Ann Raleigh Schulte

Ann (McChesney) Raleigh Schulte, 93, of Peterborough, NH, passed away peacefully at RiverMead Lifecare Community, on October 15, 2021. She was predeceased by her parents and step mother, first husband Thomas L. Raleigh, Jr. in 1990 and by her second husband Henry F. Schulte in 2004.
Ann was born in Rochester, NY, to Crawford McChesney and Helen (Crittenden) McChesney on July 8, 1928. Stepmother Lucille (Crittenden) McChesney helped guide Ann’s formative years. Ann attended Brighton High School in Rochester NY and graduated from Smith College in 1950. Ann married Thomas L. Raleigh Jr. on November 24, 1951, and together they had 4 loving children Tom, Kathy, Nancy and John.
Ann made contributions to each of the communities where she resided, including Winchester MA, Jaffrey and Peterborough NH and Naples FL. For the Winton Club’s charitable theatre event in support of the Winchester Hospital, she participated during her early adult years as a “kick line” dancer! Ann was a docent at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In Jaffrey, she was a member and volunteer at the First Church of Jaffrey, President of the Thorndike Lake Club and volunteer for Melville Academy. In Naples, she served as a board member of the Leeward Cove Club and volunteered at the Naples Conservancy.
Exercise was important to Ann. Morning routines included 30+ minute floor exercises well into her 70s! Walking was one of her fondest passions - including daily walks down the peaceful dirt roads of Jaffrey, early morning walks in Naples, and, in her later years, walks through the halls of RiverMead. She enjoyed family ski trips and social tennis with family and friends. Ann loved nature. She enjoyed her summer gardens and the wildflower fields and stone walls looking towards Mt. Monadnock. She loved to read in her downtime, visiting public libraries on a regular basis.
Ann will be fondly remembered for her sunny disposition and positive outlook. She cared deeply about people. Her smile was infectious, and she was always “sunny-side up.”
Ann is survived by her sister, Nancy Kessler of Laguna Beach, CA. Ann also is survived by her children - Tom and his wife Charlotte Raleigh of Orlando, FL, Kathy Thigpen of Jaffrey, NH, Nancy and her husband John Van Siclen of Newbury, NH and John and his wife Kathy McCloy Raleigh of Jaffrey NH - and by grandchildren, great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.
Her funeral service at First Church in Jaffrey will be on November 12 at 11 am. The Church is located at 14 Laban Ainsworth Way, Jaffrey, NH and attendees are kindly requested to wear masks and practice social distancing. A graveside dedication in the Old Burial Ground behind the Jaffrey Center Meeting House will follow. Due to Covid concerns, there will be no calling hours or other post-service gatherings.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ann’s memory to First Church in Jaffrey, P.O. Box 673, Jaffrey, NH 03452 [tax deductible] and/or to the RiverMead Employee Holiday Appreciation Fund, 150 RiverMead Road Peterborough, NH 03458 [non tax deductible].