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Katherine Leone Towle

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Wellesley College

FUNERAL HOME

Tasker Funeral Home - Dover

621 Central Ave

Dover, New Hampshire

Katherine Towle Obituary

DOVER - Katherine Leone (Colbath) Towle, of Back River Road died on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017 at the Hyder Family Hospice House.

Born Aug. 13, 1933 in Dover, she was the daughter of William E. and Leone (Klady) Colbath. She was a life-long resident of Dover, N.H.

Kay graduated from Newton-Wellesley College in 1954 with a nursing degree and on Sept. 11 of that same year, married Richard Towle. Kay worked as an RN at Wentworth Douglass Hospital for 31 years, where she was a beloved night supervisor.

After retiring from nursing, Kay worked part-time for 25 years at Emery Farm, with her sons Bill and Brad. As a 70 year member of First Parish Church, she served faithfully at their Thrift Shop and annual Christmas Fair. She loved spending time with her friends in her Tuesday craft group.

As an avid knitter, Kay made Christmas stockings, hats, mittens, afghans and sweaters for all those she loved. Kay and Rick loved to travel. They drove across country to Alaska, traveled to many destinations in the U.S., took several trips to Europe and they spent time in Florida every winter for 40 years.

Kay was a woman of great compassion, love, faith, and loyalty. She led by example with her quiet strength and humility. Her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were her greatest joy. She never missed an event with her family. Kay leaves an amazing legacy.

Katherine is survived by her husband of 63 years, Richard P. Towle of Dover; five children, Kathy Deame of Dover, Bill Towle of Durham, and Dennis Towle, Brad Towle and Mike Towle all of Dover; sisters, Susan Smith of New York and Jane Colbath of Massachusetts and brother, William Colbath of Dover; sister in law, Marilyn Pierce of Dover; 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.

SERVICES: An hour of calling will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018 from 10 to 11:15 a.m. at the First Parish Church, 218 Central Ave, Dover, N.H. A service will follow at the Church at 11:30. Burial will be private at Pine Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers: Friends of Hyder 285 County Farm Rd. Dover, NH 03820.

Tasker Funeral Home is in Charge of arrangements. Please go to www.taskerfh.com to sign the online guestbook.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Foster's Daily Democrat from Dec. 29, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Katherine Towle

21 Entries

Denise Thomas

January 5, 2018

Dear Towle Family,
I worked with Kay for many years when she was the evening nursing supervisor. I enjoyed our working relationship. She was professional and kind.
I also enjoyed seeing her at the farm waiting on customers. She was friendly and personable.
I am sure she will be missed.
My sympathy and condolences to you all.

Denise Thomas

January 5, 2018

Burt Hoitt

January 4, 2018

My condolences to Rick and his family. We have been life long friends, and I never knew anything but the best of Rick and Kay. God bless.

CC Dickinson

January 4, 2018

Kay, one of a kind, a beautiful, compassionate, thoughtful, kind and caring lady/friend.
I was blessed to have worked with Kay, she being my supervisor, I might add, one of the best that WDH had. She loved supporting her staff, always willing to help.
I had so much respect and admiration for her, as a nurse, a person and friend.
As a Christian, she always walked and talked her faith. God was always shining thru her smile, her voice, her being.
I know Kay is now healed, she is a whole person, pain free. She is our loving angel, doing as she always did, caring about us.
She loved the holidays, and in her caring spirit, she lived thru Christmas so everyone's day would be a memory.
Kay will live on forever in our heart /memories.
Sending caring thoughts to the entire family.

Sharon Sirois

January 3, 2018

My sincere condolences to the Towle family through this time of sadness. May the Peace that passes all understanding surround each of you and may sharing your memories bring you comfort.

Lynn Upton

January 2, 2018

Brad and family, my sincere condolences to everyone. Thoughts and prayers are coming your way. I lost Harold on Oct. 8, 2017. It's hard, but you need to carry on as she would want you to. Miss you all. Lynn

Richard Curtis

January 2, 2018

Kay was the matriarch of a wonderful family and will be greatly missed. My deepest sympathy to the entire Towle family.

