Ann Elizabeth Hower Orr, of Gainesville, Florida, joined her husband in Heaven, July 22, 2024. She savored life to the fullest, knew no boundaries in transforming the ordinary to extraordinary and was a breath of fresh air.

She had many passions, including oil painting, hosting memorable themed parties, cooking extravagant dishes, and even writing a scene play. She studied all subjects, traveled, embraced every sport particularly tennis, baseball (Boston Red Sox), and horse racing, and the world was her stage. Ann was part of the Junior League of Gainesville and the “No Name Club” and continued to bring forth her talents and knowledge of music, theater, literacy and religion (Catholic) throughout her life.

Ann, the daughter of Dr. Charles and Anna Hower, grew up in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania and Elmira, New York. She graduated from Vassar with studies in English and Theater along with the skill set of a concert pianist.

She met her adoring husband Louis McDonald Orr at Princeton and the two bonded over their zest for life and gregarious humor in any situation. Together they raised four children: Louis (Wendy Walters), Taylor (Carl Becker), Charles (Lia Brenneman), Reed (Lisa Hunt). Ann cherished her grandchildren, painting them regularly: Audrey Becker (Drew Coleman), Garrett Becker (fiancé Alexandra Ladd), Rachel Hutton-Orr Cabrera (Daniel Cabrera), Hunter Orr (Katy Shutters), Hayden Orr (girlfriend Summer Smith), and Gannon Orr who knew her lovingly as “Ninnie” or “Neenz”.

Ann admired the unique attributes of each person she encountered, refuted the norm and threw caution to the wind with profound wit and lively spirit.

A celebration of Ann’s life will be held by immediate family in honor of her colorful character. Her ashes along with her husbands’ will be scattered on the ocean coast of her beloved home in Southport, Maine, her favorite place in the whole world!

Carol (Glesmann) Baker, born August 26, 1938 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, died peacefully with her family by her side on October 19, 2024. Carol was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Maryon Glesmann and her sister Susan Glesmann ’62.

At a young age, Carol worked in the family ice cream business (Glesmann Ice Cream Company that was started by her grandfather in 1927 in Holyoke, MA) helping her father experiment making new ice cream flavors and of course taste testing them all! Up until the last few days of her life, whenever she ate ice cream, she would say it wasn’t as good as Glesmann Ice Cream.

Carol graduated from Simmons College in Boston with a B.S. in Nursing and joined the Navy in 1961. After attending Officer Candidate School (where she was the honor graduate) she was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps. During her 2-year tour of duty, she was assigned to Bethesda Naval Hospital. After being introduced by her cousin, she met and fell in love with her future husband Eldon Peter Baker, Jr. They were married on October 20, 1962. Carol left the Navy when son Christopher was born in 1963. A year later they welcomed Mark to the family. After Chris and Mark started school, Carol returned to Nursing and retired after 23 years as a Pediatrics ICU nurse at Fairfax Hospital in Virginia. Her granddaughter Lauren (Chris and Laurie) and grandson Nicholas (Mark and Gwyn) were both born in the same hospital that Carol retired from.

Carol and Peter together discovered their shared joy of travel and for many years actively traveled through 49 of the 50 states, all the Canadian provinces and even the U.K. in an Airstream travel trailer as members of the Wally Byam Caravan Club International (WBCCI). They traveled as far south as Key West, FL and as far north as Point Barrow, AK on the artic circle. As a family we spent many weekends and summers touring the country. Together we shared many great adventures and memories. Later in life, Carol and Peter had an Airstream motorhome and would spend months at a time traveling around the country and spending winters in Florida. Carol was an avid member of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America (EGA) and her needle working skills are on display in many works hanging in family and friends’ homes.

Carol was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister. Left to cherish her memories are her husband of 62 years, Eldon P. Baker, Jr, sons Christopher P. Baker, wife Laurie; Mark E. Baker, wife Gwyn; grandchildren: Lauren, Brian, Nicholas and Rachel, great grandson Wyatt; brother Edward Glesmann, wife Jeanette; and her nieces and many friends across the country.

