Ruth Thistle

LACONIA ; Ruth D. (Roberts) Thistle, RN, 67, of Laconia, died at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon on Tuesday, June 10, 2008.

Mrs. Thistle was born Sept. 30, 1940, in Chelsea, Mass., the daughter of Elmer W. and Dorothy P. (Gullam) Roberts.

She was raised in Massachusetts and was a graduate of the Melrose-Wakefield Hospital School of Nursing. She moved to Laconia 28 years ago. Mrs. Thistle was a registered nurse for 47 years, holding her registered nurse's license in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and was employed at the Golden View Healthcare Center in Meredith. Previously she had been employed by the American Red Cross and was director of nursing at the St. Francis Home in Laconia. She had been semi-retired since June 2007.

She enjoyed playing with her cat Oliver, was an avid "pig" collector and spent time engaged in genealogical research.

Survivors include her husband of 46 years, Robert S. Thistle, of Laconia; a daughter and son-in-law, Pamela J. and Michael S. Otis, of Derry; one brother, Donald C. Roberts of Salem, Mass.; two nieces, Judith Miller of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Elizabeth Goad of Milford.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Thistle was predeceased by her brother, Lawrence W. Roberts.

There will be no calling hours. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Laconia-Gilford. The Rev. Dr. Victoria Wood Parrish, pastor of the church, will officiate. Burial will be private in the family lot in Bayside Cemetery, Laconia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the NH Humane Society, 1305 Meredith Center Road, PO Box 572, Laconia NH 03247, or the Golden View Health Care Center Residents' Activity Fund, 19 Route 104, Meredith NH 03253.

Wilkinson-Beane Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is in charge of the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com