Mary Lou (Robert) French passed away Saturday, August 10th, 2013 at Exeter Hospital
Mary Lou was born October 23rd, 1932 to Melvin and Amelia “Millie” (Davidson) Robert of Maple Lane Farm in Northfield, NH. Mary Lou was the eldest of seven children. She attended Tilton-Northfield High School where she met her husband of fifty nine years, Kenneth. Before their marriage, Mary Lou worked for Giles Dairy in Franklin, NH. Mary Lou and Kenneth raised five daughters in Salem, NH and for a brief period of time in Greensboro, North Carolina. After her daughters were settled in school, Mary Lou worked for many years at New England Ceramics where she made many good friends. Anticipating retirement, Ken and Mary Lou moved to Atkinson NH in 1989. Mary Lou enjoyed vacationing in Rhode Island with her husband and friends, traveling with her family, and attending family and class reunions. She was an excellent cook who hosted many family dinners, an avid reader, and a cross word puzzle enthusiast. She easily transitioned from taping her shows to programming them on her DVR, however her family could not persuade her to switch from film to digital cameras. Mary Lou spent a great deal of time taking care of her six grandchildren when they were young and continued to field almost daily calls from them until her passing. She could be counted on to know what was going on in the lives of her family members and to acknowledge and celebrate birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and other milestones.
Mary Lou leaves behind her husband Kenneth French, her daughter Karen French of Beverly MA, her daughter Pamela French of Salem NH, her daughter Susan French of Salem NH , her daughter and son-in law Jill and Michael J. Carney Jr. of Salem NH, and her daughter and son-in law Gail and Chuck Holloran of Peabody MA. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Matthew French, his wife Jenn Ricardi , their son Brayden French of Keene NH, Corey French of Salem NH , Erin French of Salem NH, Meghan and her husband Matthew Bagdovitz of Keene NH, Lauren Carney of Salem NH and Ryan Carney of Salem NH.
Memorial visitation will be held Tuesday, August 13th from 4-7 PM, followed by a celebration of life service at 7 PM at the Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St, Salem, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Assoc. 2 Wall St, Manchester, NH 03101.