Sad News

It is with a heavy heart that I inform you of the passing of Lucy Magoon, longtime member of Littleton Garden Club and very active NHFGC member. Lucy was instrumental to introducing and promoting the Smokey Bear/Woodsy Owl Youth Poster Contest in NH. We were so pleased that last year at age 94 she was able to attend the Smokey Bear 75th Birthday event in Franconia Notch. Here is the obituary for her.

It is with regret that I am informing you of the death of one of our former NHFGC Presidents, Alice Jorda.  I remember her fondly as an elegant woman who led our state with grace and good cheer.  She and her husband sponsor one of the NHFGC scholarships.  My condolences to the Bow Garden Club – she was such an active member and good friend.  

Here is the writeup:                    Alice (Gassman) Jorda
July 17, 1927 – April 29, 2020

Alice (Gassman) Jorda passed away peacefully on April 29th in Port St. Lucie, FL.  Alice and her beloved husband Karl had moved there in 2011 to be near one of their daughters upon Karl’s retirement.  Known to many of us as our “Suisse Miss” per her email address and lovely German accent, Alice had been a member of the Bow Garden Club since 1989 where she served two seperate terms as BGC President.  She later served as our NHFGC President from 2003-2005.

Alice was a champion of our youth, forming two junior garden clubs, “The Twigs” for 3rd-5th graders at the Bow Elementary School’s after-school program and later “The Juniors”, Bow High School students who happily gave up their study periods twice a month to work with Alice on either the floral or gardening project she had created for them.

Alice was a generous, hard-working woman – a special lady in so many ways.  She will be missed and remembered for many years to come.

Funeral arrangements and Alice’s wishes in regard to a rememberance or donation in her name have yet to be announced; however, condolences may be sent to her family at the Florida address:
The Jorda Family
431 S.W. Sundance Trail
Port St. Lucie,  FL 34953

Fern Doucette lost her son, Jean Doucette, to cancer on April 30, 2020.  She, her son Alan and daughter Renee were able to have him at Fern’s home and be with him as his caregivers during these days of need.  This has been a difficult month for them with the recent loss of Bob (Fern’s husband and their Dad) and now Fern’s son / their brother.  Robert Doucette died on April 8, 2020, having been ill since mid-January after a fall.  Services will be delayed until a later date to be announced.

Please keep Fern and her family in your thoughts and prayers.  Fern’s address is 180 Benz Road, Bristol, NH 03222.

Two weeks ago, my husband , Fred, became ill and although his cold/pneumonia symptoms were manageable, they took a sharp turn on Tuesday.  He was sent to the ER at Parkland Hospital in Derry and tested positive for Covid19.  He was treated for pneumonia and Covid19 but did not respond well to the treatments.  Saturday, he was transferred back home to Salem Woods on hospice so he would be in familiar surroundings and cared for by people who know and love him during this difficult period.  I was able to Skype twice during his short time there and we held a Zoom church service with him and the immediate family on Sunday morning (4/19). On Sunday afternoon, Fred passed away peacefully.  This has been even more difficult since I could not be with him on this journey.

You may have seen the NH Governor’s press conference and/or the newspaper and WMUR broadcasts last week regarding the situation at Salem Woods.  The management and staff there have been so amazing always and especially during this time.  The outbreak is only on the memory care floor and came in either from a staff member who was asymptomatic or a resident returning from the hospital (who was the first positive case there.)  I believe that everything that could have been done to prevent this had been done, and more.  I am grateful for the measures they have taken, the care they gave Fred, and that they welcomed Fred back home under these circumstances – even though he was only there for less than 24 hours.

Fred’s obituary posted on the Douglas and Johnson Funeral Home website https://www.douglasandjohnson.com/ .  Please, no flowers – the charity that we would prefer donations made to in lieu of flowers will be in the obituary.

I am grateful that Fred is no longer suffering on this earth and is home in God’s hands.

I hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe.

Sue

( Note: Sue’s address is 19 Town Village Drive, Salem, NH 03079)