Fay L. Rogers

Fay L. (Colburn) Rogers

West Lebanon, NH - Fay Lorraine (Colburn) Rogers, 91, of West Lebanon, NH peacefully passed away on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the Genesis Lebanon Center, after a long battle with dementia.

Fay was born in Roxbury, VT on March 30, 1934, to Franklin and Ida (Cook) Colburn, the seventh child of eight. Her parents eventually moved from VT to West Lebanon, N.H. where Fay attended West Lebanon schools. She graduated from West Lebanon High School in 1952.

After graduation, Fay married her high school sweetheart, Fred A. Rogers, on August 17, 1952 at the West Lebanon Congregational Church. Fay and Fred lived in West Lebanon until Fred enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1953. Fay would visit Fred to whichever base he was stationed at during his first year. When Fred was shipped to Okinawa during the Korean Conflict, Fay lived with his grandmother and aunt in Los Angeles, California. Fay often talked about this time, especially the avocado tree that grew in the backyard. She was always amazed at the local produce grown in the area. When Fred returned from Okinawa, he was stationed in Ohio where they lived for a few years.

After Fred was discharged from the Air Force, they lived in Ashland, NH and after a few years they purchased their family home in West Lebanon where they raised their family. They raised four children, Sally, Susan, Fred, and Stuart in this home. Fay had a large vegetable garden, which her family enjoyed immensely. She kept busy in the fall canning pickles, relishes, mince, and freezing vegetables for the winter. Fay also had many flower gardens, which she would spend hours tending to the multiple tulips, iris, peonies, and gladiolas she grew.

Fay worked as a bookkeeper most of her working years, first at Verham News in West Lebanon, then for a builder in Warren, Ohio when Fred was stationed at a base there. She became a stay-at-home Mom until Stuart started school and then she went to work at Beneficial Finance Co., followed by the original Farmer's Market in Lebanon, then at North Country Equip. Once Fred retired, they both enjoyed camping, their cabin on Lake Francis, their trips to Florida, where they visited Disney World (Epcot being their favorite), their annual sailing trip on the Mary Day Schooner in Maine, and visiting their children and grandchildren.

Fay enjoyed reading, camping, taking walks, and paddling the canoe on the lake. She always cooked on the fireplace when camping using a cast iron skillet. There are stories of mishaps such as the time a raccoon ate the maple frosting off the spice cake she made which mistakenly was left overnight on the picnic table. She was interested in geology, as the entire family went on excursions to old mines looking for quartz or other rocks and one time to an old garnet mine. She was also known to never pass up a flea market as there just might be a treasure to bring home.

Fay was a member of the West Lebanon Congregational Church, having taught Sunday school at times and was a past member of the Women's Fellowship. She was a member of the West Lebanon Alumni Association and had been a secretary for the New Hampshire Fire Wardens Association.

Fay was predeceased by her husband Fred, her parents, her siblings Francis, Cindy, Frank, Clara, Rena, Tracy, and Marlene, and her son-in-law Joseph Harb. She is survived by her daughters Sally Rogers and Susan Harb and her sons, Fred (Heidi) Rogers and Stuart (Sue) Rogers in addition to 7 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

We would like to thank both, the Lebanon Center Genesis for their long-term care of our mother, and Bayada Hospice for their caring support in the last year of her long life.

Calling hours will be on January 2 from 5-7pm at Ricker Funeral Home in Lebanon, NH. A funeral service will be held January 3 at 11am at the West Lebanon Congregational Church, with internment following the service at the West Lebanon Cemetery.

To leave a message of remembrance or condolence, please visit the online guestbook at www.rickerfuneralhome.com.