Mary Louise (Boucher) Tilton
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The world lost a beloved wife, mother and grandmother Mary Tilton (90) on June 27, 2021. She was surrounded by her treasured family at the time of her passing and her strong and fighting spirit was clear to the end.
Mary Louise (Boucher) Tilton was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts September 8, 1930, the daughter of Eugene Boucher and Linda A. (DeLotto) Boucher. Mary was always thankful that she moved to Salem in 1935 and she spent the rest of her life giving back to the town she loved. Mary was a member of the Woodbury High School class of 1948 and the friendships she and her classmates built there lasted her whole life. Mary was a Salem telephone switchboard operator before the town changed to dial in 1952. It is believed she was the last surviving member of that office. She later worked as a switchboard operator in Huntsville, Alabama where her husband was serving in the armed forces. Mary worked for the Salem Trust Company as a bank teller and as a bookkeeper for the Dodge Grain Company. She was probably most well known as the lady with the beautiful smile at the North Salem Post Office where she served as Assistant Post Master for twenty years.
Mary was a longtime member of the Salem Junior Women's Club and played an active role in civic minded projects including the development of the Salem Boys and Girls Club. She joined the Pleasant Street Methodist Church as a young girl and later joined the choir and taught Sunday School there. After moving to North Salem in 1953 she became a long time and very active member of the North Salem United Methodist Church where she was a member of the choir, ran or served on many committees, and helped run the Saturday church suppers and annual church yard- sale fundraisers. She also volunteered at many of her children's school fundraisers and participated in parent teacher organizations through the years. Mary took dance and other lessons from a young age. She acted in plays and recitals as a child and in high school and developed a lifelong love for theater and particularly musicals. She loved to travel and she and her husband and groups of friends went on many ocean cruises together. She also loved to spend time at the family cottage on Deer Isle, Maine. What she most loved in life was to bring people together and as a result her home became a frequent gathering place for family and friends. Mary was well-loved by all who knew her. She was the center of her family and her memory is truly a blessing.
Survivors include her husband of 68 years Douglas R. Tilton Sr. Of North Salem, two sons, Douglas R. Tilton Jr. of Portsmouth, and Scott H. Tilton (Winnie) of North Salem and a daughter Linda S. Bellomo (Matthew) of North Salem, her beloved grandchildren Brianna (Brandyn) and Erica Tilton and Anthony and Marcus Bellomo, and an extended family that includes several cousins, nieces and nephews and many friends.
Mary's generous heart and spirit and her endless hugs are what we will all remember. With Mary you were always living in the moment and she made you feel like you were the only person in the world. Her sparkling personality and endless smile will be etched in our hearts forever.
Visiting hours will be held Thursday, July 1, 2021 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm in the Douglas & Johnson Funeral Home, 214 Main St., Salem, NH. A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 2nd at 11:00am in the North Salem United Methodist Church, 389 N. Main St., Salem. Those attending the church service may start arriving at the church by 10:15am. Interment will follow in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, North Salem. At the funeral home and church, masks are required for those who are unvaccinated and social distancing is still required and appreciated. In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to The Alzheimer's Association, The Salem Boys and Girls Club or the North Salem United Methodist Church. To send a message of condolence to the family or for service information, please view the obituary at www.douglasandjohnson.com