Ilene P. Reed

Enfield, NH- Ilene P. Reed, 92, died Monday, November 30, 2015 at Lebanon Center Eldercare in Lebanon, NH.

She was born March 13, 1923 in Hanover, NH a daughter of Carroll and Rose (Young) Putnam. Ilene graduated from West Lebanon High School in 1941 where she was active on the basketball team and was later married to Donald J. Reed on September 16, 1944 they lived in West Lebanon. She began her career as a secretary at the Veterans Affairs Hospital in White River Junction retiring after 32 years of service in several departments. They moved to Enfield in 1973 where she was later was elected to the office of Town, serving for 20 years making significant contributions to the betterment of the town and its people. She was extremely involved in the town's politics and served on the planning board since 1984, as a selectwomen since 1995 and also served as a Justice of the Peace and uniting many couples from the Upper Valley. She loved to tell the story of the winter wedding atop Whaleback Mountain where they rode a Snow Cat to the top so she could perform the ceremony.

Ilene was very active at St. Helena's Church in Enfield. She was a devoted and faithful parishioner participating as a lector and a mentor for new parishioners threw RCIA program. She also enjoyed and participated in LaSalette bible study with Father Ross. Ilene was known by many young girls as the Girl Scout Leader and was a well know pet sitter for many friends and neighbors. On June 19, 1999 she was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Lebanon – Mascoma Lions Club. Out of respect for Ilene's involvement with the development of Anne's House, housing for women in crisis and handicap affordable housing the developer named Reed Court in Lebanon after her , She was an active volunteer for the Lebanon and Mascoma Senior Centers working both within the centers as well as transporting "Older People" to their appointments and errands and as a driver for Meals on Wheels. Though her driving was a concern she felt it necessary that the "older population" had someone to get them around, each time her daughter came for a visit there would be a new dent from a previous excursion. After she came to the realization that she should not drive she concentrated her efforts in the centers. Though she did not like the idea of riding the bus she did look forward to getting into a vehicle full of people on the colder mornings

Her hobbies included visits to Tennessee to visit family, watching all the New England teams especially the Red Sox. We learned to not call during their games because she would narrate each call. Traveling with friends from the Veteran's Affairs Medical Center. When she was younger she and Donald raised Irish Setters, she loved these animals and after the loss of her last dog she finally agreed to a kitten that became a wonderful companion to her. She enjoyed the Lights of LaSalette and the winter concert put on by Father Pat. She loved to read and was a member of the book club at the senior center. Though she loved the Town of Enfield she never forgot where she came from. She was disappointed in the loss of the individuality of West Lebanon, its sign being replaced by one that said just Lebanon. She was an active member of the West Lebanon Alumni Association and had a special place in her heart for the school.

She is predeceased by her husband Donald Reed; a brother John Putnam; and a sister Catherine Hamilton.

She was a beloved and devoted mother. She is survived by a son Michael Reed and his wife Suzanne of Winslow, ME; a daughter Jill Elder and her husband Andrew of Lascassas, TN; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a sister Margaret Levesque of Enfield, several nephews and a niece.

Visiting hours will be held Thursday December 3, 2015 from 2-4PM and 6-8PM at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction, VT. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Friday, December 4 at 10:30AM at St Helena's Church in Enfield with burial following in the Lakeview Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Grafton County Senior Citizen's Council, 10 Campbell Street Lebanon, NH 03766, the Mascoma Senior Center 1166 US-4, Canaan, NH 03741 or St Helena's Church, 36 Shaker Hill Road, Enfield, NH 03748.