Jean S. Hoadley

Jean S. Hoadley, 94, formerly of Peterborough, N.H., died Saturday, November 15, at Langdon Place in Keene, N. H., after a period of failing health. She was the widow of Henry A. Hoadley Jr., who died in 1997. They had been married for 57 years. She leaves three children, five grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

Jean was the daughter of Percy Robert and Anna Barbara Snider. She was born Aug. 1, 1914, in Schenectady, N.Y. After World War I began, her family moved back to Toronto, Canada, where her father had grown up. Jean graduated from Humberside Collegiate Institute, a public academic high school in Toronto, and served as valedictorian. She commuted by trolley from home to the University of Toronto. After graduation in 1937, she spent a year teaching in a rural school in Ontario.

In 1940 she married Henry Hoadley of Connecticut. He was an engineer with the Southern New England Telephone Company. During World War II they lived in Mystic and Jean volunteered with the British War Relief Society. In 1947 they moved to New London where they raised their family and were active in the First Church of Christ, Congregational, and several other community organizations. Jean served for many years as Sunday School director, was president of the New London branch of the AAUW, and later taught English at Mitchell College. When her children were young she shared her life-long interest in nature and the out-of-doors as a leader of Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. She was a firm believer in teaching young people to be self reliant.

The Hoadleys retired to Peterborough in 1973 where they were active in the Union Congregational Church, the Historical Society and the Monadnock Camera Club. She was delighted when some of her photos were published in the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce guide in the 1980s and 1990s. During those years she created a photographic essay on the wildflowers of Sheiling Forest which she shared with groups in Concord and at Langdon Place.

Her past twelve years have been blessed by the care of many devoted staff members and thoughtful administrators at Langdon Place.

Survivors are two sons: Steven Hoadley of Peterborough and John Hoadley and his wife, Jessie, of Salem, CT., a daughter, Barbara, and her husband, Wyland Leadbetter Jr., of Springfield, VA., five grandchildren: Julie Wooten of Uncasville, CT., Amy McLeod, of Newtown, CT., Elizabeth Leadbetter of Sharon, Mass., Wyland Leadbetter III of Yuma, Arizona, and Christopher Leadbetter of Georgetown, Texas, and seven great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers donations can be sent to either Langdon Place, 136A Arch St., Keene, N.H., 03431 or the Union Congregational Church of Peterborough.

Burial will be private and at the convenience of the family

At Mrs. Hoadleys request, there will be no calling hours.

A Memorial Service will be held at the Union Congregational Church, 33 Concord Street in Peterborough on Monday, November 24, 2008 at 1:00PM. Rev. Polly Shamy, Pastor, will officiate.