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Obituary for Marilyn D. Hutchinson
Marilyn D. Hutchinson, 84, longtime resident of Wilton, NH, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 surrounded by her family at The Elms in Milford, NH. Marilyn was born in Hanover, NH, on December 27, 1932, the daughter of Charles and Florence (Doe) Downing. The early part of her life was spent in Concord and Wentworth, NH.
She was a 1950 graduate of Concord High School. Marilyn was a 1954 graduate of the University of New Hampshire where she earned her degree in Home Economics. In 1955, she completed her Dietetic Internship at Mt. Auburn Hospital in Cambridge, MA and maintained her membership in the American Dietetic Association since 1955. She was employed for many years as a consultant dietician at the Crotched Mountain Rehabilitation Center in Greenfield, NH.
Marilyn was a member of the Second Congregational Church in Wilton since 1964, serving many years on the Mission Committee along with chairing and serving on Church Fair Committees. She spent several years as the leader of Wilton’s Girl Scout Troop 547, nurturing local girls along with her own daughters as a part of the organization. Family vacations were important summer happenings and eventually included trips to Hampton Beach where renting a cottage became ritual with the final years even including her daughters’ future husbands, sparking interest in the whole family to enjoy sun and sand all up and down the east coast to this day.
After a multiple sclerosis diagnosis on herself, Marilyn became very involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society attending many MS support groups, developing lasting friendships along the way. The diagnosis did not hinder her love for travel. She and her husband of 60 years, John Hutchinson traveled extensively throughout the United States (including both Alaska and Hawaii), Bermuda, Canada, and many Caribbean Islands. Local travel even included a ride in a hot air balloon!
In her down time, Marilyn enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing and knitting, and in later years she and John spent many an hour feeding and watching birds on their patio. When grandchildren came along finally in 1987, she looked forward to spending as much time with them as she could. She spent many an afternoon with her living room in complete shambles while Luc and Hannah made “tents” out of blankets! As long as she was able, she attended soccer and softball games to watch the kids in action. In later years, she loved to tell the stories of her time with the kids, and would happily share them with anyone who would listen. Family and friends were of the utmost importance to her every minute of her life.
One last detail to share; while Marilyn rarely succumbed to sad or bad moods with anyone, it did happen of course, but if you called her on the phone you ALWAYS got that cheery voice on the other end and if you were really lucky, you heard her laugh. She will be missed. Marilyn is survived by her husband, John H. Hutchinson of Wilton, NH; her daughter Deborah Hutchinson Broadley and her husband Keith of Milford, NH; her daughter Martha Hutchinson Mackintosh of Wilton, NH; her brother John C. Downing and his wife Helen of Wentworth, NH; three grandchildren, Dylan Jackson Broadley and his fiancé, Emily Marsh of Bennington, VT; Hannah Lane Mackintosh of Wilmington, NC; and Lucas Moses Broadley of Milford, NH; two nephews, Kevin Downing and his wife Diane of Candia, NH and Christopher Downing and his wife Marcie of Burlington, VT.
Marilyn was predeceased by her parents, her granddaughter Ryann Colleen Mackintosh, and her son-in-law, Robert C. Mackintosh, Jr.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Marilyn’s name to The Second Congregational Church Memorial Fund, PO Box 246, Wilton, NH 03086 or to The National MS Society, PO Box 4527, New York, NY 10163 (or by phone: 800-344-4867).
Services will be held on Friday May 12, 2017, at 1pm, at the Second Congregational Church, 25 Gregg St., Wilton, NH. Burial will follow in the Laurel Hill Cemetery in Wilton, NH.
