LACONIA --- Edith Lee McCormack, lovingly known as Edie or Ede, passed away peacefully on Thursday, June 25, 2026, at the age of 74, surrounded by the love of her children and grandchildren.
She was born on September 18, 1951, in Laconia, New Hampshire, to Corinne Lee Chase and Joseph Ranlet Chase. Edie spent her entire life in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and most recently called Lakeport home.
Edie found joy and peace in nature, especially among gardens, flowers, and spending time in the outdoors. A gifted artist, she expressed herself through painting and wood carving, creating beauty wherever she went. Her love of art began by watching her grandfather paint and remained with her throughout her life.
She was an avid reader, an admirer of all genres of music, she loved to dance, and some of her happiest moments were spent by the ocean or swimming in the lakes of the New Hampshire Lakes Region.
Born with one blue eye and one brown, Edie embraced life with a uniquely distinctive spirit and an unwavering sense of individuality. For more than 40 years, she devoted herself to caring for others as a compassionate caregiver. Affectionate, witty, resilient, and steadfastly true to herself, she met life’s joys and challenges with determination. Like many, Edie faced seasons of hardship throughout her life, yet her creativity, strength, and independent nature remained at the heart of who she was. In her later years, she found comfort and companionship in a circle of devoted friends who became like family. She cared for them with the same generosity they showed her, and their enduring love and support brought her great comfort.
Edie is survived by her brothers, Joseph R. Chase, of Lakeport, New Hampshire, and Jeffrey Chase, of Pennsylvania; her son, Jason A. McCormack, of Virginia, his wife, Kristen, and their daughters, Jordan Taylor and Emma Zoe; her daughter, Raegan M. Chekas, of Connecticut, her husband, Evan, and their children, Eoin John, Lile Corinne, and Viv Keith; her niece, Tonya Rapter and her partner, Dan Dunn; as well as many dear friends throughout the Lakes Region.
Edie’s legacy lives on in the beauty she created and the lives she touched. She will be remembered in blooming flowers, the rhythm of the ocean waves, music carried on the breeze, and every brushstroke on a canvas. May those who loved her find comfort in these simple joys and in the memories they shared, she will be deeply missed.
A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial donations, in Edith’s name, made to Partnership for Public Health, https://www.pphnh.org/donate.
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.