The funeral service will be held at Peevey Funeral Home, Saturday, October 26th, at 2:00pm., with visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery.

Susan Cross Hunter, of Exeter, NH, died peacefully at age 90 on Saturday, January 27, 2024, with family and friends by her side.

Sue was born on September 25, 1933, in Worcester, MA, to Louise Holden Cross and George Irving Cross. She was the younger sister of Brewster Holden Cross and Carolyn Irving Cross. She graduated from Sever Street Preparatory School in 1947, Williston Northampton School for Girls in 1951, and Smith College in 1955, with a degree in French.

After graduating from Smith, Sue moved to Boston in 1956 to start her career at the investment management firm Loomis, Sayles & Co. While in Boston, mutual friends introduced her to John Samuel “Sam” Hunter II, who had just graduated from Harvard Business School, and they married in 1960 near her family’s summer lake home in East Brookfield, MA. In 1961 Sue and Sam became parents to John Samuel Hunter III, followed by Alison Louise Hunter, Deborah Holden Hunter and Laura Russell Hunter in 1963, 1967 and 1971 respectively. Sue was a warm, sweet, fun, loving mother and grandmother, and was her happiest spending time with her 4 children and 5 grandchildren, especially when traveling or playing card games together, which was a long family tradition.

Sue and Sam lived in several places as they raised their kids, but settled down in Stratham, NH, in 1977. After all of their children left home, Sue went back to work and found joy in working at a local jewelry store in Exeter, NH, and eventually ended up at Timberland, a then-small boot manufacturer. Sue was very proud of her long career at Timberland, which included being the very first customer service representative, eventually heading up the customer service department where she was known as “The Friendly Voice of Timberland.” After 20 years, Sue retired from Timberland in 2005.

Sue was especially well known for her charitable activities and community service. For decades she proudly contributed to many organizations. She served as a member of the Finance Advisory Committee for the school board, was the Supervisor of the town’s voter checklist, led the local League of Women Voters, and was the president of the 76ers, a local senior citizen’s organization. Sue was a longtime active member of the Stratham Community Church, serving on the Finance board (15 years), Music Committee, Human Resources Committee, and Pastoral Search Committee. She was also a deacon, sang in the choir, served as a bell ringer, supervised the ticket sales for the annual Stratham Fair, and was part of the Women’s Guild. Sue is the only known member of the church to have been awarded the title of Trustee Emeritus. Sue especially looked forward to helping with the monthly Church Suppers given the special friendships she had with the other volunteers, and being able to see many friendly faces from across the Seacoast.

Alongside her family and community service, Sue’s true lifelong passion was travel. She was always up for a new adventure. She first caught the travel bug in college visiting France, where she perfected her French and fell in love with Le Mont Saint-Michel, biked through the Loire Valley, drank fine red wine and enjoyed French food. Then she learned to enjoy traveling via sailboat, and especially loved the summer waters of Boothbay Harbor, and Casco Bay, ME, and the winter waters of the Caribbean. In her retirement, she traveled throughout Europe and North America with family and friends, and especially relished the warm climates of Hawaii, the Caribbean, Greece and southern France.

Some of Sue’s happiest times were spent at her family’s cabins on Lake Lashaway in Massachusetts, bucolic summer homes built by her father and filled by Sue each summer with friends, family, swimming, canoeing, and laughter. She ultimately loved being on the water, but also found joy in simple day-to-day pleasures: reading mystery novels, watching Red Sox games, eating coffee Oreo ice cream, going out for a lobster, drinking Manhattans, listening to Billy Joel, and taking long drives along the beautiful New England seacoast.

“Sassy-Susie,” as was her nickname, will be remembered as someone who loved and was loved by many, who was quick to laugh and make others laugh with her dry wit, and who never got dressed without her quintessential pearls. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Sue was predeceased by her father, George Irving Cross; mother, Louise Holden Cross; brother, Brewster Holden Cross; and sister, Carolyn Irving Cross. She is survived by her four children, John Samuel Hunter III of Chicago; Alison Louise Hunter of Del Mar, CA; Deborah Hunter Bonenfant and son-in-law Brian of Richmond, VA; and Laura Russell Hunter of Exeter, NH. She also leaves behind five grandchildren: Joey, Emily, and Marie Bonenfant, and Aiden and Ryan Hunter.

