Laconia---On June 25, 2010, Marianne Laura Houston, of Laconia, NH, lost her long battle with cancer, in her own home and surrounded by loving family. She was 77 years old.
Marianne was born in 1933 in Mettmann, Germany, the daughter of Josef Manderscheid and Paula Thome Manderscheid. She grew up in Mettmann and attended school there and in Duesseldorf. In December 1959, she came to the United States to visit her sister, Rosemarie. It was during that visit she met and married Everett Houston of Contoocook, NH, and decided to stay in the United States. The couple moved to Laconia in 1965, and have lived there since.
While still in Germany, Marianne studied bookkeeping and classical music, specializing in singing. Though she never pursued a career in opera, she was a lifelong devotee. She also began skiing on visits to Austria. Once she emigrated to the United States, she took up skiing at New Hampshire ski areas and was a frequent fixture at Gunstock in Gilford, NH. Her favorite run was a fast trip down Recoil.
Marianne left her work as a bookkeeper in 1964 with the birth of her second child and devoted herself to her family. She was skilled in baking, knitting and sewing, as well as small home appliance repairs, and known for her love of gadgets. In 1966, she started a County Extension Group that met in the basement of her home, and embarked on a career of public service on state, regional and national councils. In 1982, while Chairman of the National Service Council, she was presented the Granite State Award for Outstanding Public Service by the University of New Hampshire.
Marianne and her husband, Everett, shared a love of travel as well. Over the years, they had a series of recreational vehicles, and traveled and golfed extensively throughout North America with them. They were able to visit every one of the continental United States, including Alaska, most of the provinces of Canada, and traveled into Mexico as well. Marianne parlayed her love of travel into a position as tour organizer and leader during the 1980’s, and led trips to Washington, DC, Ottawa, Canada, Cannes, France, and Rome, Italy. She even led one group to the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Germany. In her later years, she and her husband divided their time between their home in Laconia, and Arcadia, FL.
Marianne is survived by her husband, Everett Houston, her children Dr. Birgit Houston of Hollis, NH and Kurt Houston of Gilford, NH, her daughter-in-law Toni Houston, her son-in-law Douglas Robinson, and her grandchildren, Eric Robinson of Tokyo, Marc Robinson of New York City, Tara Robinson of Montpelier, VT, and Christopher Houston and Caitlin Houston of Gilford, NH, and her sister Elisabeth Dahlhoff of Mettmann, Germany. Her sister, Rosemarie Bordon of Epsom, NH, died in 2001.
A celebration of Marianne’s life will be held at the family home in July.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Community Health & Hospice, Inc., Memorial Gifts, 780 North Main Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremations Services, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, N. H. is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.