Obituary for Rose Marie Jacqueline Merrill (Charest)
Rose Marie (Charest) Merrill, age 87, of Nashua, NH, passed away on February 10, 2022, at The Courville at Nashua following a long battle with Alzheimer’s. She was the beloved wife of David Edward Merrill.
Rose Marie was born in Brockton, MA on July 8, 1934, daughter of the late Rodolphe & Delvina Charest. She lived most of her life in Wareham MA, sparking a love and passion for the ocean and Cape Cod. Rose Marie attended Wareham HS and graduated in 1952 from Mt. St. Joseph Academy. She entered into the convent with the Sisters of St. Joseph right after high school where she earned her degree in Education from Regis College. In the service of her religious life, she taught elementary school in Stoughton and Charlestown, impacting the lives of many children and families. She spoke of these years fondly saying 5th grade was her favorite.
After 10 years in the convent, Rose Marie changed her vocation. In 1963 she met the love of her life, David Merrill, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage. Together they raised 4 children in Nashua. David was devoted to Rose Marie and cared and cherished her until her last day. Even while Alzheimer’s took her away from him, David remained her rock and never waivered from his promise to be her protector and support.
Rose Marie continued her lay career as a teacher. She touched many lives as the Director of Religious Education overseeing the CCD and Sacramental Preparation programs at the Parish of the Resurrection for 20 years. She later held teaching positions in the Nashua Public Schools and at Nashua Catholic JR High. She also taught English at Hesser College in Nashua and Castle College in Windham.
Rose Marie enjoyed quilting, ceramics, reading, writing, and traveling. But her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends. She loved Cape Cod and dreamed of living one day back in Wareham, near the ocean. She loved football and, after the Patriots, was a fan of the Green Bay Packers. She was strong in her faith, loved the Lord, and had a devotion to the Blessed Mother. It is through this faith that she and David drew comfort and strength to face challenges and see the richness and blessings in their lives.
The family of Rose Marie would like to thank Home Instead and The Courville of Nashua for the wonderful care they provided and the compassion they showed to her and her family. They would also like to recognize the many neighbors and the faith community at the Parish of the Resurrection for always caring and offering prayers and support. Such an outpouring made all the difference in walking through the journey and challenges of the past few years.
Besides her husband David, Rose Marie is survived by 4 children: Barbara Merrill, Michael Merrill (Chrissy), Beth Bradt (Paul), and Patricia Lemoine (Scott); 7 grandchildren: Sharday Boyd (Marty), Jennifer Rieth, Jacob Rieth, David Rieth (Jannell), Kara Merrill, Olivia Lemoine, and Matthew Lemoine; 3 great grandchildren: Brodie Rieth, Jaxson Boyd, and Luna Rieth; her sisters Jeanne McNamara, Blanche Greeno, and Barbara McRae; a brother-in-law Roger Merrill (Carole); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by 3 brothers: Normand, Rodolphe, and Robert Charest, and a sister, Evelina Bialkowski.
Services will be held on Wednesday Feb. 16, 2022, at the PARISH OF THE RESURRECTION, 449 Broad St., Nashua, NH 03063. Relatives & Friends are invited to pray the Rosary with the family at 9:30am. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 AM; Funeral Mass to begin at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashua. Due to COVID protocols and limitations, there will be no social gathering after the services. For those who would like to participate remotely, the Funeral Mass will be live streamed through the church web site: https://parishoftheresurrection.org/ Arrangements in the care of the DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua, NH 03064. An online guestbook is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com (603) 883-3401. "ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER."
Rose Marie was born in Brockton, MA on July 8, 1934, daughter of the late Rodolphe & Delvina Charest. She lived most of her life in Wareham MA, sparking a love and passion for the ocean and Cape Cod. Rose Marie attended Wareham HS and graduated in 1952 from Mt. St. Joseph Academy. She entered into the convent with the Sisters of St. Joseph right after high school where she earned her degree in Education from Regis College. In the service of her religious life, she taught elementary school in Stoughton and Charlestown, impacting the lives of many children and families. She spoke of these years fondly saying 5th grade was her favorite.
After 10 years in the convent, Rose Marie changed her vocation. In 1963 she met the love of her life, David Merrill, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage. Together they raised 4 children in Nashua. David was devoted to Rose Marie and cared and cherished her until her last day. Even while Alzheimer’s took her away from him, David remained her rock and never waivered from his promise to be her protector and support.
Rose Marie continued her lay career as a teacher. She touched many lives as the Director of Religious Education overseeing the CCD and Sacramental Preparation programs at the Parish of the Resurrection for 20 years. She later held teaching positions in the Nashua Public Schools and at Nashua Catholic JR High. She also taught English at Hesser College in Nashua and Castle College in Windham.
Rose Marie enjoyed quilting, ceramics, reading, writing, and traveling. But her greatest joy was spending time with her family and friends. She loved Cape Cod and dreamed of living one day back in Wareham, near the ocean. She loved football and, after the Patriots, was a fan of the Green Bay Packers. She was strong in her faith, loved the Lord, and had a devotion to the Blessed Mother. It is through this faith that she and David drew comfort and strength to face challenges and see the richness and blessings in their lives.
The family of Rose Marie would like to thank Home Instead and The Courville of Nashua for the wonderful care they provided and the compassion they showed to her and her family. They would also like to recognize the many neighbors and the faith community at the Parish of the Resurrection for always caring and offering prayers and support. Such an outpouring made all the difference in walking through the journey and challenges of the past few years.
Besides her husband David, Rose Marie is survived by 4 children: Barbara Merrill, Michael Merrill (Chrissy), Beth Bradt (Paul), and Patricia Lemoine (Scott); 7 grandchildren: Sharday Boyd (Marty), Jennifer Rieth, Jacob Rieth, David Rieth (Jannell), Kara Merrill, Olivia Lemoine, and Matthew Lemoine; 3 great grandchildren: Brodie Rieth, Jaxson Boyd, and Luna Rieth; her sisters Jeanne McNamara, Blanche Greeno, and Barbara McRae; a brother-in-law Roger Merrill (Carole); and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Besides her parents, she is predeceased by 3 brothers: Normand, Rodolphe, and Robert Charest, and a sister, Evelina Bialkowski.
Services will be held on Wednesday Feb. 16, 2022, at the PARISH OF THE RESURRECTION, 449 Broad St., Nashua, NH 03063. Relatives & Friends are invited to pray the Rosary with the family at 9:30am. Visitation will be held from 10:00 until 11:00 AM; Funeral Mass to begin at 11:00 AM. Interment to follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Nashua. Due to COVID protocols and limitations, there will be no social gathering after the services. For those who would like to participate remotely, the Funeral Mass will be live streamed through the church web site: https://parishoftheresurrection.org/ Arrangements in the care of the DAVIS FUNERAL HOME, One Lock St., Nashua, NH 03064. An online guestbook is available at www.davisfuneralhomenh.com (603) 883-3401. "ONE MEMORY LIGHTS ANOTHER."