Inez "Pat" Couture

*** Service Update*** A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Antrim Baptist Church, 85 Main Street, Antrim, NH. Burial will immediately follow at the Butler Cemetery in Deering, NH. Inez Patricia Couture ( June 8, 1921 - January 1, 2017) The family of Inez "Pat" Couture sadly announce the passing of a kind, loving and gentle soul. Pat was a native of New Hampshire, living in Peterborough, Hillsboro, Unity, Antrim and Newport at different points of her life. She was the eldest daughter of Harrison Edward Radford and Dorothy (Cole) Radford, and the only remaining sibling of 5: sister Joanne Radford, brother Stanley Radford of Newport, NH, sister Marylin (Radford) Weigel of White River Junction, Vermont, and brother Harrison Radford of Arlington, Massachusetts, all pre-deceased. Briefly married in the 1940s, Pat had one son, Arnold Couture (aka: Jac Castle) of Sunapee, NH. She also had several grandchildren, including Christopher Jared Couture of Newport, VT, James Couture of North Carolina, and Jason Couture of Tennessee. Great-grandchildren include Jennifer M. (Couture) Blake of Keene, NH and Jimmy (Couture) Blake. The greatest joy of Pat's life was her belief in God and in helping humanity. She served as a Salvation Army Officer for many years, helping the homeless and 'un-wed mothers' on the streets of New York City and in shelters. Her bravery and selflessness as a single mother facing the perils of city life in the 1950s inspired many. Later in life she worked as a secretary, as a nanny, and played organ at the Antrim Baptist Church, where she was a faithful member, Sunday school, and prayer group leader for many years. Living at Antrim Village, she could regularly be seen hiking up the steep hill to the public library to get her regular dose of historical fiction and biographies of great people. When her health failed, she was a resident at Pheasant Wood Care Center in Peterborough, NH, and then at Woodlawn Care Center in Newport, NH. Her caregivers and friends remember her as a joyful presence, always ready for conversation, laughter and music. She never had an unkind word for anyone. She loved people in general, but babies and cats in particular. At her last birthday celebration (95th), Pat was surrounded by family that cared for her attentively in her latter years: niece Sarah Hirsch and her husband the Honorable Geoffrey Hirsch of Bradford, NH, sister-in-law Linda Radford of Newport, NH, nephew Frank Weigel and his wife Tina, and niece Trudy Weigel, all of White River Junction, VT. Other loving family (not present in photo) include her nephews Timothy Radford of Manchester, NH and Thomas Radford of Burlington, VT, and her nieces Susan Hedgcock and Amy Cecil of Kentucky. Grand (and Great-grand) nieces and nephews abound, as far away as California, North Carolina and even Romania. Services will be announced in the spring. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Pat's name to the Antrim Baptist Church, 85 Main Street, Antrim, NH 03440.

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