Virginia Mary Alden

LEBANON - Virginia Mary Alden, a life-long student of the Great Questions  went to meet her God,   Answerer of all Questions, when she passed peaceably, May 3, 2014 at the age of 93.

Born in Lancaster New Hampshire to William and Sarah Alden September 17, 1920, Virgina was the youngest  and last surviving  member of her of nine sibling family:  Mina Brown, Lucy Cole, Harold , Bertha Osborne, Alfred, Clayton, Gladys Anderson and Dorothy Carr.

Virginia attended Gore School, a one room school house, and Lancaster High School. She graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1941 with a Bachelors of Arts degree. She taught English in   schools in Windam, VT, and North Stafford and Whitefield New Hampshire. Before  living at  Genesis Health Care, Lebanon  New Hampshire, Virginia had lived previously in Indiana, New Jersey and California. She also lived in the Lancaster and Manchester areas of New Hampshire. At one point in her life she worked for IBM and the federal government during the Cold War. at a time when our country operated under conditions of great secrecy and distrust which contributed to her personal battles of mental illness that ravaged  and robbed her life of familial  and societal connections.

Virginia married and later divorced Harold Crary of Springfield Vermont.  Together they had a son, Robert Alden Crary who survives her along with his wife Dawn and their three children Melissa Robb, Adam Crary and Alison Griffin. She is also survived by great grand children Hunter and Elena Robb, Clark and Flint Crary and Laila Griffin. Virginia is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Virginia was an avid reader, especially enjoying what she felt were academic and classic writings.  She wrote poetry with the poetic voice of those such as Virginia Wolfe and other strong women who wrestled with the burdens and constraints of an era that was just beginning to recognize the voice of women.  She was proud to have had some of her poems published in the Poetry  Society of New Hampshire.  Most of her life was spent in searching for Answers to the Great Question of God and religion. Her searching led her to read copious tomes on religion which she worked to translate through her knowledge system into a manuscript which she so wanted to have published. All of which will be laid to rest with her spirit as she now will walk and talk with Him.

Those who wish are invited to attend a service of remembrance in Lancaster New Hampshire at the Bailey Funeral Home  on May 16, 2014 at 1:30. Burial will be directly following.