JEFFERSON, NH - Lena Anna Pray Savage, 78, of Jefferson, NH, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 27, at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH.
Lena was born on July, 3, 1936, in Tilton, NH, to Charles and Edith (Brett) Pray. She graduated from the Tilton-Northfield High School as a member of the Class of 1954. After graduation she moved to Lancaster, NH, and worked for several years as a secretary for the Essex County Extension Service in Guildhall, VT, proudly earning enough to buy her first car, an Opel. On July 9, 1960, she married Gordon J. Savage, Jr. and moved to Jefferson, NH, to help work the family dairy farm and to raise their four children.
She was a fantastic seamstress, quilter, and folk artist creating many interesting wall hangings, quilts and paintings. Many of these were made for her children and her grandchildren as well as for craft sales. Throughout her life in the North Country she was an active member of both the Christ and St. John's United Methodist churches located in Lancaster and Jefferson. She taught Sunday school in her early years, was a member of the United Methodist Women's group, sung in the church choir, and spent many hours baking and making many interesting crafts to help support the church. She delighted in having her children and grandchildren over to the farm to visit often, and she always worked at passing on her Christian values to them.
Lena leaves behind her husband Gordon Jr. of nearly 55 years, along with their daughter Ellen and husband Larry Christmann of Lancaster, CA; daughter Kathy and husband Dave Deselle of Merrimack, NH; son James and wife Lisa Savage and children Cindy, Neil, and Molly; son David and wife Katherine Savage and their children Ainsley and Kayleigh all of Jefferson, NH; sisters Marion St. Jacques and Rosalie Philibert of Franklin, NH; brothers Wilbur Fifield of Tilton, NH, Harry Fifield of Elmira, NY, and sister-in-law Elizabeth Savage of Fairfield, CT. Lena was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Gertrude Fifield, Dawn Woods, Helen Fogg, Melba Fogg, Florence Bernard, Eva Heath and Ruth Rouchon.
A private burial was held on Saturday, May 30 at the Riverton Cemetery in Jefferson. A memorial service will be held at the St. John's United Methodist Church Highland Chapel in Jefferson on Saturday, June 13 at 11:00 am.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Lena's memory to St. John's United Methodist Church, 5 Black Velvet Road, Jefferson, NH 03583 or to the New Hampshire Association for the Blind, 25 Walker Street, Concord, NH 03301.