Veda Ann (Noel) Henry was called home on September 15th, 2022, surrounded by her loving family in her home. Veda was born on December 14, 1941 in York, Pennsylvania. She attended local grade and high school and loved singing in the choral group. After high school, she attended Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and received a degree in education. She then taught elementary school in York, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, and Alburgh, VT as part of the teacher corp. She earned her Master of Education degree from the University of Vermont, and then taught at Juvenile Hall in Orange California.
Veda met and married her beloved husband Edgar Henry Jr. (Sam) on October 28, 1972. She and Sam had two sons, Edgar III and Joseph while living in Des Plaines, Illinois. The family lived in Des Plaines and Alburgh, Vermont before settling in Nashua, New Hampshire in 1982.
For thirty-five years, Veda taught at the Adult Learning Center in Nashua. She loved her students and even after retiring continued tutoring until one month prior to her death. She loved working with students who needed her help the most. Veda was a committed volunteer at the Nashua Food Pantry, donating vegetables from their family garden. Veda attended Arlington Street Methodist Church and sang in the church choir. She loved attending church suppers, craft fairs, and her church community.
Veda was predeceased by her parents, Robert and Sybella Noel and her brother K. Robert Noel of York, PA. She is survived by niece Jan Noel Gumerlock, niece Nan Noel, nephew Jon and (wife) Liz Noel, sister-in-law Ann Noel, a beloved aunt Faye Kinley and Uncle Rod, and many cousins.
Veda was loving, kind, forgiving, polite, and the sweetest wife and mother. She loved her family dearly. Veda’s glitter was from the inside, she always looked out for others and was as reliable as the sun and stars. She hosted weekly Sunday family dinners for more than 20 years after her sons moved out. She will be dearly missed by her community and family, but most of all by her husband, Sam, and their two sons, Sam and Joe.
Veda was an avid reader and loved to write letters. She kept in contact with more than twelve college friends for more than 50 years, with countless cards, letters, emails, and reunions. Even during her recent illness, she never missed a birthday, sending cards and letters to all she loved. She enjoyed buying gifts and perfectly wrapping them for all occasions. She loved to plant and care for her flowers, especially Zinnias. She will be buried holding a small bouquet of the Zinnias she planted and tended this summer. She never showed up empty handed to any gathering, and frequently made a Pennsylvania Dutch dish to share.
The family would like to thank Home Health and Hospice Care of Merrimack, NH for their loving and supportive hospice care. Her final wish was to pass at home surrounded by her family, and this was possible due to their support. Sam and his sons would also like to thank their niece Willow “the paragon of healthcare” and nephew Kevin Henry, for providing round the clock care to keep her comfortable in her final days.
Calling hours will be held at the FARWELL FUNERAL HOME, 18 Lock Street, Nashua on Monday, September 19th from 4 to 7 p.m. Her funeral service will be held in the Arlington Street United Methodist Church, 63 Arlington Street, Nashua, Tuesday morning at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at the Henry Farm Family Cemetery, Henry Road in Alburg, Vermont, Thursday, Sept. 22nd at 11 a.m. All are welcome to attend at all locations. There will be a luncheon following the interment in Alburg Springs, please join us. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: The Adult Learning Center at 4 Lake Street, Nashua, NH 03060. To leave an online message of condolence please visit www.farwellfuneralservice.com
