Marye-Jane French

Marye-Jane Harrington Callahan French died peacefully after a long and happy life on November 11, 2024. She was born to Frank Harrington and Marion Tallant Harrington in Concord, New Hampshire on October 9, 1932. Marye-Jane was known throughout her life as an adventurous child, a young woman who sometimes pushed societal boundaries, and a beloved family matriarch in later years.

Marye-Jane grew up in Pembroke, New Hampshire and spent many summers as a camper and later camp counselor at Camp Huckins in Freedom, New Hampshire. She graduated from the former Colby Junior College, and the University of Southern Maine and became an elementary school teacher. Marye-Jane proudly proclaimed she spent sixty-five happy summers on Peaks Island, Maine where on clear days, she could see Mount Washington across Portland Harbor. Her porch was the gathering place for family and friends each day for decades. She maintained her membership in the New Hampshire Grange and the New Hampshire Order of the Eastern Star.

In 1952, Marye-Jane married John “Lefty” Callahan in Suncook, New Hampshire, surprising family and the community with her blue wedding gown and blue-gowned wedding party. Later, their son, John “Jack” Callahan, arrived. Their happiest years together were living “north of the notches” in Berlin and Jefferson, New Hampshire where Marye-Jane deepened her love of the mountains. Lefty died of kidney failure before there were effective treatments, leaving her to care for their young son alone.

She later met LeRoy “Roy” French, and they married in 1974. Marye-Jane began another happy chapter of her life. They wintered in Sunset Harbor, Florida and enjoyed many outings with family and friends in New Hampshire and on Peaks Island. Before their annual return to Florida each fall, an all-day trip through her beloved White Mountains was a must. After Roy’s death in 1999, she continued her active life with friends and family. Her later years found her living in Durham, New Hampshire.

She was predeceased by her parents; father-in-law John P. Callahan; husbands Lefty Callahan and Roy French; sister Louisa Childs Butcher; and niece Edythe Childs. She is survived by her son Jack, daughter Carolyn French Madden, and son-in-law John “Butch” Madden; four grandchildren who were close to her heart and eight great-grandchildren. She had a special relationship as well with all her nieces and nephews: Frank Childs, Frances Childs Charron, Maryellen Childs Plante, and John Childs. She valued family above all, and her love extended to spouses, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. That love continued to extend to great-grand nieces and nephews over the years. Marye-Jane delighted in watching each generation develop and loved being part of their lives.

She was a kind and caring person, known as Aunt Jane to many, whether she was a blood relative or not. She is deeply missed by all. 

There will be a family gathering for a committal service at Pine Grove Cemetery in Concord, New Hampshire when her large clan and close friends can gather. The family deeply appreciates all the exceptional and loving care Marye-Jane received during her time at Durgin Pines in Kittery, Maine.

Donations can be made in Marye-Jane’s memory to McGregor Memorial EMS in Durham at https://mcgregorems.org/donate. This service provided her timely care on multiple occasions.