Lillian E. (Heath) Brainard, 90, of Salem, NH formerly of Methuen, MA and Windham, NH passed from this life on Thursday. Aug. 26th at Catholic Medical Center, Manchester, NH.
Lillian was born and educated in Methuen and graduated from the Edward F. Searles High School. A long time resident of Methuen, she was active for many years in the civic and political affairs of Methuen. A Former Girl Scout leader with the First Methodist Church, Lillian was a two-term member of the Methuen School Committee and a member of the Building Committee for the original Tenney High School.
Daughter of the late Mary (Harrison) and Arthur Heath, Lillian weighed little more than 2 pounds, long before the invention on incubators. The doctors told her parents not to expect her to live longer than a few days. Lillian defied all odds and went on to lead a long, healthy and productive life.
The way Lillian lived her life tells you much about her values. Above all, she enjoyed spending time with her family. She valued education - the excitement of learning. She embraced cultural diversity and all that people might learn from one another. Her sense of humor was a joy to be around, even though her quick wit often caught one off-guard. Frequently, Lillian put her creativity to paper using both poetry and painting to illustrate her wisdom, since of humor and her joy at being alive. In recent years, Lillian surprised her children by showing an enjoyment and talent to sing lovely and funny songs from her past, often entertaining the other residents of Salemhaven, where she resided the past few years.
Lillian’s retirement from the Foreign Credit Dept. at Bank of Boston in Boston, MA was the beginning of a new adventure for her. Following a 3 month cross-country trip, she moved to her son’s ranch in Sabinal, TX. From 1992 to 2002, she, along with her son, Gile, and his partner, Bob Marcus, learned about raising and herding goats along with the auction process of the cattle industry. She had names for most of the ranch animals and at one time found herself fact to face with an angry bull that had pinned her to a fence between its’ horns before mercifully letting her go. These and the adventures of river rafting, were just some of her new experiences. After 10 years of ranching and dodging rattlesnakes and wild bore, Lillian moved back to the New England she always loved to reside with her daughter, Gwen, in Salem, NH.
She was predeceased by her husband Samuel Brainard and her eldest daughter, Barbara Regan.
“Mom”, “Nana”, “Great Nana”, “Grandmother B” and “Lillian” - the various names used by those who loved her. She will be greatly missed.
Survived by:
4 Daughters:
Kathleen Brainerd and her husband Richard DiCapua of Woodstock Valley, CT,
Gwendolyn Brainerd of Salem, NH,
Carol McCafferty of Jonesport, ME
Rhonda-Lee and her husband Albert DeMarco of Rio Rancho, NM
3 Sons:
Robert Brainard and his wife Donna of Brookfield, MA
Gile Brainard and his partner Robert Marcus of San Antonio, TX
Timothy Brainard of Lake Havusu, AZ
Son-in-law: Brian Williams of Salem, NH
14 Grandchildren, 16 Great Grandchildren
At Lillian’s request, there are no calling hours. A Memorial Service will be held in the Salemhaven Chapel on Sat. Sept. 11th at 10:30 AM. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery, Methuen, MA. The family kindly requests that contributions in Lillian’s name be made to: Salemhaven Activities Fund, 23 Geremonty Dr., Salem, NH 03079. Arrangements are in the care of Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, NH.
To send a message of condolence to the family, please view the obituary at www.douglasandjohnson.com