Genevieve "Gen" T. Merrill, 97, formerly of Manchester, passed away peacefully at the Granite VNA Hospice House on October 15, 2021. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends during her time at Concord Hospital and the Hospice House. . She was loved by many and will be greatly missed!
Gen was predeceased by her beloved husband (Jack, 2018) after 72 years of marriage. Others who predeceased her included her parents, Leonard C. and Clara Louise (Hamlin) Todd; her 3 siblings and their spouses; her sister-in-law; and 2 nephews.
She is survived by her daughters, Pamela M. Smith (Chick) of Concord, NH and Barbara M. Austin (Dennis) of Duxbury, MA. Known as Grandy or Gege by her grandchildren and great grandchildren, she is survived by granddaughter, Nicole A. Gosselin (Mike) and their children, Will, Brooke and Heidi; grandson, Mike Smith and his daughter, Kealey; grandson, Lee Austin (Jamie) and their children, Bodhi, Finn and Jolie and grandson, Scott Austin. She is also survived by 4 nephews and their families.
Genevieve Holmes Todd was born in Hartford, CT on November 8, 1923, the second of 4 children. She was raised in Worcester, MA, graduating from North High School in 1942. She worked for a year before attending Mass State for 3 years. She left school to marry Jack on July 6, 1946, after he returned from WWII (POW).
Their married life began in Portsmouth NH where Jack returned to UNH to finish his degree in Business. Upon graduation in 1948, Jack was hired by International Harvester. Over the next 8 years they moved to MA (4 towns), ME and RI before they settled in Manchester in 1956. There they stayed until 2019, raising their family, working, volunteering in the community, making many great friends, becoming members of the First Congregational Church, and "loving their home, neighborhood and life".
Gen was a wife, homemaker, parent, grandparent, friend and volunteer, embracing all these roles throughout her adult life. Her greatest joy was raising her family, embracing her daughters' activities and their friends, while cultivating friendships and her own interests, as shown by the many activities and adventures in her life and the organizations she devoted her time to. She gave her family and friends the gift of time, unconditional love and a listening ear. As well as many laughs. She had a great sense of humor and wit. Her legacy to all is to take what life brings you and infuse it with kindness, joy, humor and love.
Mom enjoyed arts and crafts and gardening. Neighbors and cars traveling on West Haven Rd would stop to admire and enjoy the various flowers in her gardens. She also enjoyed golfing, biking, playing bridge, reading, traveling, "THE CAPE" and other beaches, and the neighborhood "sewing club", which started in the 1950s and ended with her move to Concord in 2019.
As a volunteer, Gen served in many roles at the church, including trustee, deaconess, women's union, lay ministry, various committees plus preparing and serving the large church suppers.
She also served on various Boards and in other volunteer roles in Manchester: PTAs, Girl Scouts, Easter Seals, Webster House, Gale Home, YWCA, and the Salvation Army, including it's Kids Cafe. Her prized acknowledgement was receiving the Kids' Cafe's award for " Everyone's Grandmother".
The family extends its appreciation and many thanks to the staff of Granite Ledges of Concord, 6E floor of Concord Hospital and Granite VNA Hospice House for their exceptional care and compassion shown to mom over the past 2 1/2 years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Congregational Church, 508 Union St., Manchester, NH 03104 (please write "Memory Garden Fund" on the memo line), or Granite VNA, 30 Pillsbury St., Concord, NH 03301 (memo line: Hospice House).
We love you to the moon and back, Mom!
SERVICES: A funeral ceremony will be held on Thursday, November 4th at 11 a.m. at the First Congregational Church, 508 Union St., Manchester. Masks and distancing are required. Committal prayers will follow at the NH State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Daniel Webster Highway, Boscawen.
Lambert Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.