MEREDITH --- Harriet Follansbee (Barr) DeMark, 73, died peacefully on Friday, March 28, 2025 at home in Meredith, NH. Harriet was surrounded by her husband, children and her sister Suzanne following a brief but valiant fight against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and Pancreatic cancers.
Harriet was born in Salem, MA on June 20, 1951. She was predeceased by her parents Judith Perkins Carr (formerly Barr) of Boxford, MA, and Charles Barr, of Manchester, NH. Harriet was one of five siblings and 18 cousins.
Harriet grew up on former farmland in Topsfield and Boxford, Massachusetts, where she developed her love of animals (especially horses, dogs, and cats), plants and the outdoors. She was an avid lifelong reader and had a passion for learning, at which she excelled. Harriet was very creative and talented, designing and sewing much of her own clothing, including her wedding dress. She handmade much of the decor for her homes. She loved to cook when it was with others.
Harriet graduated from Masconomet Reg. H.S. in 1969 and attended Wellesley College for Art History. She took a leave of absence from Wellesley and moved to NH with her soon-to-be husband, Richard Reid DeMark, of Boxford, MA. She worked at the Appalachian Mountain Club, Pinkham Notch Camp at the base of Mt. Washington.
Harriet and Rick were married in 1973. Both returned to college at the University of NH in 1974. Harriet studied Animal Science and graduated Summa Cum Laude. In 1976, Harriet and Rick entered the Peace Corps serving in Costa Rica where Harriet assisted farmers by helping to create a model dairy farm and propagating drought resistant grasses that could be stored for feeding during the dry season.
Harriet and Rick returned to NH in 1978, settling close to siblings and friends, including her life-long best friend Anne Yaeger Barr and husband David (Harriet’s brother).
There, Harriet and Rick started their family including daughter Molly Sunderlin of Hellertown, PA, son Benjamin DeMark of Greenland, NH and daughter Arley Schaefer of Stuttgart, Germany. Harriet raised her children in Francestown, Laconia and Meredith, NH. She volunteered in many ways at her children’s schools and worked part-time at the Gunstock Recreation Area for many years, in part to facilitate her children’s skiing.
Harriet enjoyed exploring locally and travelling afar, especially when it was with or to her children and grandchildren. Harriet’s travels took her all over the US to 40 states. She also traveled to 17 countries in Europe, Central and South America and Canada.
Harriet’s true passion was designing and tending to her vegetable, flower, fruit, and ornamental gardens and walking in the woods with her dogs. Harriet’s gardens and grounds are true masterpieces and she took great pride keeping her wooded trails clear. She spent hours watching her brook flow and the wildlife at her beaver pond.
Harriet scouted, researched and planted native wildflowers and plants. She took pictures of plants she found to assist her propagate them. She enjoyed teaching others how to care for plants. After her children and grandchildren, Harriet’s gardens, plantings, fields, wood lot, trails, and wildlife brush piles are her lasting legacy.
Harriet was the magnet that brought the family together like gravity. So many gatherings of immediate and extended family happened because she made them happen. Harriet loved nothing more than having family around her, of course with large meals, crafting, board games, hiking, firewood gathering, home projects and even cabin building.
Harriet leaves her husband of 52 years, Richard Reid DeMark of Meredith, NH; three children (mentioned above) and their spouses David Sunderlin, Phoenix DeMark and Tobias Schaefer; seven grandchildren Jeffrey Sunderlin, Hallie Sunderlin, Ella DeMark, Cove DeMark, Josephine Schaefer, Ava Schaefer and Isabel Schaefer as well as siblings David Barr of Stratham, NH, Suzanne Barr of Newburyport, MA, Polly McKenna of Chelmsford, MA and Andrew Barr of North Andover, MA.
Harriet’s family asks, in lieu of flowers, to consider donating to a charity or cause that she cared about, such as your local food pantry, Planned Parenthood, World Central Kitchen, Mercy Corps, your local NPR or PBS, or the Native Plant Trust. Also consider a donation to Lakes Region VNA, Meredith, NH, Dartmouth Hitchcock Hematology Oncology and Palliative Care, the Spear Hospital Oncology Clinic, the Leukemia Research Foundation, the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, the Lustgarten Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, or the National Cancer Society. If able, consider donating your own platelets, which are often in short supply and have a very short shelf life.
Harriet’s life will be celebrated at her home when it’s warmer and on a guaranteed bug free day. All are welcome. Email [email protected] to request details by May 15, 2025.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, NH, 03246, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.