Catherine Priscilla Jarvis

Catherine Priscilla Jarvis

PORTSMOUTH - Catherine Priscilla Jarvis, of 250 Market St., died March 18, 2013.

Born April 23, 1924, she was the daughter of the late Hon. Andrew H. Jarvis and Grace Trent Jarvis, and had resided in Portsmouth all her life.

She attended Portsmouth schools, graduating in 1942 from PHS and Lasalle College in Massachusetts in 1944.

She joined her father in his restaurant business, the Jarvis Restaurant and Cafeteria in Portsmouth, and worked there for 25 years. After that Catherine joined the staff of the Portsmouth Herald, retiring in 1989 as news editor.

Her adult life was dedicated to continuing her father's works in many diversified charitable organizations, helping wherever and whenever needed.

Catherine was a life-long member of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Portsmouth, of which her father was one of the founders and for many years was a member of the church choir, of which her mother was the founder and director. She also served the Parish Council, was a member of the Ladies Philoptochos Society, and dedicated to supporting the St. Nicholas Sunday School, its director and teaching staff.

Ms. Jarvis was a member of the Board of the Salvation Army, Visiting Nurses, and Compass-Care Adult Day Care and Hospice. She was also a member of the Greater Piscataqua Community Foundation in which a scholarship was established in memory of her parents.

She was a life member of the Friends of the Blind in Greece, a Board Member of the Portsmouth Police Commission for a two- year term, and a charter member of the Seacoast Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi. In May 2005, she was presented with the Beta Sigma Phi Diamond Award for her 60 years of service with the Beta Sorority.

Catherine was a life member of the Portsmouth Rotary Club, a recipient of its Paul Harris Award and received a Lifetime Achievement Award for her service to Rotary and the community.

Catherine loved New Hampshire, especially Portsmouth and North Conway, where she frequently spent extended weekends. Catherine was an avid mystery story and non-fiction reader, loved people, traveling by train, classical music of the '40s, '50s and '60s, crossword puzzles, and most of all, her family and friends.

She is survived by her beloved sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and James of Rye, and Jupiter, Fla.; her adored nephews Robert, James and John Adams; and her adored grandnieces and nephews Christopher, James, and William Adams of Greenlawn, N.Y.; Michael, Matthew, Katie and Lauren Adams of Andover, Mass.; and Ryan and Kelly Adams of Ridgefield, Conn. Also by her cousins, extended family and the many friends that she had made throughout her years in Portsmouth.

Services: Visiting hours will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home-Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth, N.H. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2013, at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 40 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth, N.H. Family flowers only. Memorial contributions may be sent to St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, 40 Andrew Jarvis Drive, Portsmouth, NH 03801 and/or American Friends of the Blind in Greece, c/o Dorothy Adams, 1011 Ocean Blvd., Rye, N.H. 03870.

Visit www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest book, send a private condolence, gift, or sympathy card.

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