Lebanon, N.H. —
Charlotte Agnes Theriault was born in Nashua, N.H., on May 10, 1938, the daughter of Arthur Theriault, a storekeeper, and Josephine Marquis Theriault. She was a precocious learner and voracious reader from the start, advancing grades before graduating from Mount St. Mary High School in Nashua. Like others in her class of 1957, Charlotte chose to join the convent upon graduation, seeing this as the best option to continue her education. Penitent Sister Michael Arthur never took her final vows, as Charlotte was destined for a career of a different – and global – nature.
She graduated from St. Anselm College cum laude in 1960 with a BS in Nursing, among the first generation of university educated nurses. She married Robert Joseph Houde, St. Anselm 1960, and began her personal and professional life in the age of Kennedy’s Camelot. She became a maternity nurse at the Central Maine Medical Center. After having six children of her own, she became committed to ensuring that pregnant women had the most satisfying experience possible when delivering their babies. She made this her life’s mission.
She was accepted to the Yale School of Nursing and earned her Master of Science in Nursing degree and Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM) designation in 1972. At the time, Yale did not offer clinical privileges to CNM’s. Undeterred, Charlotte packed up her six children, the youngest still in diapers, and they all spent the summer in a tent in Stone Mountain Park in Georgia so that she could complete her residency at Grace Hospital.
Back in New Haven, the burgeoning women’s rights movement was reflected in Charlotte’s life and work, as women were demanding more input into the decisions around their own deliveries. Charlotte was eager to represent and advocate for women and families and chose midwifery as her path to do so.
Charlotte improved care for underserved women throughout New Haven, developing a prenatal program within the Fair Haven Health Clinic as a volunteer. She delivered hundreds of babies at Yale-New Haven Hospital and helped to educate the next generation of nurse midwifes, serving as an Assistant Professor at the Yale School of Nursing from 1973-1978 and chairing the Maternal-Newborn Program for three years. In 1977 she was awarded the Yale University School of Nursing Distinguished Alumna Award for her pioneering work.
Her first husband’s untimely death in 1978 left her as a single mom of six children aged 9 to 17. The bonds of friendship and support that were forged during that difficult time will never be broken. Charlotte’s home in North Branford also became a safe haven for adolescents who forever benefited from her wise counsel on their often-questionable decision-making skills. No topic was off limits at Charlotte’s home, and given that she was a midwife, you can imagine the breadth of discussions that took place! Despite her long work weeks and full schedule with her own six children, “Ms. Houde” served as a second mom and mentor to dozens more.
In 1983 Charlotte was hired by DHMC in Hanover, N.H., to build its new Midwifery program from the ground up. She met Tony Quimby, a widower and self-described “gentleman farmer” from Meriden, N.H. on a blind date in 1988. After just six weeks, despite concerns from children on both sides that the two were rushing into things, he proposed marriage and she happily accepted. Together they built a home in Meriden that has served as the family hub ever since. She later described the union thusly: “I feel like I’ve walked into a miracle.”
In addition to building the DHMC midwifery program and delivering hundreds of Upper Valley children at DHMC, Charlotte was privileged to witness the births of many of her own grandchildren, a special gift for all involved.
After her “retirement” from DHMC in 1990, she still had plenty to give. With intrepid Tony by her side, she spent the next 10 years building programs supporting prenatal care and safe midwifery practices to reduce infant mortality in Senegal, Uganda, Vietnam, and Indonesia. She settled back down in Meriden and decided to pursue change through political means. She was elected to the Plainfield School Board and, later, to two terms as Plainfield’s Representative to the N.H. State House.
Charlotte worked tirelessly for women and families throughout her life. Poignantly, her final achievement in the field was published just last week: “The CenteringPregnancy® Model.” This book represents a fitting capstone to an incredible life story and groundbreaking career.
Despite the fact that Charlotte spent an inordinate amount of time caring for women’s bodies, she never lost track of the fact that the key to everything was each person’s heart and soul. She poured her whole self into her family, friends, and work. We are all the better for it.
Charlotte is survived by an huge network of relationships, too extensive to list in full, including her loving husband, William “Tony” Quimby, of Harvest Hill in Lebanon; her six children and their families, including Robert Houde, wife Susan, and their son Michael, of Centreville, Va.; John Houde, wife Jennifer Rybeck Houde, and their daughters Nell and Georgia, of Meriden; David Houde of Washington, DC; Judy Houde Hardy, husband Greg, and their children Jasmine, Kelsey, Cooper, and Grayson, of Meriden; Beth Houde, partner Terri Crane, and their daughter Zoey, of Meriden; and son Matthew Houde, wife Sarah Sprague Houde, and their daughter Haddie of Cornish, N.H.
She is also survived by her sister Gloria Morin, of Nashua, and Gloria’s four children and their families, who will hold fond memories of “Auntie Charlotte”; her sister-in-law Florence “Sis” Houde, of Nashua, who has been an integral part of the family for almost 60 years; and Tony’s three children: David Quimby, of Meriden, and his son Connor; Susan Quimby Young, also of Meriden, and her daughter Aly Young; and Doug Quimby, of Errol, N.H.
Charlotte was predeceased by her parents; first husband Robert Houde; their son Stephen; and her brother, David Theriault.
There will be no calling hours. A celebration of Charlotte’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12, at the Meriden Congregational Church in Meriden, with a reception to follow. All are welcome. A private burial service will be held in the spring.
In lieu of flowers, Charlotte asked that donations be made to either of the following:
Upper Valley Haven, 713 Hartford Ave., White River Junction VT 05001, United Valley Interfaith Project, PO Box 187, Meriden, NH 03770.
The Rand-Wilson Funeral Home of Hanover, is supporting arrangements. Online messages may be posted at www.rand-wilson.com.