Ginny Casey

January 1, 2018

I remember Kay with her quiet manner, soft voice & endless support during those hectic hours in the ICU during the evening shift. She was a dignified lady and my condolences to her family.

January 1, 2018

Kay was my friend since 8th grade. She and Rick lived near us in Florida in the winter. Kay was a wonderful friend and person. We will miss them so much. Our sympathy to the Towle family. Joyce & Fred Hutchison

Paul & Lorrie Gasses

January 1, 2018

We were so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow.

Betty Sander-Turgeon

January 1, 2018

Sincere sympathy to Kay's family.

William A. Colbath

December 30, 2017

We are thinking of every one, Aunt Kay will be missed by all of us who had the blessing of knowing her!
Garrett would like Aunt Kay to know he loves her, that she is special and beautiful!

Laura O'Brien

December 29, 2017

I'm so sorry for your loss

Rita Taylor

December 29, 2017

My thoughts and prayers are with you all at this sad time. Kay was a beautiful person, kind hearted and very sincere. She will be missed but live on in memory. Rest in peace Kay and God Bless.

Kathy Hennelly Sessler

December 29, 2017

Kay was a wonderful nurse, teacher to us young nurses. We all admired her. She was beautiful. I was fortunate to run into her at the church fairs. Will never forget her. My sincere sympathies to her family that she spoke of often.

Karen Savard

December 29, 2017

Sympathy and prayers to all of Kay's family.

Tony Chamberlain

December 29, 2017

Rick and all members of the Towle and Colath families,
Kay was one of the kindest people I have ever met, always a smile and a warm hello.

Corey Deame

December 29, 2017

I pause today to praise God for my Grammy Towle's life. I know she's dancing around with Him right now in her beautiful, new, cancer-free body.

I am so beyond blessed to have her for a grandmother. She was truly one of the most loving, warm, caring, others-focused people I will ever meet. She was always excited to see you, when you went up to visit. She was always there for us and our family. Being a retired nurse, she seemed to always know how to treat any problem. I can only imagine how great of a nurse she had been. She was always taking great care of my Grandpa, and spoiled all of her many many kids, grandkids and great grand kids. We were her greatest joy. She was always so proud of us. She could tell you EVERY single one of our birthdays or anniversaries, and never ever forgot to send a card. Growing up, she bought every single one of us multiple Christmas presents.

She loved the holidays - she always had something special that she made or did: her special punch for Easter, Thanksgiving & Christmas, candy corn cupcakes for Halloween, Easter egg hunts for the kids, and the best were the handmade stockings that she made for every kid with their name written across the top with their own special design. So blessed to know that Leo will have that to remember her by.

SO many more random memories that just keep flooding in.

- Randomly being picked up form school when my parents couldnt
- Being brought to CBS on Friday mornings any time my mom couldnt make it.
- Playing out in the woods for hours and stopping by her house to grab some "greenies"
- Stopping by her house after Halloween because she would always have leftover candy
- Going up to their house every Christmas afternoon; all packed into their smaller house; elbow room only; going around the room and opening presents; playing with the cousins for hours; playing board games for foreveforever; not wanting to leave at 8/9 pm.
- Stopping by Emery Farm and having her tell us that we're not paying for those pumpkins or wreath or candy
- Her telling Trista and I for the past 4 years that she's been praying us to have a baby
- Her random phone calls and drop-bys to the house while we're out visiting NH for the weekend
- Her beautiful Christmas village that she put out every year
- Her laugh
- Whenever she would get the hiccups - hahah it was literally the worst I'd seen anyone get them
- Her being there for almost every major event in my life: graduations, piano recitals, basketball games, wedding, holidays, awards ceremonies, etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

Grammy I love you sooo much and I'll see you again soon.

December 29, 2017

Rick and family---Our thoughts are with you during this sad time. And, we pray you find peace in the many memories you shared together.
Blessings---Bruce & Carolyn Bentham

Gary Rivard

December 29, 2017

Sympathies and Prayers to all of you..

Judy Edwards

December 29, 2017

Kay was a wonderful person. I first me met her in 1975 when I joined the WDH family as a midwife. We had many a conversation sitting in the old labor and delivery. I had such great respect for her. peace to all her family.

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