LEBANON, NH — Edith Rose Pall McNamara entered into eternal life on Monday, August 5, 2019 at the Hughes Memory Care Unit at Harvest Hill in Lebanon, NH. She joins her beloved husband of 41 years, Paul Gibson McNamara who died sixteen months ago. Edith (Edie) was born on April 18, 1927 in Bridgeport, CT and lived half of her life in Fairfield, CT while becoming a resident of New Hampshire when she married her husband. Edie was the daughter of the late Imre and Elizabeth Pall and was the youngest of three children. She graduated from the University of Connecticut with a B.S. degree in mathematics and secondary education and received her Master’s Degree from the University of Bridgeport in Guidance and Counseling. Her career in education allowed her to teach math in New Britain, CT, Wiesbaden, Germany, and Bridgeport, CT as well as counsel students in Norwalk and Westport, CT. When she moved to New Hampshire, she studied and received her Real Estate broker license.
Edie loved life and was known for her kind, caring, and generous spirit, her positive outlook, and devotion to her family and friends. She was indeed a life-long learner who enjoyed traveling, reading, attending classes and lectures at Dartmouth College’s ILEAD, and hunting for antiques. Edie’s great enjoyment was hosting her friends at her home for gourmet dinners, for cocktail parties, and for her needlecraft and mah jongg groups. She was an outstanding baker since she was a young woman. Being a mathematician, Edie’s bar cookies were cut exactly the same size because she used a ruler. She always used a recipe and once again measured each ingredient with precision.
Whatever endeavor Edie decided to do, she did it with total involvement and dedication. In 1985, she was initiated into Chapter I of the P.E.O. Sisterhood in Hanover, NH, an organization which stands for Philanthropic Education Organization and celebrates the advancement of women. With great joy Edie would refer to her fellow P.E.O. sisters lovingly, attend meetings faithfully, and also held the position of treasurer. Edie had deep faith throughout her life and was an active member at the Church of Christ at Dartmouth College. Because she loved beauty, Edie was also a member of the Hanover Garden Club.
Edie is survived to cherish her memory by her step-sons Timothy and wife Pat McNamara of Lebanon, NH and Sean and wife Barb McNamara of Brentwood, TN; grandchildren LCDR Timothy McNamara USCG and wife Kait of Odenton, MD, Kevin McNamara of Kauai, HI, Abigail Clavin and husband Joe of Crestwood, MO, Riley McNamara and Georgia McNamara of Brentwood, TN; and great-grandchildren Liam and Jack McNamara of Odenton, MD and McKinley Clavin of Crestwood, MO. She is also survived by her sister-in law Anne Pall of Milford, CT, nieces Claudia Margitay-Balogh of Stratford, CT and Claudette Warner and husband William of Dumfries, VA, great-nephew Scott Warner, wife Cheryl, and daughter Sharon of Alexandria, VA and great-niece Brooke Walsh and husband Ian of Davidsonville, Maryland as well as dear, longtime friends Dick and Sheila Brown. Those who predeceased Edie were her sister Elizabeth Margitay and husband Bela, her brother James Pall, and great-nephew Justin Margitay-Balogh and nephew Joseph Balogh.
The family is grateful for the compassionate, loving care given to Edith by the staff in the Hughes Memory Care Unit. A Celebration of Life service will be held at The Church of Christ at Dartmouth College, 40 College St., Hanover, NH on Saturday, August 24, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. A Calling Hour will occur in the church’s chapel from 10:00-11:00 a.m. on the day of the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Online guestbook is available to leave a message for Edith’s family by visiting www.rickerfuneralhome.com.