Fanny E. Delisle

Fanny E. (Newcombe) Delisle, Ph.D., 83, of Bedford died November 15, 2006 at Catholic Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Born in Williamstown, VT, she was the daughter of Howard and Clara (MacLean) Newcombe. She was raised in Barre, VT and lived in Boston, MA and Manchester many years before moving to Bedford in the mid 1960's.

She earned a bachelor's degree from Boston University and a master's degree from the University of New Hampshire. She later became the first person to receive a doctoral degree in English literature from UNH.

Dr. Delisle taught in the English Department at St. Anselm College, Goffstown from 1966 to 1993. In 1978, she was awarded as Distinguished Teacher of the Year by the St. Anselm chapter of the American Association of University Professors.

During her many years at the college she served as English Department chair and was chair of the steering committee for the college's 10-year reaccreditation. She also served as president of the Faculty Senate for two years and was on many other committees.

Dr. Delisle was elected to Beta Gamma Sigma, a national honorary fraternity for outstanding achievement for individuals collegiate business and management programs. She also received the Ursa Major Award which is a national recognition by Alpha Phi Sorority for outstanding service and achievement. She is listed in Who's Who of American Woman, The World's Who's Who of Woman and the Who's Who in the East. She was a member of the Modern Language Society and the National and New Hampshire Associations for Teachers of English.

She was a worldwide traveler who climbed the Great Wall of China, touched the Sphinx and toured the Taj Mahal. She was also an avid gardener

She was married to Charles F. Rhoades who died in 1944 and Wilfred Delisle who died in 1991.

The family includes a daughter, Catherine C. Delisle of Bedford and cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated Tuesday November 21, 2006 at St. Anselm Abbey Church on the campus of St. Anselm College in Goffstown.

Memorial donations may be made to "St. Anselm College", in memory of Fanny E. Delisle, then mailed to The St. Anselm Fund, St. Anselm College, 100 St. Anselm Dr., Manchester, NH 03102.