Elizabeth Underwood Chase

LANCASTER- Elizabeth Underwood Chase, 101, died peacefully in her sleep late Thursday night May 15, 2008 at Country Village Health Care Center in Lancaster where she lived comfortably for the past fourteen years.

She was born October 30, 1906 in Lancaster, NH, the daughter of the late George B. and Alice Thompson Underwood.

Elizabeth graduated valedictorian of her Lancaster Academy class in 1924 and with the class of 1926 from Plymouth Normal School (now Plymouth State College). She also took additional courses at Columbia University.

In her early teaching career, Elizabeth taught in Jefferson Hill, NH for three years and in Hanover, NH for five years. While teaching in Hanover, she met her husband-to-be Dr. Wilton P. Chase, an instructor at Dartmouth College and they were married in 1932. They spent time in Minnesota, Alabama and North Carolina while Dr. Chase finished his education and taught at the University of North Carolina for six years. During this time Elizabeth's two children David and Carolyn were born. WWII and its upheavals and separations took its toll and Elizabeth returned to Lancaster where she raised her two children all by herself.

After returning to Lancaster, Elizabeth worked at Chesley's store and in the school cafeteria until she returned to teaching. She taught a Lancaster Academy fifth grade class starting in 1950 until she retired in 1972. Her class was famous for the ambitious puppet shows she produced and directed every year.

Elizabeth was committed to her church, the Congregational Church of Lancaster, where she was a deaconess and a member of the Congregational Women's Fellowship. She sang in the church choir for many years and often provided flowers from her own garden for church services.

Elizabeth was active in her community and did volunteer work for the Lancaster historical Society and Weeks Memorial gift shop. She walked five miles a day well into her eighties, took painting lessons, made many of her own clothes, sang and played the piano, enjoyed bridge games and always had beautiful and productive vegetable and flower gardens. She loved wildflowers and birds and adored every member of her family above all else.

A community 100

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birthday celebration was held for Elizabeth at the Country village Health Care Center in October 2006.  On July 31, 2007 the Lancaster Board of Selectmen proclaimed Elizabeth to be the oldest citizen of Lancaster and she was presented the Boston Post Cane and plaque to commemorate this occasion.

Jean Magoon Hubbard, Elizabeth's beloved niece, enriched Elizabeth's years at Country Village.  She was a loyal visitor who brightened Elizabeth's days and conscientiously looked after her well-being.

In 1934 when Elizabeth was a young teacher, her superintendent wrote that Elizabeth "comes from a long line of New England ancestors who have always been respected for their sterling qualitities.  She is a young woman of unusual strength of character and delightful personality."  These words written so long ago describe Elizabeth to the end of her life.

Elizabeth is survived by her son Dr. David S. Chase and daughter-in-law Brianne E. Chase of Shelburne, VT; her daughter Carolyn J. Savarese of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; her granddaughter Alyson Chase Hoar and her husband Bruce of Richmond, VT; her grandson Stuart E. Chase and his wife Gail Westgate of Burlington, VT; her grandson Eric D. Chase and Tina Lindberg of Burlington, VT; her great grandchildren Joshua C. Hoar, Benjamin B Hoar and Yvonne L. Korpi; her niece Jean Hubbard and her husband Wade of Lunenburg, VT; her nephew Thomas Underwood and his wife June of Lake Jackson, TX; her niece Barbara Jean Hanson and her husband Glen of Lake Mary, FL; and her great and great great nephews and nieces.

Elizabeth was predeceased by her sisters Katherine Magoon and Helen hall, her brothers Thomas Underwood and George Baxter Underwood and her great granddaughter Amy Elizabeth Hoar.

A memorial service will be held at the Lancaster Congregational United Church of Christ in Lancaster, NH on Saturday, May 24, at 11:00 AM. Interment will follow in Summer Street Cemetery at 1:30 PM.  There will be no calling hours.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Bailey Funeral Home, Lancaster.  The family has requested that all condolences be mailed to Bailey Funeral Home Inc., 210 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584.

PLEASE DO NOT POST CONDOLENCES ONLINE. The family has requested that all condolences be mailed to Bailey Funeral Home Inc., 210 Main Street, Lancaster, NH 03584.