Laconia—Catherine “Cathy” Idella Swain Edgar, 81 of Laconia, NH passed away peacefully in care and comfort with the loving staff at St Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center on August 27, 2019.
Cathy was born on February 4, 1938 in Valley Stream, New York, the daughter of Herbert Lee Swain and Catherine Bertha Swain. Cathy married her high school sweetheart, Bill Edgar, in 1956. They were married for 60 years. Cathy, Bill and their family moved from Bay Shore, New York to Gilford in 1967. She was a resident of Gilford for 50 years and moved to Laconia in 2017 when she became a resident of the St Francis Nursing Center.
Cathy was a very loving and devoted mother to her children as well as many others whom she cared for in her home and at the Lakes Region Day Care Center. She also worked at the Lakes Region Twin Cinema and Sundial Shop for several years. As her children matured, she started her career in banking and remained involved for 35 years, primarily at the Bank of New Hampshire, formerly Laconia Savings Bank. Cathy was always willing to lend a helping hand, even if it meant assisting a customer with balancing their checkbook after hours.
When you were invited over for dinner to Cathy’s home, you’d best have an empty stomach. She was an excellent cook and enjoyed feeding others as much as possible. Over the years, in her free time, she loved to camp, snowmobile, ride a tandem bike, dance, participate in car shows, take leisurely drives through the country side and along the coast, go to fairs, and she especially loved a good book. If she could soak up some sun while reading, it was a plus. She also enjoyed volunteer work and did so with the LRGH Nursery Guild, Tardif Park Association and Central NH Hospice. She was a member of the Taylor Home Board of Advocates and a Sunday school teacher. Cathy loved animals, especially dogs, and had several of them ranging from one to fifteen at a time, many being sled dogs, along with cats, horses, rabbits and guinea pigs.
We will miss her kind, caring, gentle, and unselfish ways that made everyone love her as much as she loved them. She watched over all she loved while she was here with us and will continue to do so even though we can no longer see her.
Cathy is survived by four daughters: Donna and her husband Robert Curran of Laconia, Debbie and her husband Gene Brewer of Wolfeboro, Kathryn and her husband Michael Marden of Laconia, Tricia Furbish and her boyfriend Dale McBeath of Belmont, Ten grandchildren: Ryann, Billy, and Meagan Curran, Garrett and Matthew Brewer, Melinda Ellsworth Riley, Stacey and Joshua Ellsworth, Natasha Furbish McNutt, Nathan Furbish, her sister Marilyn Rowsell of Valley Stream, New York, eleven great grandchildren, nephews and nieces.
In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her husband, William Edgar, of Gilford and her son-in-law Richard Furbish, Jr.
Calling hours will be on Thursday, September 5, 2019 from 5:00 p.m to 8 p.m. at the Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, using the Carriage House entrance.
A Funeral Service will be at the Congregational Church of Laconia, 69 Pleasant St., Laconia, on Friday, September 6, 2019 at 10:00 a.m.
Interment will follow in the family lot in Oakland Cemetery, Meredith Center Road, Meredith.
For those who wish memorial contributions in Cathy’s name may be made to the St. Francis Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 406 Court St., Laconia, NH, 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia NH is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.