Katharine ‘Kay’ (Leetch) Roedel

Kay is survived by her husband of 59 years, Fred B. Roedel of Wilton, New Hampshire; children Fred B. Roedel III and his wife Deborah of Wilton, New Hampshire, Jennifer Bernard and her husband Paul of Mont Vernon, New Hampshire, Susan Pollio of Amherst, New Hampshire, and David Roedel and his wife Mary Lynn of Manchester, New Hampshire; grandchildren Jackson and Drew Pollio, William Bernard, and Reilly, Lindsay and McKensey Roedel; and siblings Jim Beach of Rural Hall, North Carolina, and Bonny Voiland of Ithaca.

Kay was born on Jan. 20, 1935, in Saranac Lake and was the daughter of Dr. Henry and Elizabeth Leetch. She graduated from Saranac Lake High School in 1952 and Middlebury College in 1956 with a degree in Early Childhood Education. She married Fred B. Roedel in 1960. She taught second and fourth grades for nine years in Fairfield, Connecticut, Spring Valley, New York, and Chelmsford, Massachusetts. After moving to Nashua, New Hampshire, she welcomed her first child into the world in 1963, with three more following. In 1976 the family moved to Wilton, New Hampshire, and she began the complete restoration of their new family home, formerly the Hillsborough County Farm.

Above all, Kay loved her family and supporting them in all their endeavors. Her support for her husband was unwavering while he started and grew a successful business. Her continued encouragement allowed her children to pursue their individual academic, athletic and professional goals. As proof of this commitment, Kay determinedly taught herself to drive a two-horse trailer around the Northeast for competitions. Kay was an accomplished gardener, as evidenced by the beautiful grounds surrounding the home she so loved. She managed the Riverview Mill in Wilton, New Hampshire, for more than 30 years and was passionate about the Patriots and Red Sox. Kay was a dog lover, especially golden retrievers. An avid tennis player who played twice a week, Kay was a longtime member of the Monadnock Tennis Club in Peterborough, New Hampshire. She loved driving the Chris-Craft boat her father purchased and named “KZ” in her honor on the Lower Saranac Lake, where her family had a platform tent and where she and her family now have a home. Most importantly, Kay was known for her kind heart, generous nature and beautiful smile.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 11 a.m. at First Church Nashua Congregational UCC, 1 Concord St., Nashua, New Hampshire, with a reception to follow at the Nashua Country Club. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Kay’s life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Open Cupboard Pantry, P.O. Box 111, Wilton, NH 03086, or Saranac Lake Interfaith Food Pantry, 15 Bloomingdale Ave., Saranac Lake, NY 12983. Condolences can be sent to www.smith-heald.com. The family would like to thank Interim Healthcare for their kind and compassionate care.