HANOVER, NH — Marilyn Bancroft Fitzgerald Hunter, 91 passed away peacefully on Friday December 11, 2020 at Kendal in Hanover NH.
Marilyn was born in Laconia, NH on April 22, 1929 and graduated from Simmons College in Boston, MA in 1951 with a degree in physical therapy. She was married to the late Windsor H. Hunter in 1950, whom she met while studying at Simmons College. Together they raised five children (David, Brad, Kevin, Judi and Greg). The family enjoyed years of skiing, hiking, camping and sailing. Marilyn and Win took the family on multiple camping trips up and down the East Coast towing a pop-up camper and crossing the US and Canada twice.
Marilyn and Win were avid hikers summiting all 4,000 footers in NH, multiple times. Additionally, they traveled extensively around the world and hiked on all continents except Antarctica.
Marilyn, will be remembered as a hearty New Englander. She loved the outdoors, especially in the Fall and Winter months. She enjoyed skiing, hiking and walking. She was an early riser and started every day with a morning walk with the family dogs. Marilyn also enjoyed gardening and was an active member of the Hanover NH garden club. Throughout her life Marilyn volunteered to help those in need. She was a very active member of the five-college book sale which raises money for scholarships for students in Vermont and New Hampshire. Marilyn coordinated the Journal program between middle-school students in Hanover and residents at Kendal. Students were paired with a Kendal resident and exchanged stories about their interests and lives as a means of developing writing skills in the students.
We will always remember Marilyn or Nanny, for her stories about her adventures as a young mother of five, her beloved dogs, (mostly) delicious meals and her honesty.
Marilyn is survived by her son David Hunter and daughter-in-law Ellen Hunter (Burlington MA), her son Bradley Hunter and daughter-in law Mary Palaima (Amherst NH), her son Kevin Hunter and daughter-in law Jacqueline Hunter (Milford NH), her daughter Judi Schwarz (Claremont, NH) and her son Gregory Hunter and daughter-in-law Robyn Hunter (Dover MA); her twelve grandchildren Kim Hunter DeDeus, Kierstyn Hunter, Matt Hunter, Michael Hunter, Blaire Hunter, Kali Hunter Sheridan, Ian Hunter, Elisabeth Schwarz, Maria Schwarz, Mickey Schwarz, Katerina Schwarz, Samuel Hunter and seven great grandchildren James DeDeus, Will DeDeus, Hunter DeDeus, Hannah Walton, Isabelle Farnsworth, Collins Sheridan and Dakota Cook.
A private celebration of her life will be held for family and friends. In memory of her life donations can be made to the Montshire Museum of Science in Norwich Vermont in her memory.