Sue’s life will be celebrated on February 17, 2024, at 11am at the Stratham Community Church in Stratham, NH. All donations can be made in her name to the Stratham Community Church, 6 Emery Lane, Stratham NH 03885.

Elizabeth (Betsy) H. Holmes died at age 93 on Saturday, March 2nd. She was born in Baltimore, and was preceded by four older brothers: Gere, Jack, Tom and Tono. She leaves a sister, Mary Ball Howkins, a resident of Dighton, Massachusetts, and Mary Ball’s daughter, Thea Howkins Knotts, of San Pablo, California.

Betsy, born in 1930, was an early professional woman. On the tails of WWII, she worked for Radio Free Europe, an informational arm of the CIA. She subsequently worked as an editor for a president of Northeastern University, Asa Smallidge Knowles, and then as writer and editor, in a husband and wife team, of a grammar workbook series for D C Heath and Company publisher.

She was a Zen Buddhist by belief. Betsy and her husband, a Zen teacher and English professor, decorated their winter holiday tree with tiny buddhas to celebrate the season.

Betsy and her husband lived in Hendersonville for many decades, writing and walking miles upon miles, up and down mountains, daily. You may have encountered them on your walks.

Judith (Mason) Dittrich, 87, of Worcester, PA, passed away Saturday May 25, 2024, at Meadowood at Worcester. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert E. Dittrich.

Born March 25, 1937, in Rahway, NJ, she was a daughter of the late Ralph and Evelyn (Jackson) Mason.

Judi was known for her caring nature and wicked sense of humor. Family was always her top priority! When she wasn’t focused on her kids and grandkids, she loved reading, going to the movies, traveling, and eating – especially her love for chocolate. Her happy place was at the beach, and she was also involved with her church community and volunteered in her younger years.

She is survived by her children, Jackie Dittrich of Ormond Beach, FL, Tracy Wilcox of Beachwood, NJ, Gunnar Dittrich and his wife, Kay, of Winchester, KY, Ralph Dittrich and his wife, Carolyn, of Blue Bell, PA, Rob Dittrich of Egg Harbor, NJ, and Gretchen Dittrich and her husband, Frank Polek, of Eagleville, PA; ten grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was predeceased by her siblings, Baird Mason, Barbara Hamrick, and Lynn Shirley.

Services will be held privately for the family. Contributions may be made in her memory to the Wish of a Lifetime at www.wishofalifetime.org.

Nancy Coke Atwood left this earth peacefully on April 29, 2023, at the age of 90, at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, Mass., of complications from a heart attack.

Beloved mother of four children, Nancy retired in 2003 after many years as a psychotherapist in private practice in Boston and in Wellesley, Mass. With a warm and empathetic soul, and a deep commitment to her profession, she helped hundreds of families and individuals in the Boston area to overcome adversity and live better lives. She earned a PhD from the Heller School at Brandeis University in 1983 after earning two master’s degrees in urban affairs and social work at Boston University. She was a member of the adjunct faculty at Smith College School of Social Work and author of many articles on psychology and social policy in academic journals. She was also the co-editor of an anthology of memoirs about growing up in the American working class, “Coming of Age in a Hardscrabble World,” published by the University of Georgia Press and used as a college text.

Yet the achievement she was most proud of was her four children, whom she raised mostly by herself after the death of her husband, Roger Pratt Atwood, in 1965. She enjoyed reading, cooking, classical music, and spending time with her children and grandchildren, and she was a champion Scrabble player. She was active until late in life in the Unitarian Universalist First Church in Boston. She also enjoyed travelling, cultural events, and volunteer work for many progressive causes with her partner in later years, David Berkowitz, who died in 2019.

