Anita L. Fillion

PITTSBURG, NH -- Mrs. Anita Lucille Marie (Vallière) Fillion, 87, of Pittsburg, NH, passed away at the home of her daughter in Hudson, NH, on Monday, June 14, 2010. She was born on September 12, 1922, in Berlin, NH, a daughter of the late Frank and Emilia (Gosselin) Vallière. She was educated at the Guardian Angel School for eight years, for one year at the convent at St. Jean d’Iberville, Québec, and for 3 years at Berlin High School graduating in 1942. Anita earned her diploma as a registered nurse from the Notre Dame de Lourdes Hospital in Manchester, NH, graduating in 1945, and she served for 3 years with the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps in Framingham, Mass. during World War II. She married Lucien Fillion on December 29, 1945, and they lived in Berlin until 1966 when they moved to West Stewartstown. Anita worked at the Coös County Hospital for a time, and then she and Lucien purchased and operated the Sears & Roebuck Catalog Store for 10 years. Upon her husband’s retirement, she returned to nursing, and was employed at the Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital until 1990. The couple enjoyed their retirement camping, traveling, and spending time with their family until his death in 1995. After living in Clarksville for over 30 years, Anita moved to Echo Valley Elderly Housing in Pittsburg, NH, in 2001, and made many new friends. She loved to travel, to hand-sew beautiful quilts, loved nature and camping, and she continued her nurturing ways with the residents at Echo Valley. Anita was a communicant of St. Albert’s Church in West Stewartstown and she belonged to the Society of the Dames de Ste. Anne in Berlin, as well as the National Nurses’ Association. Anita leaves behind her four children, Donald Fillion of Canaan, Vt., Jackie Chapman and husband Jim of Hudson, NH, Paul Fillion and wife Diane of Colebrook, NH, and Roger Fillion and wife Ann of Datil, New Mexico; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces and nephews. Anita is predeceased by her three brothers, Eddie Croteau, Henry Vallière and Omer Vallière; a sister, Irene Vallière; her husband, Lucien, in 1995; a daughter-in-law, Vivian Fillion, in 2000; twin great-grandsons, Aaron and Trevor Turcotte in 2001; and her long-time companion, Leo Frenette in 2009. There are no calling hours. A memorial Mass will be held on Monday, June 21, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Albert’s Catholic Church in West Stewartstown with The Reverend Craig Cheney as celebrant. Interment will follow at St. Albert’s Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Mrs. Fillion may be made to the Two Rivers Ride for Cancer, c/o Rosemary Mulliken, 1st Colebrook Bank, 132 Main St., Colebrook, NH 03576. 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.

Anita L. Fillion

September 12, 1922 - June 14, 2010