MINNIE M. HAMLETT, passed away peacefully at the age of 105 in Norwell on Nov. 6, 2012. Formerly of Manhasset, L.I., NY, and Southbury and Bridgeport, CT, she was the beloved wife of the late Robert Hamlett and the loving mother of Jane Malme and her husband Charles of Hingham, MA, and her grandchildren; Robert Malme, Karen Malme and granddaughter-in-law Meg Stone. She is also survived by a nephew John B. Means of Washington Crossing, PA.
Born and raised in Illinois, she was the daughter of the late Helen and James Means. She met her late husband while attending the University of Illinois, and moved to New York to be married when he accepted a job there in 1929.
She was an active church and community leader. At a time when women were encouraged to stay home as WWII veterans returned to their jobs, she encouraged women to be lay leaders in their churches and communities where they would make a difference. She organized and served as President of the first Women's Fellowship in the New York State Congregational Church and then in the National Congregational Christian Church Conference which contributed to more active participation of women in the denomination's program and governance. She served on the Board of World Ministries, the National Council of Churches, and on the Women's Committee of Japan International Christian University. She was an inspirational speaker at many national and international ecumenical conferences. She has been an active member for more than 60 years in P.E.O., an organization supporting the education of women.
She moved to Norwell Knoll Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in 2004 to receive their excellent care and to be closer to her family. She was an enthusiastic participant in Norwell Knoll's many activities, and we thank her caregivers for her always cheerful and positive attitude. Various articles in the Norwell Mariner celebrated her birthdays and this year her status as the oldest Norwell voter, an important duty that she fulfilled before her death.
Services will be private. Burial will be in Maysville, Kentucky where she will rest in the Maysville Cemetery with her late husband and early forbears.
Donations in her memory may be made to the PEO Foundation, for the International Peace Scholarship Fund or the Chapter H CT Scholarship Fund, 3700 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50321, to The Greenfield Hills Congregational Church, for its Memorial Fund, 1045 Old Academy Road, Fairfield CT 06825, to Norwell Knoll, 329 Washington St., Norwell, MA 02061 for its activities fund, or to a charity of your choice.