Patricia Isabella (Haire) Jenkins, of Nashua, NH, formerly of Melrose, MA, passed away Wednesday evening, January 27, 2021 at her home at Aynsley Place.
One of five children of the late Dr. Paul G. and Irene V. (Eaton) Haire, she was born on February 10, 1930. She grew up in Malden, MA and was a graduate of Notre Dame Academy in Tyngsboro, MA, Class of 1947, where she resided for four years and was President of her Senior Class. Pat furthered her education at Emmanuel College in Boston, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Education.
Pat met the Love of her life, Robert J. “Bob” Jenkins at Wells Beach, Maine, at age 14 and were married on Valentine’s Day in 1953. The couple made their home in Melrose, MA where they raised their family and spent 32 wonderful years. Pat and Bob moved to Nashua in 1987.
A longtime educator, Pat began her teaching career at an elementary school in Malden. Once her four children were in school, she returned to teaching at their school, Horace Mann Elementary School in Melrose, MA. She taught there for more than twenty years, retiring in 1987.
She spent time with many crafts. Her summers were full of knitting and quilting baby blankets for her nine grandchildren and later afghans for their college dorms and first homes. Pat loved her New England travels with her husband and attended The Highland Games in the fall at Loon Mountain for many years.
Pat’s favorite memories were her summers at Wells Beach, where she was “Nana” to nine grandchildren born within eight years. She could calm an infant, hush a cry, rock a baby to sleep and read to a toddler without a fluster. She could serve grilled cheese sandwiches to wet sandy kids on the beach and her special chocolate chip cookies and ice cream Hoodsie’s on the porch after all were bathed and shined up, at the end of the day. Her greatest joy were her children and grandchildren. She took great pride in guiding them throughout their school years and watching them achieve their own goals. She taught them all her great love of books, reading to them from birth. Pat taught them the true value of family. Her home was always full of love and comfort, a place they would all gather, sharing laughs and great joy. She will be so deeply missed and will live forever in their hearts.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Aynsley Place and The Courville of Nashua for all the care and compassion they gave to Pat and her family.
Members of her family include her husband Bob, with whom she shared 68 wonderful years together; her four children and their spouses, Bob and Janet Jenkins of Southbridge, MA, Paula and Don Humen of Nashua, NH, Greg and Cindi Jenkins of Ashland, NH and Andrea and Mark Drugan of Salem, NH; nine grandchildren, Gregory Jenkins and his wife Natali, Julie Jenkins, Aubrey Rice, Daniel Jenkins and his wife Stephanie, Molly Corbett and her husband Gary, Michael Jenkins and his wife Allison, Laura Humen, Bobby Humen and his wife Lilly, and Phoebe Jenkins; great-grandchildren, Griffin, Avery and Nora; and two on the way; a sister, Reenie Alie of Hampton, NH; sister-in-law, Gail Jenkins of Nashua, NH; and many loving nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Pat was predeceased by three siblings, Joan Quinn and her husband Don, Paul Haire, and Paula Perry and her husband Bob; brother-in-law, Andy Jenkins and his wife Franny.
Donations may be made in her memory to the Marginal Way Preservation Fund, PO Box 1455, Ogunquit, ME 03907 or the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust, 3725 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, KY 41076 cst.dav.org. A private funeral and burial will be held for her family.
Arrangements are in the care of the FARWELL FUNERAL SERVICE, 18 Lock Street, Nashua. www.farwellfuneralservice.com
