Betty Mae Parnell

As she herself would say it, Betty Mae Parnell turned up her toes on September 30th at the age of 89. Born in Brooklyn, NY to Walter and Mae (Ackerson) Foster she grew up in Merrick, NY and graduated from W. C. Mepham HS where she was class President and irrepressible organizer of events. She then went off to Adelphi College where she was a proud member of Delta Gamma and co-president of the Student Association with her future husband Frank LoPresti. She put her education to use as an elementary school teacher for 23 years in Smithtown, NY and then taught outdoor education for BOCES for 3 years. Moving to New Hampshire she kept up her activities by spending 8 years directing children's activities at the Hooksett library. She particularly delighted in her 20 years with the Hooksett Garden Club and being the Queen Mom for the local Red Hat Society. Even those activities did not keep her occupied enough so she also volunteered over the years at the NH Audubon Society, the Salvation Army, the Currier Museum of Art and for the Granite State Ambassadors.

Above all Betty Mae thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with her eight grandchildren, Emily Herreshoff, Peter Galopin, Eric and Julia LoPresti, Ben and Spencer Brandon, Sasha Bauer and Sarina LoPresti all of whom she adored. When not organizing and playing games with the grandchildren she enjoyed grown-up pastimes such as playing uncountable hands of bridge, reading, traveling widely, racing Warren every Sunday to finish the Times crossword puzzle and gardening as often as is possible in New England.

Someone with the amount of energy that she had creates a void in the fabric of the universe when they leave. If you recently felt a disturbance in the force it was probably due to her passing. The ones who felt the disturbance the most are her sister Carol Hedges who was her best friend for the entire journey, their younger sister Judy Cooley, her patient and loving husband Warren Parnell, her three children: Larry LoPresti, Leigh LoPresti, and Lorinda (LoPresti) Brandon; her stepchildren Kelly Parnell, Dan Parnell, Eileen Galopin, and Kris Parnell; her aforementioned grandchildren plus two adorable greatgrandchildren Megan and Charlotte Herreshoff.

A celebration of her life will take place at 11:00am on October 27th in the multi-function room at Birch Hill, 200 Alliance Way, Manchester, NH. Coffee and chocolate will be served afterwards in memory of two of her favorite things.

Cremation Society of NH is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial, leave a message of condolence, or for more information please go to www.csnh.com