Marie M. Brander, 99, a longtime resident of Chester, NH died, Wednesday, July 5th at the Derry Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Derry, NH. She was born in Berkeley Heights, NJ, a daughter of the late Harold I. and Olga (Hedlund) Curtis. Her Curtis ancestry dates back to 1638 in Wethersfield, CT; the Hedlunds emigrated from Sweden to Massachusetts early in the 1890’s. Marie graduated from Jonathan Dayton Regional High School in Springfield, NJ and was employed at Bell Labs in New York City, where, in 1942, she met her husband to be, William P. Brander. They were married May 26, 1945 in Key West, FL.
In 1956 they moved from New Jersey to Chester, NH where she devoted her time to raising a family. In 1958, Marie was part of the Chester Women’s softball team. She coached girls softball at the Chester Elementary School and was also involved in Cub Scouting and Boy Scout merit badge training in swimming and camping. For many years Marie was a significant part of the lunch program at the Chester Elementary School. In the 1970’s and later, she enjoyed accompanying Bill on his many field assignments in the USA, Switzerland and Iran.
Marie and Bill enjoyed traveling to 100 countries in addition to hiking, biking, camping and downhill skiing in Europe and the USA. In later years they swam almost daily.
Marie and Bill, together for more than 80 years as friends, companions, lovers, parents, grandparents, and great grandparents, and now for eternity.
She is survived by two sons, Roman A. Brander and his wife Paula J. and Eric B. Brander and his wife Cheryl, all of Chester; and a former daughter-in law Susan; six grandchildren; Donna L. Coleman, William Brander IV and his wife Dawn A., Heidi M. Antoine, Wendy E. Sanderson and her husband Bruce U., Marc W. Brander and his wife Heather L., and Gregg A. Brander and his wife Kristen L.; 13 great-grandchildren; Amanda J. Baltimore, Andrew M. Brander, Ashlei C. Brander and partner Timothy Huot, Brittany Adair Loszewski and her husband Brian, Cristian M. Brander, Dylan J. Brander, Kyle R. Brander, Logan W. Brander, Hillary J. Hardwick, Nicholas R. Hardwick, Maxwell A. Sanderson, Abigale L. Teague and Katie M. Teague; and many great-great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband Bill in 2016, her son William, III in 2020, her great grandson Zachary S. Huff and her sister Virginia Coughlin.
Following cremation, a graveside service will be held on Tuesday, July 11th at 10:00am in the NH State Veterans Cemetery, Rt. 3, Boscawen, NH. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project, www.helpwwp.org . The Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium of Derry and Londonderry are assisting the family with arrangements.