SALEM - Miriam E. Webster, age 100, formerly of Salem, wife of the late Rev. Dr. Arthur W. Webster, died Saturday, April 21, 2007, at the Lafayette Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility, Marblehead.
Born in Weymouth, she was the daughter of the late Willard & Arlene (Jones) Holbrook. Following graduation from Weymouth High School, she attended Chandler School of Women.
In 1935, Miriam married Rev. Arthur Webster, the pastor of her church in So. Weymouth, and for over 55 years, assumed the responsibilities of a “minister’s wife.” She served the community of So. Weymouth until they moved to Salem in 1940, where she continued her service as her husband was Pastor of the First Universalist Church, Salem, where he served until his retirement in 1976. After his retirement, he continued to preach at the Independent Christian Church (Universalist) in Gloucester until 1992. Mrs. Webster continued to devote her time and talents to her church and community until into the 1990’s. She was a resident of Salem until moving to Marblehead two years ago.
During Mrs. Webster’s years of service, she served on many boards and organizations including the Board of Directors of the Boston YWCA, The Massachusetts Board of Universalist Women, and Chair of Finance for the National Association of Universalist Women. She was active with the Red Cross Blood Mobile program for over 40 years, served as President of Church Women United in Salem, was a member of the Salem Association of Universalist Women and Gamma Sigma Chi, was active in the Rotary Women’s group, served as Director of the Brookhouse Home and was President of the Samaritan Society, which serves the needy residents of Salem. She was vice president of the Seaman’s Widow & Orphan Association, Director of the Women’s Friend Society, and secretary of the Salem Protestant Ladies.
Mrs. Webster is survived by one son, Lee M. Webster and his wife Elayne of Marblehead, three grandchildren and their spouses, Laurie & David Andonian of Wakefield, Lisa & Tom Diminture of San Antonia, TX, Scott & Dorene Webster of Gainesville, FL, 8 great grandchildren and one sister, Dorothy Cole of So. Weymouth. She was predeceased by one sister, Lois Marden and one brother Louis Holbrook.
A memorial service will be held, Wednesday, May 2, 2007 at 2 pm at the First Universalist Church, 211 Bridge Street, Salem. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. For directions to the church, visit www.salemuu.org/html/directions.html. Arrangements by the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Scholarship Fund at the Lafayette Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Facility, 25 Lafayette St., Marblehead, MA 01945. For online guestbook and other information, visit www.SalemFuneral.com.