Elsie J. Hagberg

Elsie Johnson Hagberg of Exeter and Stoddard, New Hampshire, died peacefully at age 96 on August 12, 2017 at her residence at Riverwoods in Exeter.

She was born in Hackensack, New Jersey on February 9, 1921 and spent her childhood in Middletown, Connecticut. After graduating from Middletown High School in 1938, Elsie moved to Boston to pursue training as a Medical Technician. She was employed in this field until her marriage to Richard (Dick) Hagberg in 1941.

After WWII, Elsie and Dick settled down in Canton, Massachusetts, where she lived for 55 years. In Canton, they raised their children, Karen, Rick, and Elsa and were active long-time members of the United Church of Christ in Canton. In addition to various church positions, Elsie had leadership positions in numerous organizations including the Camp Fire Girls, Cub Scouts, Canton Garden Club, FISH and the Canton Nursing Association.

In 1962 Elsie and Dick purchased their summer home in Stoddard, New Hampshire where her extended family has congregated for the past five decades. Elsie moved to Riverwoods at Exeter in 2001.

Elsie is pre-deceased by parents, Mathilde and John Johnson, sister Agda Anderson, husband Richard S. Hagberg, Sr., son Richard S. Hagberg, Jr., and granddaughter Emelia Worth. She is survived by daughters Karen Hagberg (Dorothy Drake) of Penfield, NY; the Rev. Elsa Worth (Steven Worth) of Keene, NH; grandchildren Kristin Shreeve (Bill Shreeve) Corvallis, OR; Allison Sharma (Raveen Sharma), Auburdale, MA; John Hagberg (Katrina Wilcox Hagberg), Littleton, MA; Benjamin Hagberg (Laura Nasuti), Melrose MA; Orion Wilson (Dinorah Wilson), Somerville MA; Robert (Bo) Worth, Keene, NH; and seven great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at Christ Church in Exeter, NH on Friday, August 25 at 11 a.m., with a lunch reception following at Riverwoods (7 Riverwoods Drive in Exeter). A burial service on Saturday, August 26 at the Canton Corner Cemetery on Washington Street in Canton, MA at 1 p.m., followed by a reception at the Congregational Church of Canton, which is across the street (1541 Washington Street in Canton). Guests are welcome to attend any of these events.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Elsie's name to Christ Church in Exeter, 43 Pine Street, Exeter, NH 03833, or to the Emelia Carl Worth Memorial Scholarship Fund at the Kent School, 7 Macedonia Road, Kent, CT, 06757. Cremation Society of New Hampshire is assisting the family with arrangements. To view an online memorial or leave a message of condolence please go to www.csnh.com