Eleanor H. Amidon

Hancock, NH

Eleanor Harriett Carleton Amidon, 87, of Hancock, died on October 12, 2016, after a short illness. She was born on May 18, 1929 in Pelham, Massachusetts, the daughter of Leslie G. Carleton and Frances Harris Carleton. She attended art school in Boston, and married Richard Elkins Amidon of Worcester, MA on April 24, 1954.

Eleanor was a musician, serving as the organist and choir director of the Hancock Congregational Church for 35 years, and later playing at many other churches in the Monadnock Region. She was also an artist, known for her pen and ink drawings of houses and local businesses, as well as her Christmas cards, which chronicled the childhoods of her daughters and grandchildren. She served as a Representative to the New Hampshire House from 1988-1998, as well as serving on the state's Emergency Shelter and Homeless Coordination Commission. In addition, Eleanor was also active in the community. She was a long-time member of the Hancock Congregational Church and the Women's Guild, and served on Hancock's Bicentennial Committee in as well as being active in the Historical Society and helping produce an updated town history in 1979. She also volunteered at Monadnock Community Hospital, working on the hospital's Pacemaker newsletter and its annual Chrysanthemum Ball.

Eleanor loved painting and drawing, music, travel, gardening, and rug hooking, and instilled in her children and grandchildren a deep love of reading and learning. She was a dedicated supporter and chronicler of her family's activities.

Eleanor was predeceased by her husband, Richard Amidon, in 2015. She is survived by three daughters, Lesley Perkins of Fairhaven, MA, Cynthia Amidon and her partner James Meltzer of Hancock, and Marcia Lusted and her husband Greg of Hancock; seven grandchildren, Sarah Cass Skillin, Gregory Cass, Jessamyn Dechert Irwin, Myles Dechert, and Nicholas, Samuel, and Thomas Lusted; and six great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life will be held at 2 pm on Sunday, October 23, 2016, at the First Congregational Church of Hancock. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of Hancock, 47 Main Street, Hancock, NH, 03449. The Amidon Family would also like to thank the staff of Hillsboro House for their loving care of Eleanor and Richard over the past years.