Janet V. Zale

Janet V. Zale, 65, longtime resident of Merrimack, NH passed away on Saturday, May 9th, 2026 at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

She was born in Bangor, ME on October 13th, 1960, daughter of the late Marian (Haggerty) and Patrick Vaughan, Jr. She was raised in Chelmsford, MA, graduated from Chelmsford High School in 1978 and received her Bachelor’s degree from Boston College in 1982. She later received her Series 6, Series 7 and CFP.

Janet worked in the financial services industry for over 30 years – first starting as a trader at Robert C. Carr in Manchester, NH and becoming Director of Financial Services at Pelletier Financial in Nashua, NH for the past 17 years.

Janet was a devoted mother whose priority was her family. She enjoyed hosting many family gatherings at her home, always creating a warm and well decorated environment, going all out for Christmas in particular. She had a green thumb and loved to garden and care for her always growing collection of houseplants. Ever the animal lover, Janet maintained a house full of pets over the years and cherished the memories with her cats, dogs, and all other creatures she allowed her children to bring home.

Janet was an excellent shopper and could always find a good buy. She loved antiques and collecting limoges and longaberger baskets. Her impeccable sense of style was not limited to how she presented herself but also in her varied taste in music having attended numerous Kings of Leon, Coldplay, Rob Thomas, and Bruce Springsteen concerts over the years among many others.

Summer trips to Chatham and Ogunquit were a staple in her life and more recently Janet enjoyed winter getways with her family to Mt. Washington. Janet was someone who would lend an ear when you needed support or advice. Her warmth and care was always felt by those she loved. She knew that life was about balance and finding joy in the small moments which is why there is "always room for dessert".

Along with her parents, Janet was pre-deceased by a sister, Marian DiBattiste and a nephew, David DiBattiste.

She will be forever loved by her husband of nearly 42 years, Edwin Zale; three children, Laura and her husband Terence MacCorvin, Christine and her husband Nick Joyce and Stephen Zale and his wife Abby; two grandsons, Greyson and Malcolm, two sisters, Kathy and her husband Chuck Jeanne and Jackie Vaughan; two brothers, John Vaughan and Patrick Vaughan and his wife Laura along with several nieces and nephews.

Visitation hours will be held at the Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Highway, Merrimack on Thursday, May 14th, 2026 from 5 – 7 PM. Burial will be held privately at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Janet’s memory can be made to either Home, Health & Hospice Care, c/o Community Hospice House, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack NH 03054 (www.hhhc.org) or to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org)