Louise Adelaide Marsh

Louise Adelaide Marsh
Louise Adelaide Marsh of West Newbury, Vermont, passed away on April 17, 2022 at Cottage Hospital in Woodsville, New Hampshire.
Louise was born at Mt. Selinda, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) at the American Board Mission there on December 26th, 1927, the daughter of Dorothy Van Wie Marsh and John Sawyer Marsh, who were missionary pastors. She grew up on the Mt. Selinda and Chikore missions except for her high school years when she lived with her grandmother in Lake Worth, Florida. In 1955 she returned from Africa with her parents on their retirement from the mission field and in 1961 came with them to West Newbury, Vermont, where she has lived until moving to the Grafton County Nursing Home in 2020.
Louise worked as a health aide at the Grafton County Nursing Home as well as working in food service at the Blue Mountain School for many years. She had a deep love of music and was a long-time member of the North Country Chorus. In 2008, Louise and her brother Bill, accompanied by the pastor of the West Newbury church, Rev. Cynthia Batten, had the remarkable experience of travelling back to Zimbabwe and visiting the missions where they had grown up.
Louise was a member of the West Newbury Congregational UCC church and was a dedicated member of the choir there as well as being active the Woman’s Fellowship and Bible study. She will be remembered fondly for the beautiful flower arrangements she created every week for the church narthex.
Louise was a strong and well-loved presence in the life of the village of West Newbury for almost 60 years. Her many performances in the village variety show were unforgettable, and she was a regular contributor to community potluck dinners. Louise was an enthusiastic storyteller and regaled friends and family with her stories about growing up in Africa. Her importance to the community was recognized with her crowning as the queen of the West Newbury Summer Festival in 2019. She was a dedicated reader, especially in her later years and was well known for her avid interest in the British Royal family.
Louise is survived by her nieces Nora Marsh and Stephanie Mulholland and nephews John Marsh and Charles Marsh. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held on Saturday, June 25th at 3 PM at the West Newbury Congregational UCC Church with a reception to follow in the West Newbury Hall.
Hale Funeral Home is honored to have Louise in our care.