Rita G. Hapgood

NORTH STRATFORD, NEW HAMPSHIRE – Mrs. Rita G. (Grenier) Hapgood, 76, of North Stratford, New Hampshire, passed away Sunday morning, April 27, 2008, at the Weeks Medical Center in Lancaster, New Hampshire. Mrs. Hapgood was born on July 23, 1931, in Woodsville, NH, a daughter of the late Sinai and Eva (Gerard) Grenier. Mrs. Hapgood attended school in Woodsville and as a young woman, she enjoyed ice skating and was a member of a bowling league. She and her late husband, Bill, resided in Colebrook for a period of time before moving to North Stratford, and she was a career employee for Public Service of New Hampshire, working in both Colebrook and Lancaster until her retirement. She also served as a Stratford area correspondent for both the News & Sentinel and the Coos County Democrat newspapers. Her many interests included a vast collection of postcards displaying covered bridges from each state, working with her sister, Jeanette, on the collection. She also enjoyed collecting mugs, wind chimes and ceramic birds. She enjoyed crafts, painting faces and pumpkins, and playing board games such as Scrabble and Upwards. Her willingness to help others was exemplified by her involvement in raising funds for local organizations and churches. She was an avid supporter of the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital and was involved heavily in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church annual penny sale for over 20 years and she served as director of and sang for the Christmas choir. She also enjoyed spending time with her family at camp at Seymour Lake in Morgan, VT, during the summer months. She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Nulhegan V.F.W., Post #5243 of North Stratford since 1965. Mrs. Hapgood is survived by four sisters, Doris Amstein of Winooski, VT, Dora Gordon of North Woodstock, NH, Laurian Phetteplace of North Haverhill, NH, and Ann Lee of Claremont, NH; two brothers, Edmond Grenier of Dalton, NH, and Maurice Grenier of Somers, CT; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Mrs. Hapgood is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, William “Bill” Hapgood on October 24, 1996; three sisters, Libby Mills, Lucille Taylor and Jeanette Ross; and two brothers, Ralph and Leo Grenier. At Mrs. Hapgood’s request, there will be no calling hours. A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2008, at 1:00 p.m. at St. Brendan’s Catholic Church in Colebrook with an interment service at the Colebrook Village Cemetery. A reception will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in North Stratford following the interment service.

Rita G. Hapgood

July 23, 1931 - April 27, 2008