Longtime Bedford Resident was a Well-Respected Interior Designer

Donna Cecylia (Nieviera) Gauthier died unexpectedly on Saturday, December 14, 2013, in her home in Brentwood, NH. She was 68 years old.

Donna was born in Fall River, MA, on September 29, 1945, the daughter of the late Joseph and Cecylia (Wolowicz) Nieviera. She grew up in South Easton, MA and attended the local schools. For the past 12 years, she lived in Brentwood, NH. Previously, she resided in Hooksett, NH and was a long-time resident of Bedford, NH.

Her sense of style showed in everything she did, inspiring her to become an interior designer and owner of American Upholstering Co. over 20 years ago. Retired, Donna was last employed as a design consultant at Ethan Allen. Previously, Mrs. Gauthier was also a co-owner and realtor at Marketplace Realty/Business Marketplace as well as an executive secretary at Mr. Donut.

A varsity athlete, Donna graduated from Oliver Ames High School in Easton and went on to study at the University of Bridgeport and become a sister of the Theta Epsilon sorority. An alumnus of The Katherine Gibbs School, she was a previous member of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). Besides designing her own home's interior, Donna loved the beach, eating lobster, home and craft projects, cooking, shopping, and gardening. She was an avid conversationalist and loved to pass the time telling stories with family and friends…and was still in touch with friends from her early years.

Donna is predeceased less than two years by her husband of 39 years, Leo R. Gauthier, originally from Fitchburg, MA; as well as her stepdaughter, Catherine Zagwyn. She leaves behind two daughters, Caron Winslow, of Bedford, NH and S. Nicole Trombly, of Manchester; two stepdaughters, Lynn Blaeholder, (Freeport, FL) and Susan Kowalczyk, (Deerfield, NH); five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and many cousins.

A time of gathering and wake will be held on Monday, December 23, 2013 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm at the Phaneuf Funeral Home, 243 Hanover Street (corner of Union Street) in Manchester, NH. A memorial service will follow in the funeral home chapel at 3:00 pm. Burial alongside her husband Leo in the NH State Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen, NH will take place at a later date.

To view an online memorial or leave condoences, visit www.phaneuf.net