Veterans Home offers 'Final Salute' to Navy veteran's service

TILTON — The Final Salute is a way for residents and staff at the New Hampshire Veterans Home to remember loved ones who have died. On Monday, Judith “Kelley” Lavoie was recognized for her service in the U.S. Navy.

The Nashua resident was born on July 18, 1939, and died Nov. 5, at the age of 87. Lavoie served in the Navy from May 1958 to September 1959, at the U.S. Naval Station in Washington, D.C., during the Vietnam War. She held a rank of yeoman seaman E-3.

She was a resident at the Veterans Home since October 2025, living in the Welch neighborhood. She was a devout Christian who participated in church services, bible studies and religious programs at the home.

On Monday morning, family members, residents and staff gathered for a ceremony to remember the woman who everyone knew as “Kelley,” her maiden name, and what she was called while in the service.

“The name stuck after her military service, and her maiden name became her everyday nickname,” said Sarah Stanley, public information officer for the Veterans Home.

According to information provided by the Veterans Home, “Kelley lived a life shaped by service, cherished interests, and the simple pleasures that made her uniquely herself.”

Lavoie served in the Navy before working in secretarial and administrative careers. She retired in 2001. She was the mother of two sons, Michael and Lance.

Lavoie loved to play piano and keyboard, as well as listen to show tunes, golden oldies and ballads. She was a fan of Stephen Colbert and Matthew Perry, while keeping up with the Royal Family. A comfort film of hers was “I Remember Mama,” and she loved the cold weather, the color yellow, and crocheting.

She was a big sports fan, cheering on the New England Patriots, and enjoyed bingo and playing with dogs who would visit. Lavoie loved the little things in life.

“Kelley will be remembered for the things she loved, the memories she leaves behind, and the unique spirit that made her who she was,” reads a eulogy from the Final Salute. “Though she will be deeply missed, her memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew her.”

Final Salute

The Final Salute is unique to the Veterans Home. An announcement is made over the loudspeaker, so residents and staff can gather in the Tarr South lobby to honor a resident who has died.

According to information provided by the Veterans Home, a funeral home representative, security officer, and family members gather with residents to pay their respects. The president of the resident council will read the Final Salute, with the resident’s name, thanking them for their service. Residents then have the chance to say a few words before a tolling of the bell, and "Taps" is played.

Stanley said the Final Salute is important, as many residents of the Veterans Home can't make it to funeral services. Many staff members gain close relationships with residents.

Commandant Kimberly MacKay spoke about the importance of the Final Salute.

“A proper Final Salute is more than a ceremony,” MacKay said. “It is a solemn acknowledgment of a life of service, a recognition of sacrifice, and a final expression of gratitude from a grateful nation and community. It assures each veteran, regardless of rank, branch of service, or era in which they served, that their service mattered, their sacrifice is remembered, and they will not be forgotten.”

MacKay said their responsibility at the Veterans Home to those who serve doesn’t stop when military service ends, and it shouldn’t stop at the end of their lives, either. She said there is an obligation to honor them throughout their life, and when they die, so they receive the “respectful and dignified farewell they so rightly deserve.”

She said every veteran deserves to be remembered “with dignity, honor and respect,” no matter where or when they served.

“Each answered the call and became part of something greater than themselves,” MacKay said. “We may not be able to repay the debt we owe these men and women, but we can ensure that none of them leaves this world without the honor, recognition, and Final Salute they have earned. That is not simply our duty as caretakers of our veterans. It is our duty as Americans.”

Veterans Day remarks

MacKay said military service is more than just a commitment to the country, but also a commitment to “duty, honor, courage, and the freedoms we all cherish.” She said the men and women who answered the call served with a “sense of purpose and sacrifice” that deserves respect and gratitude.

“Our veterans come from different generations and different circumstances, but they share a common bond: they placed service to their country above their own interests,” MacKay said. “Many left behind their families and the comforts of everyday life, never knowing what challenges or dangers awaited them. Their contributions helped shape our nation’s history and preserve the freedoms enjoyed by generations that followed.”