Charlotte Lucille Smith passed away March 1, 2012 after several years of declining health. She was born in Manchester, NH November 12, 1919 to the late Charles and Vivian (Eaton) Sives. She lived most of her life in Londonderry and Derry with the exception of a year spent in San Diego where her husband was based at the end of World War II.
Charlotte graduated as Valedictorian from Pinkerton Academy in 1936 and from the University of NH in 1940. She had a thirty year career teaching primarily French to students at Coe-Brown Academy of Northwood, Stevens High School of Claremont, and Alvirne High School in Hudson. She was a dedicated and caring teacher who also served as a librarian at Alvirne for ten years prior to her retirement in 1982. Her impact on her student’s lives is reflected in the calls and letters she continued to receive, some from students only a few years younger than her 92.
Charlotte was always very generous with her time and talents. After her retirement she became a volunteer and then a staff member for over 20 years at the Taylor Library in East Derry. She was kind, patient, and pleased to help a patron find information they sought and was delighted by the children who came for story hour or checked out their books with her. In addition, Charlotte served as a member of the trustees of the Adams Female Academy trust fund. For numerous years she was also a volunteer at the Sunshine Soup Kitchen in Derry.
The church also played an important role throughout Charlotte’s life, and she shared her faith through services to her church community. She was a member of the Londonderry United Methodist Church for over 50 years. She was secretary of the Administrative Board for 20 years, served for a time as superintendent of Sunday School and was a Sunday School teacher for over 25 years. When for a short time the Londonderry Methodist and Presbyterian churches joined together to form the Federated church, Charlotte served as church treasurer and president of the women’s group. Also important to Charlotte were her family and friends. Her kind hearted, caring smile enabled her to make lasting friends wherever she went whether fellow travelers on a once in a lifetime trip to England, a new library patron, church member or next door neighbor. She also maintained sixty five plus years of friendship with individuals from her college years and earliest days of teaching. She loved her family and enjoyed trips to the lake, walking on the beach, gardening, reading, and rocking on her porch. Family holidays were special, but simple “Sunday Dinners” filled with love, laughter and sharing were made precious by Charlotte.
Her heart was always open to listen to one’s sorrows and to share in one’s joys. She was a selfless daughter, devoted wife and wonderful mother, always making sacrifices to put the needs of her family before her own. She will be deeply missed by all who were privileged to know her. She leaves behind a huge hole in the hearts of her daughter Sandra and son-in law Dennis Salmi of Derry, son-in-law Neil Shapiro of Dover, sister-in-law Rae Sives of Florida, Dot Smith of California and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband Donald Smith in 1960 and her daughter Susan in 2009.
At the request of the decedent, there are no calling hours. A Funeral service to celebrate Charlotte’s life will be held on Saturday March 17, 2012 at 2 pm in the Londonderry United Methodist Church, Corner of Mammoth and Pillsbury Roads, Londonderry, with a reception following in the church hall. Burial will follow at Glenwood Cemetery in Londonderry for those who wish to attend. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to any one of the charities doing research on cancer or macular degeneration or to a charity of one’s choice.