Anna J. Sears

NORTH CONWAY N.H. - Anna Josephine (Ouellette) Sears died peacefully with her children by her side on July 11, 2015. She was 89.She was a resident of the Merriman House and had endured Alzheimer's disease for more than 20 years. She left us singing with the heavenly choir and smiling.She was born Oct. 2, 1925 in Lynn, Mass., to Peter J. and Mary Ellen (Ryan) Ouellette. She is predeceased by her parents, two brothers, Edward P. Ouellette (Joan), James P. Ouellette (Pauline), and a niece, Joanne (Ouellette) Dumond. Her husband, Herbert Sumner Sears, of the Merriman House and her sister, Mary Ellen Seaberg, of Georgetown, Mass., survive.Growing up in Lynn, Jo was an accomplished seamstress, creating much of her own and her mother's wardrobe. She enjoyed ice skating, hiking and downhill skiing. During World War II, she worked at General Electric in Lynn as a draftswoman. She was a federal teacher's aide, as well as a representative to the teacher's union in the Lynn Public Schools, for many years. She held many volunteer postions, including Girl Scout and Brownie leader, president of the Lynn Band Boosters, and secretary the Lynn Snowchasers, to name a few.In 1947, Jo met her future husband, Herbert Sumner Sears of Saugus, on the ski train to North Conway. They were married at St. Pius V Church in Lynn on May 6, 1951 after she planted purple pansies around her parents' porches, where the wedding reception was held. They honeymooned in North Conway, staying at Perry's Rest Motel, and hiking.Together, Jo and Sumner and friends, the Morses, built their log cabin on Town Hall Road in Bartlett, just up from the Intervale Ski Area, where they taught their children to downhill ski. They spent weekends and summers skiing and hiking and enjoying the White Mountains with their three daughters and many friends, with their beloved cabin always the home base.Upon retiring to their beloved cabin, Jo and Sumner skied with their friends in Mount Washington Valley, in Colorada and Alaska.Throughout her life, Jo sewed, knitted, crocheted, embroidered, and hooked beautiful, one-of-a-kind rugs. There wasn't a creative piece of clothing or art that she could not master, always making them better than the original. She learned to paint and recreated beautiful mountain landscapes, excelling at trees and flowers. In later life, Jo loved playing the piano, often with her grandchildren ranged around her and perching on the bench beside her.Jo loved to garden and dogs, cats and the songbirds that seemed to flock to her backyards.Survivors include her devoted husband, Sumner, a resident of the Merriman House; daughters Patricia Sears Doherty (Joseph) of Albany, N.Y., Mary Jane Pierce (Michael) of Tigard, Ore., and Judith Sears Houston of Contoocook, N.H.; nine grandchildren: Meaghan and Caitlin Doherty; Matthieu, Zachary (Melinda), Nathan (fiancée Rebecca), Diana and Antonia Pierce; Abigail and Madelyn Houston; and two great-grandchildren, Oliver and Aurora Pierce; her sister, Mary Ellen Seaberg; and many nieces and nephews.Jo's family deeply appreciates the wonderfully compassionate and attentive caregivers, nurses, staff and volunteers at the Merriman House.Service information: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, July 16, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Mountains Church in North Conway. Burial will be in the Garland Ridge Cemetery in Bartlett. Calling hours are Wednesday July 15, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the FURBER AND WHITE FUNERAL HOME in North Conway.Memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, the Merriman House, 3073 White Mtn. Highway, North Conway or to any charity of one's choice in Jo's memory.