Florence Burgess

Florence McLeod Burgess died in Concord NH on August 27. One of 9 children, she was born in Gorham NH in 1929 and orphaned by the age of 6. Separated from her siblings, she lived an idyllic life with foster parents Ola and Roy Egan of N. Strafford NH, a curly-red-haired girl running thru the fields, berry pail in hand, with an eye on the bull. She rode the big plow horses, operated the huge hay bailer, ran from the goose, cooked dinner, and cared for younger foster children. Florence's childhood was a poignant story in which she developed a character of charity, compassion and understanding. She believed in God and Jesus, and lived her life accordingly.

After graduation from North Stratford HS in 1947 she moved to Littleton where she met and married David E Burgess of Lisbon NH. In 1966, they moved to Lebanon where she worked at the W.T. Grant store as manager for the Domestics Department before becoming a Nursing Assistant at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center in Hanover, where she retired in 1989. In this latter job, she found her true calling in life, the service of others.

While in Hanover, under her care was a child cancer patient named David whom she truly loved, he called her Grammy. She said it was David who suggested what became "David's House" when he learned that some of the children were alone because their parents couldn't stay at the hospital. On the day he died, Florence completed her shift, came home, sat in her chair, and cried. The next morning, she dressed and went back to work, such was her strength.

Florence raised 3 children and enjoyed quilting, knitting, flower gardening, skiing at Cannon MT, and traveling the US with her husband David in retirement. Florence and David bought a piece of land at Forest Lake in Whitefield and over the years build a wonderful camp where they, their children, and grand-children spent summers, and hosted many family reunions.

Florence is survived by her sons Wayne & wife Terry Burgess of Webster NH, and Bruce and wife Denise Burgess of Londonderry NH; 3 grandchildren (Briana and Matthew Burgess, and Megan Murphy), two great-grandchildren (Violet and Thomas); sister Phyllis Baillargeon of Dover, brother Norman McLeod of Gorham, and an extended family. She was predeceased by her daughter Susan Murphy and husband David, and 6 siblings.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the wonderful people of Havenwood Heritage-Heights in Concord who opened their hearts to Florence and treated her with the utmost kindness and dignity. It was reassuring to know she was in their care when we couldn't be there, and is comforting in our grief.

Services will be held on Friday, September 8, 2017 at the Cremation Society of New Hampshire, 243 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH with a gathering to begin at 10am and service at 11. A memorial reception will follow.

Those who cannot attend the service on 9/8 are invited to attend her interment on September 29th at 1pm, at the Glenwood Cemetery in Littleton, NH.

In lieu of flowers those who wish may make donations in her name by mail or online to: David's House, 461 Mt. Support Road, Lebanon, NH 03766.