and Thomas Flannelly, Theodore Guy and Miles Kingston, Henry Trant, and Adelaide and Tobias Clark Dore. Mona is also survived by her brother, Miles Clark and his wife Lisa, her sister Myla Crouse and her husband Rich, her brother-in-law Winfred Wyatt, and nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Pinkerton Academy. An endowed scholarship fund is being developed in memory of Mona and Guy Dore for student athletes. Donations can be made online at bit.ly/4dNwg4o, or by mailing a check to Pinkerton Academy Institutional Advancement, Attn: Mona and Guy Dore Fund, 5 Pinkerton St., Derry, NH 03038.

The family will celebrate Mona’s life at a private funeral service.