Mary-Ellen Reed, 75, of Nashua, NH passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at the Huntington of Nashua. She was born on October 25, 1946, to Dorothy (Baxter) and Joseph F. Bassett. Mary-Ellen was raised in Tyngsborough, MA, where she was a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, in the class of 1964.
She was the wife of William H. Reed, Jr.; married on April 22, 1983, in Nashua, NH.
After graduating from Notre Dame Academy, Mary-Ellen worked as a Telecommunications Specialist for many years. She later received her bachelor’s degree from Riviere College in Nashua and was employed for 35 Years with Sanders Associates/BAE Systems as a Technical Research Librarian.
Mary-Ellen, along with her husband, was devoted to her faith. They attended The First Church. Mary-Ellen belonged to Beta Sigma Phi International, a non-academic sorority with 200,000 members in chapters around the world. This allowed her the opportunity to participate in several community fundraising activities and make life-long friendships. Mary-Ellen had an inherent love for music; it resonated in her soul. She sang in the choir at Pilgrim Church and directed the children’s choir there for several years. She was one of the founding members of New England Voices in Harmony, a singing organization for women. She enjoyed entertaining and competing in area and international competitions. She played the piano and the harp, and even tried her hand at the ukulele. Mary-Ellen enjoyed bowling, pizza with her husband at Nashua House of Pizza, working on puzzles, and being entertained by her cats.
Mary-Ellen spent 30 years as the Alvirne Chapel Manager and was fondly referred to as “The Chapel Lady.” She not only scheduled and managed the chapel but officiated many wedding ceremonies as a NH Justice of the Peace.
She had a passion for cooking and was a master in the kitchen, hosting frequent gatherings for family and friends. Though her cookbooks and recipe cards were dog-eared and worn with the tried and true, she liked to explore and create new dishes. She will perhaps be notably remembered for her Sweet Potato Puff recipe, which won Grand Prize in the Culinary Delights division and the cook-off’s Best of Show in the 1987 Nashua Telegraph competition. The Puff was a staple for Thanksgiving and Christmas and if she was serving Ham for Easter, the Puff was sure to be served right alongside.
Mary-Ellen is predeceased by her son Glenn A. Bickford, her mother-in-law Erma Reed “Momsie,” her sisters Dorothy (Dottie) Quigley and Judith Buckjune, and her stepdaughter Kristen DeLuca.
She is survived by her husband, William H. Reed Jr. of Nashua, her son Todd Bickford and his wife Melissa, of North Carolina, her stepdaughter Karen McLaughlin and her husband Robert, of Litchfield, and her stepson, Kevin Reed, of Nashua. “Grammy-Ellen” also leaves behind her grandchildren Erin and Dominic Mirabelle, Emily McLaughlin, Jon, Brianna, Geoffrey, and Brad DeLuca, and great grandchildren, Isla Mirabelle, Jaidyn, Paisley, and Hadley DeLuca.
SERVICES: Visitation will be 10 am on Friday, July 15, 2022, at Davis Funeral Home Nashua, NH, with a funeral service officiated by Rev. Jamie Boyle of the First Church, to immediately follow at 11:30am. Mary-Ellen’s celebration of life will continue at the Double Tree by Hilton, exit 8 Nashua, following the service. Friends and family are invited. A small family interment will be conducted later.
Those who wish to make a memorial contribution, please consider the Community Hospice House, 210 Naticook Rd., Merrimack NH or the Alzheimer’s Association, 166 S. River Rd #210, Bedford NH.