Florence M. Howes

July 18, 1926 - October 4, 2018

Florence Avery Mueller Howes, 92, of Averill, Vt. and Canaan, NH, died at her home in Canaan surrounded by her family on Oct. 4, 2018, after a brief period of declining health. Florence was born on July 18, 1926, in Jackson Heights, NY, to the late Frederick and Dorothy (Avery) Mueller. She graduated from Great Neck High School in 1944 and earned a BS in Home Economics from the University of Vermont in 1948. She lived many years in East Hartland and Tariffville, Conn., and Longmeadow, Mass. Florence later earned her teacher certification at Westfield State College. She taught nutrition and creative arts at the R.L.Putnam High School in Springfield, Mass., retiring in 1991 after serving as Coordinator of Adult Education and Interim Assistant Principal. She took a two-year leave to open The Meadow Mouse, a quilting, knitting, and needlework shop in East Longmeadow with her daughter, Holly. After retiring, she moved to Gale Street in Canaan, Vt., where she lived for over twenty years. During that time, she was always busy with spinning, knitting, felting, and crafting items for Creative Natives and local fairs. She enjoyed demonstrating spinning at the Lancaster Fair each year and winning ribbons for her handspun yarn and handmade items. Florence was very active in the Grace Methodist Church and later the Monadnock Congregational Church, singing in the choir and assisting at many events. In 2013, she moved to Canaan, NH. Over the years, Florence was active in square dancing, playing bridge, writing news for the News and SENTINEL, and serving on the local and state board for the Canaan Woman’s Club and the General Federation of Women Clubs. She also worked part-time at Creative Natives until 2017. Ever since her college years, Florence enjoyed spending summer vacations at Averill with her family and later purchased her camp on Cottage Road. As a teacher, she spent her summers there and continued that practice even after moving to Canaan, Vt. She could often be seen water skiing, out in her paddle boat, or taking walks with her golden retriever, Tigger and later Rocksie. She enjoyed playing cards and never missed a Red Sox game. Everywhere she went she made wonderful friends, which were so special to her. She was predeceased by her son, Jonathan Hatheway Howes, on Dec. 4, 1979, her brother, Robert A. Mueller, and her sister, Janet Elizabeth Pearson. Florence is survived by four of her children, Holly Howes of Canaan, NH, Seann Xenja of Sebastopol, Calif., Beth Ann Howes of Canaan, Vt., and Jennie Avery of Farmington, Conn.; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and eight nieces and nephews. She will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by all. There will be a memorial service at 11 am on Saturday, Oct 27, 2018, at the Grace Community Church in Canaan, Vt. A reception will follow at the church. Interment will be later in the day at the South Canaan Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Florence Howes can be made to the Canaan Women’s Club Scholarship, ℅ Solange Poulin, PO Box 104, Canaan, VT 05903. Condolences may be offered to the family on-line by going to www.jenkinsnewman.com. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Jenkins & Newman Funeral Home, Colebrook, NH.