Our Homestead NH Team

We are proud of our exceptional "team". Each member possesses knowledge and expertise in effectively meeting the needs of adults with developmental disabilities and related conditions. We invite you to scroll down and explore our team members biographies.

Jan Lessard Peightell

Board Member - Our Homestead

Jan attended undergraduate college in western New York, then completed her master’s degree in social work at Syracuse University. She worked as a Clinical Social Worker first at a residential school for students with disabilities, then for 36 years for a non-profit Child Placing Agency providing adoption and foster care services.

Jan is the mother of three adult sons, the youngest who has Autism. She writes a monthly blog “The Micah Lens” with the goal of increasing understanding of and support for those living with Autism.

Patrice Liff

Board Member & Grant Writer - Our Homestead

Recently retired, Patrice worked with children as a teacher and school administrator for 33 years. During her tenure, she wore many hats that supported learning for students and teachers. At one time, she managed the Federal Projects with a focus on developing instructional programs through federal grants. Patrice holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Massachusetts, M.Ed. in Elementary Education from Lesley University, and a CAGS in Leadership and Learning from Rivier University. She is pleased to be a part of the Our Homestead team through grant research and writing.

Patrice and her husband Steve have lived in Bedford for 36 years. They have two children, a son 33 and a daughter 31, who attended Bedford Schools. The family are founding members of the Bedford Bobcats Special Olympic Team where their son Marc was an athlete and their daughter a volunteer. Marc, who has developmental disabilities, currently lives at home and participates in a Family Directed program that supports him as he learns to integrate into the community. He enjoys taking classes, participates on a bowling team, and volunteers for Families in Transition. It is our hope that Marc will continue to develop independence by eventually residing in a supportive housing community.

Maddy Mandelbaum

President - Our Homestead

Maddy is a long-time resident of Londonderry where she and her late husband raised both of their children now 33 and 29 years old. She attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges and went on to earn a master’s degree in social work from The University of Connecticut.

Early in her professional life she worked with youngsters in residential care where the goal was to reunite the child with their family successfully after imparting both with a more effective set of skills to live by. Following this Maddy worked as a psychotherapist in a group setting as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with both children and adults.

Maddy is the mother of a 29-year-old son with developmental disabilities. She believes he will become his best self if he is provided an opportunity to move out her home to live with a group of peers experiencing a sense of belonging. With this foundation her hope is that by getting out into the community he will develop a better understanding of his capability and a sense of purpose.

Lori Rogers

Board Member - Our Homestead

Lori is a mom, wife, and passionate advocate for individuals with disabilities. Her journey has been shaped by love, especially for her incredible son Craig, a non-speaking autistic adult who has taught her more about strength, resilience, and communication than any textbook ever could.

Over the years, she founded family support initiatives, helped launch community programs, and developed tools like Positive Activity™ to help others shift their mindset toward hope, empowerment, and compassion. She believes that when families are supported, individuals thrive.

She lives in Nashua with her husband Neil. She is also the proud Mom of Amanda and Cam.

Mary Paranese

Treasurer - Our Homestead

Mary is a lifelong resident of Manchester, NH, who attained a degree in business education from Plymouth State College. She began her career as a high school teacher in the Manchester school system.

After the birth of her three children, she continued teaching evenings as an adjunct professor at a private local college while also working as an administrative assistant for a Manchester attorney during the day. Mary has served as treasurer for three organizations of which she has held membership.

She is the mother of an adult son, Christopher, who has Down Syndrome.

Lois Cote

Board Member- Our Homestead

For more than forty years, Lois has worked with, volunteered with, and nurtured friendships with persons living with developmental disabilities and their families.

Her experience includes group home management and vocational site/work- place supervision. Lois completed a master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, choosing to work with children, adolescents and their families, and provided services to many clients living with autism and other developmental disabilities. She began volunteering as an ally and advocate after retiring 10 years ago.

Currently, in addition to the Our Homestead Board, Lois volunteers with organizations that focus on civil/human rights and environmental concerns.

Julie L. Cyr

Secretary - Our Homestead

Julie is an employee benefits specialist who owned and operated First Benefits, Inc., an employee benefits consulting agency in Manchester, NH for 30+ years. In July 2025, the company was acquired by Davis & Towle Benefits Group in Concord, NH and she joined their team.

Over the course of many years, she has been an advocate for the Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled population working with families to set up and staff effective home/school program models and services. She was part of a group of Autism Service Providers that worked together to introduce NH insurance legislation mandating coverage for ABA/SLP/OT therapies for individuals with Autism. The legislation passed and is now mandated in the small group health insurance market.

Julie and her husband have lived in Manchester, NH for 32 years. They are the parents of a 26-year-old son with Autism who is non-verbal. He is currently living in an NH Enhanced Family Care Model Adult Program. Julie’s dream is for Matthew to be able to live in a home, delivering services that meet his needs that he can call his own.