Lydia D. Johnson

| May 1, 2019

Lydia D. Johnson passed away peacefully Saturday, April 27, 2019, at the age of 83 in Bedford, New Hampshire after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.

She was in the loving hands of her primary caretaker Heidi at the time of her death.

Lydia is survived by her children, Paul Johnson of Nashua, New Hampshire (wife Wendy), Philip Johnson of Brookline, New Hampshire (wife Karen), Peter Johnson of Nashua, New Hampshire and Pamela Hores of Columbus, Ohio.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Andrew Johnson of Nashua, New Hampshire, Cameron Johnson of Dover, New Hampshire, Audrey Johnson of Brookline, New Hampshire, Jeffrey LeCours of Merrimack, New Hampshire (wife Natasha), Stephanie Infante of Methuen, Massachusetts (husband Hasnel), Nicole Hores of Columbus, Ohio, and great-grandchildren Sydney and Madison LeCours and Liliana Infante.

She is also survived by her brother, John Doolittle of Vienna, Virginia and her sister, Betsy Freeman of Meriden, Connecticut.

She was predeceased by her ex-husband and father of her four children, Arnold R Johnson.

Lydia was born in New Haven, Connecticut on Oct. 18, 1935, daughter of Franklin Malcolm Doolittle and Frances (Cooper) Doolittle.

She studied at Vassar College, Pembroke College (Brown University) and earned degree in Cytotechnology from the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, New York. She worked at various labs and hospitals as a cytotechnologist in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Virginia and Pennsylvania throughout her working life.

Her life’s travels led her from Hamden, Connecticut to homes in West Islip New York, Amherst, Milford, West Lebanon and Nashua, New Hampshire as well as Oil City, Butler, Essex, Massachusetts, Harrisonburg, Virginia and Clearwater, Florida.

Lydia’s hobbies included gardening, going to flea markets looking for bargains, politics, tennis, music and singing.

While in the Oil City area she was a member of the Second Presbyterian Church where she sang in the Choir and was a member of the Mostly Brass Band. She also had many fond memories spending time with Earl Shaffer, who predeceased her.

While in the Nashua area she was a member of the Souhegan Valley Chorus and the Radical Reds Chapter of the Red Hat Society.

She loved her family and friends with her whole heart and was a “Mom” to many more than just her own children. She was a great listener and gave the best hugs and advice. She was a kind and caring person and loved all animals, especially her cats. She also loved all things seafood, but especially a hot buttery Connecticut-style lobster roll.

Her great wisdom and wonderful smile will be sorely missed.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, May 17 at Smith & Heald Funeral Home in Milford, New Hampshire from 5 to 7 p.m.

At her request, Lydia’s ashes will be sprinkled into Lake Chocorua, in the shadow of Mount Chocorua in Tamworth, New Hampshire where her family vacationed as a child.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua (https://www.hsfn.org) or the Cure Alzheimer’s fund (https://curealz.org/).

To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Arbors of Bedford and VNA Hospice for their loving care.


Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

Category: Obituaries