Edna Worcester
Edna M. Worcester, 70 years old, of Lyndeborough, NH, died July 20th at the Community Living Center of the VA Hospital in Brockton, MA.
Edna was born on Feb 3, 1938, in Bridgewater, MA, the daughter of the late Alec and Charlotte Smith.
Upon graduation from High school she enlisted into the US Army and was posted to Bremerhaven, Germany for 2 years. Most recently she was an employee of Souhegan Wood Products of Wilton, NH. Edna was a strong believer in community service and served the community of Lyndeborough as Supervisor of the Checklist and as a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Edna was also one of the first women admitted to the Lafayette Artillery and was dedicated to educating the public about the Artillery's history. Edna enjoyed being at home with a good book, or out working in her garden.
Edna was predeceased by her husband Gerald L. Worcester, of Lyndeborough, NH.
Edna is survived by her daughter Kelly L. Connerton and her husband, John of Middleboro, MA. , Two sisters, June DeArruda of Wareham , MA and Sally Britton of West Bridgewater , MA., two stepsons, Richard Worcester of Rutland, VT, and James Worcester of NH and her 3 grandsons; Patrick M. Connerton , NJ, Daniel J. Connerton , FL, and Matthew D. Connerton , NC.
A memorial service will be held at Lyndeborough Center Hall on August 2nd, 2PM.
Strong-willed' Edna Worcester dies at 70
By DAVE EISENSTADTER
LYNDEBOROUGH -- Edna Worcester, a longtime resident and active community member in the town of Lyndeborough, died Sunday afternoon.
A member of the zoning board, a supervisor of the checklist, a budget committee member and a public notary, Worcester, 70, was involved in many aspects of the town, but the one she will likely be remembered for above all else is her involvement with the Lafayette Artillery Company.
According to Artillery Capt. Walter Holland, Worcester was a central figure in anything she was a part of, a "fireball."
"She was not a strong woman, but she had a strong will," Holland said Monday. "People saw her and thought, 'if she can do it, I can do it,' and people would get involved. She had a spirit of independence and a can-do attitude."
By tradition, only men were allowed to have full membership in the Lafayette Artillery Company, but when a women's auxiliary formed in 1981, Worcester joined.
According to Holland, Worcester and another woman were with the company at a Civil War reenactment answering questions about the company's 1841 six-pound cannon. A member from another company said the women in the company knew as much as the men about the cannon, and Holland said Worcester and other women were admitted into the company in 1991.
The next year, Worcester became acting captain for a year or two following the departure of the previous captain, who moved to Texas.
Holland said when he joined the company, Worcester was first sergeant in charge of the rifle squad, which fires volleys at Memorial Day.
According to Holland, Worcester took pride in researching the women who served in the Civil War, some of whom dressed as men. Worcester participated with the company in reenactments, sometimes dressing as women and dressing in a man's uniform at others.
At camping events, Worcester would always be up at first light making coffee, and Holland said she made a great stew in the cast iron pots.
"You'd think you were in one of the best restaurants," Holland said. "It just tasted so good."
Worcester epitomized the volunteer spirit, never charging for her services as a notary and helping to organize many various efforts in town.
"She's been a fixture in town for a long time," Holland said. "Any time anything would happen, like if someone's barn burned down and there was a dinner and donations, Edna was always there."
In the late 1990s, she was very active in the town's effort in renovating Citizens Hall. The town did not appropriate enough money to cover the renovation, and Worcester was one of the ones who spearheaded a volunteer effort to finish the project. According to Holland, Worcester got some local businesses to donate dump trucks to haul away what volunteers dismantled within the building.
"Nobody would say 'no' to Edna when she asked them to do something," Holland said. "That was another thing she was really proud of."
Worcester also took care of a family of swans near her house, seasonally reintroducing them to their pond.
At the end of April, Worcester learned she had lung cancer and it had spread to other parts of her body.
The community organized a dinner for her within a few days of the news, and paid tribute to her by telling stories about her and eating together. More than 100 people attended.
At the event, Kelly Connerton, Worcester's daughter, said she always learned something when she was with her mother.
"If there was something to be found out in town, we drove over and had a look," Connerton said.
Holland presented Worcester with a gift of a piece of glass from the old Lyndeborough glass factory and shared the story of applauding new voters in town. When a new resident registered to vote, Worcester and others clapped, saying the town has a new registered voter. The tradition is continued today.
Over the past few months, Worcester's health deteriorated.
"Usually cancer drags out," Holland said Monday. "She had had symptoms for a while, but bit her lip and kept going. She did not let any family or friends know what was going on with her."
Town Administrator Neal Cass said Monday that people were sad to lose Worcester, but also understood her state.
"I don't know if it's ever a blessing, but Edna was not the type of person who would want to continue the way she was at the end," Cass said.
There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Aug. 2 at Center Hall in Lyndeborough. People are invited to bring memories and stories to share, along with a potluck dish.
Holland said filling Worcester's shoes would take more than one person.
"We're going to be hurting in the artillery and the community at large is at a loss, too," Holland said. "She is going to be greatly missed."
She is known for having famously said at a town meeting some years ago in support of an article for the Lafayette Artillery building: "Since the company was formed in 1804, Lyndeborough has never been invaded by a foreign country."
