Meredith----French, Elizabeth Ann - Elizabeth Ann (Trufant) French, Age 94, of Meredith, NH and previously of Nashua, NH and Bedford, MA, died Friday, March 16, 2012, at the Golden View Health Care Center, Meredith, NH. She was born in 1917 in Nashua, NH, the daughter of the late Frank A. Trufant and Marion E. (Chase) Trufant.
She attended Nashua, NH and Marlboro, MA schools, graduating from Marlboro High School in 1936. She also attended the Chandler School in Boston, completing the Secretarial Course. Before her marriage, she was employed as a Secretary at the Nashua Card, Gummed and Coated Paper Company. Prior to living in Meredith, NH for 6 years and in Bedford, MA for 53 years, she was a resident of Nashua, NH. Betty was a 42 year member of the Bedford, MA Garden Club, achieving honorary status in 2004 for her work at the Job Lane Herb Garden; she also served as chairman of several committees, and was awarded a number of first prizes for arrangements. She was a former member of the Arlington Street United Methodist Church, Nashua, NH, where she was a charter member of its Questers Class, and a member of the First Church of Christ, Congregational, Bedford, MA. She was a ten year student at Miss Abbie Tilsley’s School of Dance in Nashua, NH and performed solo ballet recitals at different venues in Nashua, NH and Manchester, NH; she also taught ballet for a year.
She will be remembered for her deep love of family and family gatherings, and her fondness for family stories and humor; her extensive knowledge and love of wildflowers, flowers, gardens, birds and nature; her strength and determination, and for her integrity and sense of responsibility. She gave of herself to others, without any expectation of acknowledgement. She was especially proud of her New England heritage.
She is survived by her daughter, Judith A. French of Moultonborough, NH; her son, Richard S. French and his wife, Suzanne, of Rochester, NH; her dear brother, Richard F. Trufant and his wife, Regina, of Muncy, PA; a brother-in-law, John D. French, of Epsom, NH; a number of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins, and a special great, great niece, Victoria Jane Thomas. She was predeceased by her beloved husband of 62 years, Ralph S. French; her brother, Kenneth C. Trufant; her sister, Esther L. (Trufant) Thomas; and two nephews, Charles H. Thomas and Stephen W. Thomas.
There will be no calling hours. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Arlington Street United Methodist Church, 63 Arlington Street, Nashua, NH. Interment will follow the next day in the South Barnstead, NH Cemetery. Contributions in Elizabeth French’s memory may be made to the Visiting Nurses of Meredith & Center Harbor, 186 Waukewan Street, Meredith, NH 03253; the Bedford Garden Club, Post Office Box 915, Bedford, MA 01730; or the Arlington Street United Methodist Church, 63 Arlington St., Nashua, NH. 03060.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N.H. is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.