- Date Of Birth: October 9, 1933
- Date Of Death: February 5, 2021
- State: Massachusetts
Glenice was born on October 9, 1933 in Caribou, Maine and was raised in New Sweden, Maine. She met Gaylen when he was playing trumpet in the New Sweden town band.
Since they were both educators and had time off in the summer months, Glenice and Gaylen delighted in taking their children camping. The family had memorable adventures, particularly in the Rockies, Alaska, and the Canadian Rockies. Glenice taught her children and grandchildren a love of the outdoors and of the beauty of nature. She was always happy to be back ‘home’ when the family spent summers at their cottage at Madawaska Lake in Stockholm, Maine. Glenice was known for swimming in the lake, even when the air or water were too cold for most people! She loved sailing in her little sailboat and kayaking across the lake with her family. She would go for walks along the camp road in the dark and was unphased by rustling noises in the woods or snakes crossing the dark road. Glenice was also famous for being able to whip up a full-course meal out of whatever was in the refrigerator if a friend or neighbor happened to stop by for a chat.
Glenice and Gaylen later moved to Middleton, where they quickly became involved with the Middleton Stream Team and made many new friends in their neighborhood. While they were able, they loved going on their weekly ‘hikes with Pike.’ Glenice continued frequent hikes with her good friend Judy, no matter the weather. They would go on snowshoe expeditions and loved seeing the lambs, owls, beavers, heron nests, birds and stone walls on their walks.
In 2014, Glenice was diagnosed with Leiomyosarcoma and lived with this aggressive cancer far beyond even her doctors’ expectations. She was lovingly cared for by Dr. Matthew Hemming and his team at Dana Farber Cancer Institute until early 2020, when it became increasingly difficult to make the frequent trips into Boston. The family will be forever grateful to Dr. Hemming for his kindness and attentive care.
Glenice was the most loving example of living life to the fullest and treasuring every moment. She befriended so many that she met. In the end, she was determined to reach out to many of her friends and family to tell them that she loved them and to say goodbye. As she said in one of her many goodbyes, ‘You are among my shining stars and I will be the brightest star in the sky, always looking down on you and loving you.
Glenice is survived by her sons, Jon (Laura) Kelley and Glen (Leslie) Kelley, and her daughter Lisa Nahatis. She is pre-deceased by her husband Gaylen, her son-in-law, Alexander Nahatis and her brother, Roger Espling. She is also survived by her loving sister, Karen (John) Erickson and her sisters-in-law Helen Espling and Zelma Merrit, as well as by many nieces and nephews and her dear cousins, Phyllis Clauson and Marilyn Bolin. She is also survived by her grandchildren Bethany Belmonte, Alison Heiden, Aidan Kelley, Erin Kelley, Meaghan Kelley, and Katharine Nahatis, as well as her great grandchildren, Lucy, Mabel, Abraham and Summer. She will be greatly missed, but her example will live on in all of us.
Middleton Stream Team, PO Box 333 Middleton, MA 01949
Marsh Chapel, Boston University, 735 Commonwealth Ave. Boston, MA 02215
Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923
