Glenna Nelson

On August 9, 2025, Glenna (Draper) Nelson, loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, of East Wakefield and North Hampton, NH passed away peacefully and surrounded by family at the age of 100. Glenna was born on November 2, 1924 in Lawrence, MA to Ralph and Lillian Draper. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, and her son, David. She is survived by five children, Richard Jr., Ginny, Cindy and husband Bill Prenovitz, Beverly and husband Haddie Hawkins, and Jo Anne and husband Steve Harvey; five grandchildren, Sarah Prenovitz and husband Will Sheppard, Caleb Hawkins and wife Molly Friedland, Mari Hawkins-Marshall and husband Richard Marshall, Danielle Downing, and Nicole Downing and her partner Josh Bagley; and three great-grandchildren, Jenna, Sam, and June.

Glenna was the eldest of three daughters. They lived in Andover, MA, and Glenna attended Simmons College in Boston. Following graduation, she worked for a doctor at Children’s Hospital. She met Richard when friends introduced them, and they attended a dance together. They were married in 1948 and moved to North Hampton, NH, where they raised their family and lived for 35 years. They were members of the Congregational Church in North Hampton.

After retiring, Glenna and Richard moved to East Wakefield, NH, where they enjoyed being surrounded by nature and hosted many family gatherings. They were long-time members of the First Congregational Church of Wakefield, where Glenna was active in the Parish Helpers and served as a Deacon. She helped start the Shepherd program at the church, which offered people rides to medical appointments. She also helped start a local bus service that provided transportation to shopping centers for those who were unable to drive.

Glenna loved the outdoors. She enjoyed going for walks and gardening, and she and her husband enjoyed touring on their Gold Wing motorcycle with friends. They traveled across New England, to New York, Canada, and the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia and went on a motorcycle tour in Alaska.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 20, 2025 at the First Congregational Church of Wakefield, NH (2718 Wakefield Rd.) at 2:00 p.m., followed by a burial at Lovell Lake Cemetery in Sanbornville, NH. Assisting the family with arrangements is the Cremation Society of NH, Boscawen.