Hilda Smith Kenison

JEFFERSON- Hilda Smith Kenison, 92, of Presidential Highway, died Sunday morning March 19, 2006 at the Morrison Nursing Home, Whitefield after a short illness. Mrs. Kenison was born in Jefferson on September 3, 1913 the daughter of Leon Elbridge Smith and Hazel (Brown) Smith. She was raised on a farm in Lancaster, along with twelve siblings, and resided most of the rest of her life in Jefferson. She graduated from high school in Somerville, MA and then from the Nashua Training School for Nurses. She worked as a nurse for several years in Littleton Hospital. Hilda met her future husband at a benefit dance for the Jefferson baseball team, of which he was a member, and the two of them continued to enjoy ballroom dancing throughout the decades of their married life together. She enjoyed the outdoors, gardening, wildlife, hiking, skiing, golfing, and was an avid baseball, football, and basketball fan. She especially enjoyed the birds that gathered at her feeders. On the 4th of July, she always loved to share the prime parade viewing area of her front porch with friends and relatives. She was a member of St. John's United Methodist Church in Jefferson, as well as Rebekah Lodge # 92 and the JACs. No food sale was complete without "Hilda's Hermits." She and her husband were named "Citizens of the Year" of Jefferson by the Starr King Grange in 1994. For many years, she planted and tended the red, white, and blue petunias in Jefferson center triangle, which contained a veterans' memorial, and also raised and lowered the American flag there daily. In recognition of her efforts, the Veterans of Foreign Wars presented her with an award for "meritorious and distinguished service" in 1998. She was married to Coleman D. Kenison, who died after 54 years of marriage in 1994.She is survived by five children; a daughter Doris Ann Sweet of Auburndale, MA; four sons, Leon Kenison of Bow, Albert Kenison of Lawrenceville, GA, Coleman Kenison Jr. of Lafayette, NJ, Thomas Kenison of North Swanzey; a brother Merlin Smith of Stoughton, MA; two sisters, Hazella Collins of Lancaster and Lida Griffin of North Easton, MA; eleven grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, including her namesake Hilda Jane Baker of Lancaster. She was predeceased by six brothers and three sisters. Visiting hours will be held Tuesday March 21, from 3-5 and 7-9 PM at the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 10:00 AM at the Christ United Methodist Church, Lancaster. Rev. Dr. Thomas W. Bentum, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the spring in the Starr King Cemetery, Jefferson. Donations in her memory may be made to the Jefferson Historical Society; PO Box 143, Jefferson, NH 03583

Hilda Smith Kenison

September 3, 1913 - March 19, 2006