Hillsboro, NH

Gertrude Ellen Castelot, 90, passed away October 31, 2011 at the Hillsboro House Nursing Home surrounded by her family. Gertrude had been a resident of the nursing home for seven years where she had been battling a long illness. Never one to give up easily on anything she demonstrated her amazing strength and resiliency right up the end.

Gertrude is survived by her two sisters: Ann in Vero Beach, Florida and Eleanor in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Her immediate children: Patrick in Hillsboro, NH; Mary in Troy, NH; David (Pamela) in Camden, NH; John (Kim) in Manchester, NH; Irene (Robert Bradford) in Fountain Hills, Arizona; James (Debra) in Peterborough, NH; Christopher (Irina) in Manchester, NH and Gregory in Manchester, NH. She has six beautiful granddaughters: Meaghan Smith, Laura Castelot, Sarah Castelot, Emily Castelot Melanie Seneschal, April Seneschal, Thomas Hoyt, Steven Hoyt. One great grandson Charlie and another great grandchild due shortly.

She was born in Dorchester, MA July 7, 1921. While still a young girl her family moved to Trumble CT. It was in Connecticut that she met her husband Robert Castelot. A rather unusual side note is that Gertrude’s’ younger brother Francis married Robert’s younger sister, Joan. They had eight children while in Connecticut. In 1961, feeling the need to give the expanding family enough room to run around on Gert and Bob moved to Hillsboro NH, buying an old dairy farm. In 1962, the one native New Hampshire son, Gregory, was born making the family complete.

She was an active member of the St Mary’s Catholic , church in Hillsboro, at one point serving as an Eucharistic Minister. In her earlier years she was very active in the Sunday school programs as well as various outreach organizations. She had worked at the local school as a volunteer for a number of years Later she took a job at the Hillsboro House Nursing Home where her favorite task was being involved in the activities committee; providing her an opportunity to help others. In her later years she would reminisce about how they would load up a car or two and head off to the coast in the summer or up to the Kancamagus Highway during fall foliage. Gertrude remained active in her community up to the point of her going to the Nursing Home, having earned the nickname “the mayor” by some of her close friends.

Calling hours are Wednesday, November 2 from 6 to 8 PM at the Holt Woodbury Funeral Home & Cremation Service, 32 School Street, Hillsboro.

A Catholic mass will be celebrated on November 3, at 10 AM, at St Mary’s in Hillsboro with burial following at St Charles Cemetery. All those wishing to join the family in a Celebration of Life for Gertrude, an  informal gathering are welcome at the Masonic Lodge, on Gay Ave in Hillsboro. This will be from 12:00 – 2:00 PM.

For more information please visit http://www.holtwoodburyfh.com/

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