Nancy Coke Smith was born on January 2, 1933, in Norwalk, Connecticut, the daughter of architect Perry Coke Smith and artist and teacher Martha (“Patty”) Cary Smith, née Pratt, later Miller. Nancy graduated with a degree in English from Wellesley College in 1954 and later worked as a public-school teacher. Always creative and energetic, and with a spirit of compassion for those less privileged, she worked at several hospitals and mental-health facilities. She later developed a successful, licensed psychotherapy practice at her home in the Bay Village neighborhood of Boston, specializing in family therapy and substance abuse treatment. At Christmas every year, she would receive stacks of cards from her grateful patients.

Until 2007 she spent part of the year in her beloved house on Jerusalem Road in Cohasset, where she enjoyed walks on the beach and was an active member of the Straits Pond Watershed Association. She lived later at 36 Irving Street in Cambridge, until moving to Cadbury Commons nursing home in August 2022. She is survived by daughters Emily G. Gawboy of Leominster, Mass., and Gwendolyn C. Atwood, of Ghent, N.Y.; and sons Roger Alexander Atwood, of Washington, D.C., and Christopher P. Atwood, of Havertown, Penn., and a brother, Monty Johnston, of Natural Bridge Station, Va., and six grandchildren.

Lynn Bryan Sobocinski, 76, passed away on October 15, 2023. Beloved wife of David P. Sobocinski. Loving mother of Amy Daly (James) and Mitchell Sobocinski (Luciana). Cherished grandmother of Leanne and Callan Daly, Hannah and Mitchell Sobocinski.

Lynn was a Pan Am flight attendant and afterwards a financial advisor with David. She loved to golf and enjoyed traveling. A gracious host and excellent chef, many had the pleasure of being at her home. Countless people have said that Lynn was their best friend who always placed herself second, everyone else came first.

Visitation Thursday 2-4 and 7-9 PM at M.A. Connell Funeral Home, 934 New York Ave., Huntington Station. Funeral Mass Friday 10:45 AM at St. Patrick’s Church, Huntington.

In lieu of flowers, Lynn would greatly appreciate donations be made to: Little Shelter Animal Rescue and Adoption Center, www.littleshelter.org 33 Warner Road, Huntington, NY 11743 in Lynn’s name would be greatly appreciated.

October 30, 1933 (Lahore, Punjab) – June 4, 2023 (Newton, Mass., USA)

Marguerite Helen Velte Hasbrouck was born in Lahore, Punjab (today Pakistan), where her father was a professor of English at Forman Christian College. When she was three years old, her parents brought her back to the U.S. in search of better treatment for tuberculosis and osteomyelitis in her legs. A year later, she was told she should give up hope of walking unaided. “That’s what you think”, she told the doctor, sticking out her tongue at him. She cast off her leg braces and crutches not long afterward, became a strong walker, swimmer, and paddler, and delighted in defying anyone who underestimated her strength, endurance — or wit.

Due to her childhood illnesses, she didn’t start formal schooling until eighth grade, but she graduated from high school at sixteen and earned a degree in comparative government and religion at Barnard College. “I thought of being a lawyer”, she said decades later, “but I was timid, and law school wasn’t what women did.”

Marguerite raised three children – “each very different, and each of whom I helped to be their different selves”, she would say proudly – and worked at a variety of administrative, editorial, and legal jobs including at Wellesley College, where her role included representing the college to the Wellesley Chamber of Commerce, and later as editor of a computer industry trade journal. As co-chair of the Bates School PTA, Marguerite co-founded the Bates Pumpkin Festival, which became an annual town institution that has continued for more than fifty years. After getting involved in Wellesley town politics through the League of Women Voters, she served as an elected member of the Town Meeting and the School Committee and an appointed member of the Advisory Committee.

In 1987, as administrator of the Arlington Street Church in Boston, she testified at a Congressional hearing on break-ins at churches that offered sanctuary to refugees from U.S. wars in Central America. She spent the last decade before her retirement as a paralegal at the Nature Conservancy, where she took special joy in being able to help protect the place she felt most at home, Lake George in the Adirondacks. But she most wanted to be thought of as a writer and a musician. She played organ and piano, sang, and served on the board of the Old West Organ Society.