Edna was born on Feb 3, 1938, in Bridgewater, MA, the daughter of the late Alec and Charlotte Smith.
Upon graduation from High school she enlisted into the US Army and was posted to Bremerhaven, Germany for 2 years. Most recently she was an employee of Souhegan Wood Products of Wilton, NH. Edna was a strong believer in community service and served the community of Lyndeborough as Supervisor of the Checklist and as a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Edna was also one of the first women admitted to the Lafayette Artillery and was dedicated to educating the public about the Artillery's history. Edna enjoyed being at home with a good book, or out working in her garden.
Edna was predeceased by her husband Gerald L. Worcester, of Lyndeborough, NH.
Edna is survived by her daughter Kelly L. Connerton and her husband, John of Middleboro, MA. , Two sisters, June DeArruda of Wareham , MA and Sally Britton of West Bridgewater , MA., two stepsons, Richard Worcester of Rutland, VT, and James Worcester of NH and her 3 grandsons; Patrick M. Connerton , NJ, Daniel J. Connerton , FL, and Matthew D. Connerton , NC.
A memorial service will be held at Lyndeborough Center Hall on August 2nd, 2PM.
Strong-willed' Edna Worcester dies at 70
By DAVE EISENSTADTER
LYNDEBOROUGH -- Edna Worcester, a longtime resident and active community member in the town of Lyndeborough, died Sunday afternoon.
A member of the zoning board, a supervisor of the checklist, a budget committee member and a public notary, Worcester, 70, was involved in many aspects of the town, but the one she will likely be remembered for above all else is her involvement with the Lafayette Artillery Company.
According to Artillery Capt. Walter Holland, Worcester was a central figure in anything she was a part of, a "fireball."
"She was not a strong woman, but she had a strong will," Holland said Monday. "People saw her and thought, 'if she can do it, I can do it,' and people would get involved. She had a spirit of independence and a can-do attitude."
By tradition, only men were allowed to have full membership in the Lafayette Artillery Company, but when a women's auxiliary formed in 1981, Worcester joined.
According to Holland, Worcester and another woman were with the company at a Civil War reenactment answering questions about the company's 1841 six-pound cannon. A member from another company said the women in the company knew as much as the men about the cannon, and Holland said Worcester and other women were admitted into the company in 1991.
The next year, Worcester became acting captain for a year or two following the departure of the previous captain, who moved to Texas.
Holland said when he joined the company, Worcester was first sergeant in charge of the rifle squad, which fires volleys at Memorial Day.
According to Holland, Worcester took pride in researching the women who served in the Civil War, some of whom dressed as men. Worcester participated with the company in reenactments, sometimes dressing as women and dressing in a man's uniform at others.
At camping events, Worcester would always be up at first light making coffee, and Holland said she made a great stew in the cast iron pots.
"You'd think you were in one of the best restaurants," Holland said. "It just tasted so good."
Worcester epitomized the volunteer spirit, never charging for her services as a notary and helping to organize many various efforts in town.
"She's been a fixture in town for a long time," Holland said. "Any time anything would happen, like if someone's barn burned down and there was a dinner and donations, Edna was always there."
In the late 1990s, she was very active in the town's effort in renovating Citizens Hall. The town did not appropriate enough money to cover the renovation, and Worcester was one of the ones who spearheaded a volunteer effort to finish the project. According to Holland, Worcester got some local businesses to donate dump trucks to haul away what volunteers dismantled within the building.
"Nobody would say 'no' to Edna when she asked them to do something," Holland said. "That was another thing she was really proud of."
Worcester also took care of a family of swans near her house, seasonally reintroducing them to their pond.
At the end of April, Worcester learned she had lung cancer and it had spread to other parts of her body.
The community organized a dinner for her within a few days of the news, and paid tribute to her by telling stories about her and eating together. More than 100 people attended.
At the event, Kelly Connerton, Worcester's daughter, said she always learned something when she was with her mother.
"If there was something to be found out in town, we drove over and had a look," Connerton said.
Holland presented Worcester with a gift of a piece of glass from the old Lyndeborough glass factory and shared the story of applauding new voters in town. When a new resident registered to vote, Worcester and others clapped, saying the town has a new registered voter. The tradition is continued today.
Over the past few months, Worcester's health deteriorated.
"Usually cancer drags out," Holland said Monday. "She had had symptoms for a while, but bit her lip and kept going. She did not let any family or friends know what was going on with her."
Town Administrator Neal Cass said Monday that people were sad to lose Worcester, but also understood her state.
"I don't know if it's ever a blessing, but Edna was not the type of person who would want to continue the way she was at the end," Cass said.
There will be a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Aug. 2 at Center Hall in Lyndeborough. People are invited to bring memories and stories to share, along with a potluck dish.
Holland said filling Worcester's shoes would take more than one person.
"We're going to be hurting in the artillery and the community at large is at a loss, too," Holland said. "She is going to be greatly missed."
She is known for having famously said at a town meeting some years ago in support of an article for the Lafayette Artillery building: "Since the company was formed in 1804, Lyndeborough has never been invaded by a foreign country."