Elizabeth Chute

DURHAM — Elizabeth A. Chute of Durham, N.H., died peacefully at her home on Mother's Day, May 9, 2010, surrounded by friends and family. She gracefully and courageously battled breast cancer for 11 years, never allowing the disease to capture her spirit. She embraced each day with joy, optimism and gratitude.

Beth was born Oct. 20, 1943, to Mary and the late George O'Brien and grew up in Braintree, Mass., one of six children in a loving Irish Catholic household. She received her diploma RN certificate from St. Vincent Hospital Nursing School in Worcester, Mass., in 1964 and later went on to St. Anselm College in N.H. to earn her BSN.

In addition to her nursing work, Beth started modeling and competed for the Miss Massachusetts title. She met her adoring husband, Kenneth Chute, in the summer of 1967 on Cape Cod. He was immediately smitten.

In 1969, they were married and two years later she and Ken moved to New Hampshire. With two little children and a full-time nursing job, she continued her education and earned her MSW from the University of Connecticut in 1985.

Beth was completely committed to the best care for her patients. From her career as an intensive care nurse in Boston, Mass., to Clinical Coordinator and the Director of Community Support Programs at Strafford Guidance Center in Dover, to Director of the Behavioral Health Unit at Portsmouth Regional Hospital, she always provided caring compassion, professional nursing, social work and administrative skills. She was a natural nurturer and leader providing care, empathy and support to all those she worked with and for.

Beth was a recipient of the PRH Frist Humanitarian award and a co-facilitator of the PRH Breast Cancer Wellness Support Group, where she inspired and shared her wisdom. Beth was also an important member of the Metastatic Breast Cancer support group in Vermont.

Beth collected friends through every stage of her life, her "angels" and the love of these friends, her family and deep faith sustained her through 11 miraculous years living with cancer. Beth reciprocated by making each and every one of these friends feel extraordinarily special. She had an uncanny ability for raising spirits, teaching lessons, staying positive, finding humor, and loving life. Her friends and family would all agree that she had been an inspiration to each of them.

She loved kayaking, ice-skating, beach vacations and curling up with a good book by the fireplace at her cottage on the lake. In addition to her mother Mary, she is survived by her loving husband of 41 years, Kenneth Chute; her daughter, Erin Chute Gallentine and husband, Todd, and her son, William Chute. She will forever be the adored and loving "Nana" of grandchildren, Mazzy and Max. Beth is survived by four siblings, Robert, Joe, Margaret and Marylee and many cousins, aunts, uncles, friends and loved ones who mourn her loss and friendship.

Visiting hours will be held on Thursday, May 13, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home-Buckminster Chapel, on 84 Broad St. in Portsmouth. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 14, at Corpus Christi Parish at Immaculate Conception Church, located at 98 Summer St. in Portsmouth. Interment at Calvary Cemetery immediately to follow.

There will be a reception after the cemetery and directions/map will be provided at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations can be made to either the Susan G. Komen Foundation in support of breast cancer research, prevention and community support. Her daughter is walking the 60-mile, 3-day event in her name and donations can be made by logging onto www.the3day.org and following the prompts to donate through either the participant Erin Gallentine or Team Pink Parachute.

Donations may also be made to the Seacoast Cancer Center that provided such wonderful care, service and support to Beth and her family at: Wentworth-Douglass Hospital at 789 Central Ave., Dover, NH 03820.

Additional information and to sign the online guest book provided at http://www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com.

Visit www.fosters.com/obits for an online guest book.