Edith Ingraham Howe

A wonderful mother, sister, friend and inspiration to many, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 6th, 2008 at her home in Cambridge, MA from breast cancer. She was 61 years old. Edie received her B.A. at Simmons College, her Ed.M. at Boston University and her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law in 1983. She served as General Counsel in the Executive Office of Human Services in the Dukakis administration, and was a trust and estate attorney at Palmer & Dodge LLP. After many years as a lawyer, Edie enrolled in theological studies where her passion for interfaith dialogue helped spark joint initiatives between seminary and rabbinical students at Andover Newton Theological School and Hebrew College. After the events of 9/11 Edie felt called to do something to mitigate the misunderstanding and fear between Jews, Christians, and Muslims. This prompted her to form a woman's interfaith book group called the Daughters of Abraham, which has now become a national movement with groups all over the country. Edie was also a trustee of the American University in Cairo, and a board member and former co-chair for Massachusetts Advocate for Children. Edie is survived and greatly missed by her father, Miner D. Crary, Jr. of Northport, NY; her husband, Edward H. Howe, from whom she was separated; her brothers, James G. Crary of Phoenix, AZ, and Miner A. Crary of Sudbury, MA and her sisters, Laura M. Crary of Newton, MA and Harriet S. Crary of Cambridge, MA; her children, Christopher H. Howe of Somerville, MA, Jamen Howe Jones of San Francisco, CA, Joel Peace Howe of Cambridge, MA; her sisters-in-law, Helen H. Crary and Janelle Rossignol Crary; brother-in-law Douglas T. Hall; her daughter-in-law, Jennifer Howe Peace and son-in-law, Roderick B. Jones; her nieces, Anna C. Crary, Elissa H. Crary, Emma C. Crary, Mary Lauran C. Hall, and nephew, Cameron Crary; and the six grandchildren who brought such joy to her life, Alex, Jim, Ezra, Elijah, Harriet and Huxley. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to: the Daughters of Abraham through the First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, 11 Garden St., Cambridge 02138, memo line: Daughters of Abraham; or to the Andover Newton Interfaith Fund at the Andover Newton Theological School, Attention Priscilla Deck, 210 Herrick Road, Newton, MA 02459. Plans are being made for a service at Andover Newton Theological School in the fall, to honor her life and work.