Mary "Elaine" Jacobson

Beloved wife, mother and grandmother, Mary "Elaine" Jacobson, 73, of Jaffrey, NH and Sanibel, FL, died on July 10, 2015 at Monadnock Community Hospital after a period of failing health. Elaine was born on April 3, 1942 in Boston, MA. She was the daughter of John T. Biagi and Annetta (Simoni) Biagi. Elaine grew up in Hyannis, MA later moving to Milton, MA where she graduated from Jeanne d'Arc Academy. After marriage Elaine settled in the Monadnock region and raised her children. In 1980 she met her husband, William "Jake" Jacobson. Together they traveled west to Arizona where Elaine obtained her BA degree at the University of AZ. She then moved to the Portland, Oregon area, married Jake and began her career as a pharmaceutical representative. In 1985, to be closer to family, the couple returned to Dublin, NH where she continued her 18 year career before retiring from Aventis Pharmaceuticals. They moved to Jaffrey, NH in 2007 and have spent their winters in Sanibel, FL since jointly retiring in 2000. Elaine was very active in their Sanibel, FL community. She and Jake volunteered at the J.N. "Ding" Darling Natural Wildlife Refuge. As a self-taught expert on the local Florida flora she would conduct weekly plants walks for visitors to the Wildlife Refuge. She and Jake were also guides on bicycle-birding tours, which were also held weekly in the refuge. Elaine was a board member and the Program Chairperson for the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society. In that capacity since 2005 she planned and coordinated their very successful annual weekly lecture series in January and February on birds and the environment. In addition as a volunteer at the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), she was a leader/organizer for their native plant education program, Weeds & Seeds. During the summer she was either home in Jaffrey where she loved gardening or taking RV trips with her husband to locations such as the coast of Maine, Canada and Western U.S. Elaine will be sorely missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was always enthusiastic about everything she was interested in, and it was a contagious enthusiasm. With a unique knack for making friends she was the kind of person you always loved seeing. A vibrant and lively person who enjoyed life to the fullest while being amazingly giving and loving, Elaine's curiosity and excitement about plants, nature, history, and her passion to explore the world were admired by many. The world seemed brighter around Elaine. In addition to her loving husband, Jake, Elaine is survived by her three children; Nicole Pease of Dublin, Stephanie Bates of Keene and John Renn Gilbert of Pine, CO; four grandchildren; Hannah and Ella Bates, Zachary Pease, and Renn Gilbert. She is also survived by the father of her children, Stephen Gilbert of Merrimac, MA. Visiting hours will be held at Jellison Funeral Home, 25 Concord Street, Peterborough on Wednesday July 15, 2015 from 5:00 PM to 7:00PM. A Celebration of life will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in Elaine's name to the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society, P.O. Box 957, Sanibel, FL 33957 Jellison Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online obituary, or leave the family a condolence, please visit www.jellisonfuneralhome.com

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