Derry - William Nicholas Ventura, Sr., fortified by the sacraments of the Church and surrounded by his loving and devoted children and grandchildren, died peacefully on Saturday, November 15. 2025, after a lengthy illness. He was 80 years old.

William, or "Bill" to his friends and "Papa" to his favorite people, was born December 9, 1944 to William S. and Josephine (Mastrangelo) Ventura in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was raised in Boston's North End before moving to East Boston. Bill spent his teenage years working hard and hanging around Engine 40 in East Boston, where the firefighters became like fathers to him, setting him on a path to becoming a Boston Firefighter, joining the department in 1969.

In 1976, Bill married Susan, his love and partner in crime, and they had two sons, William Jr. and Anthony. He retired from the fire department in 1981 and never missed a moment caring for his wife and boys. After moving to NH in 1984 he settled in Derry, NH. After Sue's unexpected passing in 1999, he remained in the family home until his own death.

In 1988, Bill went to work part-time for Concord Trailways/ Boston Express bus line. For 22 years he was the sole agent at the Exit 4 bus stop, selling tickets first from a box truck, then a small building resembling "Snoopy's doghouse," until in 2007 a multimillion-dollar station was built. Loved by drivers and commuters, Bill retired for the last time in 2010.

Bill then devoted himself to helping raise his four grandchildren. They were his whole world, and he loved them like crazy - commenting more than once that if he had known how much he would love his grandchildren, he would have skipped having children and just had grandchildren instead. The only light in his life that shined as bright as his love for his grandchildren was the love he had for his daughter-in-law, Felicia. She was the daughter he never had and always had a most special place in his life and heart.

Bill is survived by so many family members and friends; his sons, William Jr. and Anthony, William's wife Felicia, as well as 4 grandchildren, Anthony and his fiancé Taylor Bieren, Isabella and her boyfriend Julien Torres, Nicholas and his girlfriend Kayla Adams, and Vincent; his closest and oldest friend Joseph and Joan Paulanthony of Quincy, MA, and Maureen James of Greenwood, Delaware- a cousin he loved like a sister.

Bill loved nothing better than being surrounded by his family, and they miss him terribly.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch Street, Derry. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 20th at 10 a.m. in St. Hedwig Parish, corner of Beech Street and Orange Street, Manchester. Burial will follow in St. Hedwig Cemetery, 71 Old Bedford Rd, Bedford, NH. To send a condolence please visit www.peabodyfuneralhome.com.