Elinor V. Maynard Pinkham

Elinor V. Pinkham (Maynard), 92, died peacefully at Mineral Springs Nursing Home in Conway, New Hampshire on July 28, 2018. She is survived by her daughters Barbara Pinkham and Jeanne Fay; daughter-in-law Mary Lou Archibald; granddaughter Krissa Fay and husband, Ciaran ODonnell; and great grandchildren, Michael and Maura-Jane ODonnell. She was predeceased by her first husband of 54 years and love of her life, Philip B. Pinkham; her grandson Philip J. Hanlon; brothers Waldo and Arthur Maynard; sister Katherine Curless; and second husband Jack Westcott. Elinors life revolved around her church, family and community. She was a faithful and active member of Norwood Baptist Church in Warwick, R.I., and later of the First Baptist Church of Charlestown in Quonochontaug, R.I. She gave generously of her time and resources to both churches, attending services every week, supporting Philip who ran turkey suppers at Norwood Baptist and the Grange in Quonochontaug for many years and providing goods for after-church coffee hour at the First Baptist Church. Elinor was a stay-at-home mom, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and many other tasks required to keep house and raise two daughters. An expert seamstress, she sewed Easter outfits and dresses for Barbara and Jeanne for all the years of their childhood, including Jeannes wedding dress. Until the mid-1960s, she did laundry in a wringer washer, hung out clothes summer and winter, and ironed everything from sheets to Philips handkerchiefs. With Philip, she cooked Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for the family, including her parents, brothers and her in-laws. She was a social mainstay in the family and neighborhood. Twice in the 1980s, she organized family reunions for the Brownings, Philips mothers family. She welcomed neighborhood children to play in the yard. With the help of a neighbor, she took their mothers and mother-in-law grocery shopping for many years. She welcomed her niece (Marilyn Curless) who came to stay two summers when she, Jeanne and Barb were teenagers. She enjoyed many wonderful trips to Europe and the Caribbean with her husband over the years. When her parents and then brothers became ill, she took on the job of organizing their care. She also took care of her mother-in-law, Elisabeth "Pinkie" Pinkham, until her death. Her grandchildren, Krissa and Philip James "PJ," held a special place in her heart. For many years, Elinor and Philip made the two-day car trip (often in snowstorms) to be with Jeanne and her family for Christmas, bringing a car full of exotic American gifts and treats to rural Nova Scotia (to the absolute delight of her grandchildren). Krissa especially spent many school holidays with Grandma and Grandpa Pinkham. She welcomed Jeanne, Krissa and PJ home to the little house in Rhode Island every summer for decades, enjoying the beach as much as the children. Elinor was friendly and kind and took a keen interest in people and had the ability to strike up conversations with strangers. She always believed the best about people and those she befriended. She was a loyal friend, keeping in touch with people for years, faithfully remembering birthdays and anniversaries and always sending thoughtful cards and gifts as well as helping out where she could as friends and neighbors needed her support. In the last months of her life, Elinor lived in Mineral Springs Nursing Home, endearing herself to the staff with her wit and humor. Elinor will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by her family, friends and all who knew her. A funeral will be held Aug. 7 at noon at the First Baptist Church of Charlestown in Charlestown, R.I. There will be a celebration on Thursday, Aug. 2, at Abenaki Trail Restaurant in North Conway from 3 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, in Elinors memory, please donate to Conway Area Humane Society or a local food pantry in the valley.