Arlene C. Jillette

WOLFEBORO - Arlene Chesley Jillette, 98, of Wolfeboro, formerly of Boston and Saugus, Mass., passed away at Huggins Hospital after a brief illness.

Arlene was born on Feb. 16, 1914, daughter of Irva Lousie Rodgers and George Haile Buffington.

Arlene attended schools in the Boston and Saugus areas until she was 14, at which time she spent a year in the hospital with rheumatic heart disease. At 19 she married Russell E. Chesley of Saugus, and was married for 46 years. During this time she was busy raising three daughters, Virginia Arlene Burke, Carolyn Irva Sargent, and Barbara Jean Wade. Also during World War II, Arlene served her country by working at the General Electric plant in Lynn, Mass., driving a forklift.

After her children were raised, she and Russell purchased and ran the Pleasant View Farm, a country inn in Bristol, for several years. Russell and Arlene then moved to Exeter, where she worked at Rockingham County Home and then later moved to Tuftonboro. Shortly after Russell passed away she moved to Bristol. Arlene became reacquainted with Lawrence (Larry) Jillette of Northwood, a widower and family friend and they were married in 1987. Larry passed away later in 1992.

Some of her activities were with Eastern Star, Kitchen Cutups, volunteer work, and her favorite pastime since childhood, playing cards and bingo.

Arlene was fun loving, witty and had many friends. She leaves one brother, George H. Buffington Jr. of Massachusetts; three daughters, Virginia Arlene Burke (Frank Weston) of Tuftonboro, Carolyn Irva Sargent of Bristol, and Barbara Jean Wade (Michael) of Stratham; three stepchildren, Alice, Jay and Jill; 14 grandchildren, Jeffra, Joshua, Jeremiah, Jared, Dyane, Dwayne, Jeffrey, Jennifer, Rebecca, Lisa, Mark, Kimberly, Michael Jr. and Carrie Anne, and 16 great-grandchildren. She loved and was dearly loved by all those that knew her.

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services:In lieu of flowers please make donations to Wolfeboro Bay Care and Rehab activities department or Meredith Senior Center. A memorial service will be held at a later date and burial will be at the Riverside Cemetery in Saugus, Mass.