Marguerite was a member of the Wellesley Friends Meeting and a regular attender for almost thirty years of the Friends Meeting at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Norfolk, which she had helped organize in response to a request from one of the incarcerated men. She was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Criminal Justice Policy Coalition, facilitated Alternatives to Violence Project workshops at prisons throughout New England, and received a lifetime achievement award from the Massachusetts Department of Correction for her volunteer work.

Marguerite was active in Quaker witness for peace and justice, including as clerk of several committees of the Wellesley Friends Meeting and the New England Yearly Meeting of Friends, as a contributor to Peacework magazine and a volunteer at the New England office of the American Friends Service Committee, and as a member of AFSC’s national board of directors.

As a legal worker, Marguerite served on the board of the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and worked as a volunteer with the NLG Military Law Task Force and the GI Rights Hotline.

Marguerite is survived by her partner of more than 30 years, Jim Casteris (P.O. Box 783, Winterport, ME 04496) and his family; son Robert Hasbrouck of Boxborough, MA; daughter Dorothy McDonald and son-in-law Bob McDonald of Sudbury, MA; son Edward Hasbrouck and daughter-in-law Ruth Radetsky of San Francisco, CA; grandson Kyle A. H. McDonald of Concord, NH; sister Lois Carstens of West Brandywine, PA; and many friends.

A concert and memorial meeting in the manner of Friends (Quakers) will be held under the care of the Wellesley Friends Meeting in hybrid format, in person in Wellesley and online, on Sunday, 5 November 2023. All are welcome.

Donations in Marguerite’s memory may be made to AFSC.

Sally D. Wright, 92, of Wilmington, Delaware passed away peacefully on May 29 , 2023. She was predeceased by her husband, Charles M. Wright and her son William D. Wright. She is remembered by her remaining sons, Charles E. Wright (Michelle); James M. Wright (Rebekah), Thomas S. Wright (Anne) of and David S. Wright (Flo). She is also survived by her 9 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. She is also survived by her friend James Farrell.

Sally, born Charlotte Davis, was raised in Northampton, MA. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts. After marriage she and her husband Charlie settled in Wilmington, DE and began their family. After the boys were grown Sally had a career with Hagley Museum.

A memorial service will be held Monday June 5th, 11:00 am at McCrery & Harra Funeral Home 3710 Kirkwood Highway Wilmington, DE 19808. Burial will be private.

Memorial Donations may be made to: Human Animal Partners .org, 455 Stanton Christiana Road.

Jun Smith, 88, a resident of Concord, Massachusetts since 1968, died at her son’s home, Timothy Smith, of Southborough, on Wednesday, August 23, 2023, following an extended illness and recently sustained injuries as a passenger in an auto accident.
Born in Tokyo, Japan, on January 29, 1935, she was the daughter of the late Samitaro and Fuki (Wooyenaka) Uramatsu. Mrs. Smith received her primary education from The International School of The Sacred Heart in Tokyo, whose mission is to provide an education for women that prepares them for success in an ever-changing world. At seventeen, she came to the U.S. to attend The Williston Northampton School, graduating in 1954. Mrs. Smith received her bachelor of arts from Wellesley College in 1958. Professionally, she was an accredited Japanese-English translator. She worked at Wang Labs as a technical editor for 12 years and was an editor at Dun & Bradstreet Software.
Jun was a lifelong lover of music. She played the piano, guitar, soprano, treble, tenor, and bass recorders and was active in many choirs in Concord. Growing up, she was involved in sports and enjoyed figure skating, cycling, hiking, camping, and gardening.
She enjoyed a more than 40-year marriage with her late husband, Henry Clement Smith II, who passed away in 2002. She leaves her sons Jeffrey U. Smith of Block Island, R.I., and Timothy W. Smith of Southborough, MA.; two of three sisters, Kiyoko Uramatsu of Northwood, NH. and Kei Zehr ’61 of Tiburon, CA.; her three grandchildren, Scarlett Hovenstot, Gavin J. Smith and Jayden U. Smith, as well as many nieces, a nephew, and seven grandnieces.
A memorial service announcement will be made at a later date. If you want to be notified, please get in touch with: Tim Smith 6 Winter Street, Southborough, MA. 01772 Tsmithtennis@mac.com