Priscilla E. Leavitt

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Priscilla E. Leavitt

Priscilla E. Leavitt of Stratham, N.H. passed away on Sunday evening June 24, 2012 at Exeter Hospital. She was born on January 19, 1919 in Natick, MA and was the daughter of the late Alfred E. and Blanche (Metcalfe) Edwards.

As a child, Priscilla spent countless hours engrossed in a favorite book. Her passion for reading and learning became the fuel for what would become a successful career as a librarian in private industry and in the Weston and Needham public schools; she would go on to become the superintendent of elementary libraries and media specialist in Needham. In later years, long after retirement, Priscilla continued to pursue learning. She and her husband Carleton were some of the first seniors to complete a computer course at the University of New Hampshire, and to own both a PC and a laptop.

Much of Priscilla’s social life as a youth, revolved around activities held at the Natick Baptist Church and at the Rainbow Girls Assembly where she served in leadership as a Worthy Advisor and Past Grand Drill Leader. She had many fond memories of attending church events and dances at the DeMolay chapter with her future husband Carleton.

Priscilla attended public schools in Natick through grade nine and spent her high school years at the Walnut Hill School. The demanding curriculum at Walnut Hill made her Library Science major at Simmons College quite easy for her because she was a gifted academic. She commuted on the train and yet was able to maintain stellar grades and serve as the class president.

When Pearl Harbor occurred, and most young men were being drafted into the military, her fiancé came home on a weekend pass, and they were married on January 1, 1942. Priscilla was a faithful and dedicated wife and homemaker. With the arrival of her two sons after the war, she lovingly dedicated herself to the care and well-being of her family by providing a structured, nurturing environment. After the children had grown and she had returned to work, her husband decided to pursue a career in Germany. Priscilla took an early retirement in order to join him abroad. Life in Germany was full of new experiences for she and her husband lived amongst the Germans. She brushed up on her German by taking language courses there in order to communicate with her neighbors and other native speakers. Opportunities for travel abounded and Priscilla took advantage of them. She traveled extensively in the United States and in Eastern and Western Europe. She also was able to visit Israel, which out of all her trips was her favorite because “it just made the Bible so real.”

Upon her return to the states, Priscilla and Carleton relocated to New Hampshire. She continued to be an avid reader, bridge player, and bird watcher. Priscilla could recognize and name the native birds as well as many others.

In her later life, as it became difficult to get around, Priscilla appreciated the many visits from her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. She beamed whenever a visitor arrived whether family, neighbor, or friend, but her face would truly light up when given a great grandbaby to hold. Priscilla was a loyal and devoted wife, a beloved mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be dearly missed by all of those she leaves behind.

Priscilla was predeceased by her husband Carleton R. Leavitt in 2005. She leaves behind her sons Russell and his wife Kathleen of Sterling, MA, Paul and his wife Elizabeth Ballantine of McLean, VA, her grandchildren Brendan Leavitt and his wife Kristen of Waltham, MA, Daniel Leavitt and his wife Amanda of Midlothian, VA, William Leavitt of New York City, and Sarah Leavitt of McLean Virginia. She also leaves 5 great granddaughters: Caitlyn, Abigail, Elisabeth, Anna, and Rachel.

Services will be held Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 10:30 AM at the Stockbridge Funeral Home, 141 Epping Road, Exeter. Visiting Hours will be held on Friday, June 29, 2012 from 6 - 8 pm at the funeral home. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. If desired donations may be made to the Wiggin Memorial Library, 10 Bunker Hill Avenue, Stratham, NH 03885 or the Stratham Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Bunker Hill Ave, Stratham, NH 03885. Burial will be in the Maple Lane Cemetery, Stratham, NH.

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