Anna C (Cook) Hayden

With heavy hearts, we announce that Anna, a long-time Littleton resident, peacefully went to eternal rest at home surrounded by her loving family, her cat Pumpkin and love near and far on June 5, 2024 at the age of 98 ½ after a long and happy life. Anna, born in Lebanon, NH was raised in Keene, NH. Anna was a 1947 graduate of the University of New Hampshire (“UNH”), with a Bachelor of Arts, conferred cum laude. While pursuing a Master’s Degree in English at UNH, at the university’s request she suspended that pursuit to teach service men returning from WWII. In addition, during WW II (summers of 1944 and 1945) she was an operator of an electric lathe in the manufacture of inner raceways for miniature ball bearings (enabling targeted bombing) in accordance with precise military specifications, at the sole US manufacturing site located in Keene, NH. As an English and Latin teacher at Littleton High School (1960 – 1965 and 1970 - 1991) who believed in expanding everyone’s knowledge of the world, her numerous accomplishments included organizing and serving as the tour guide for LHS students’ educational trips to Greece, Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland, England, Scotland, Ireland and Austria; hosting Roman Banquets for her Latin classes; taking bus-loads of students to Boston to attend sports games, plays and the Museum of Fine Arts; advisor to the National Honor Society, the LHS newspaper, the LHS yearbook, school plays and even the LHS cheerleaders. After retiring from LHS, Anna remained in education as a volunteer “reading lady” at the Lakeway Elementary School. As headmistress of the Rock Point School for Girls, Burlington, VT, (1966-1969) she was responsible for achieving the academic re-accreditation of the school which operated under the auspices of the Episcopal Arch Diocese of Vermont. Believing in service to her community, Anna served as a board member of the Community House, member of the Littleton Historical Society, and as a board member of the Weathervane Theater in Whitefield. Except for the last few years, since 1960 she was an active member of All Saints Episcopal Church, serving as Junior and Senior Warden, on the Altar Guild, as a Sunday school teacher and as a volunteer at the Littleton Food Pantry. Since 1964, Anna was a member of Littleton’s literary club known as Friday Club. In addition to being a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and teacher, she was a “Renaissance woman” who, after retiring, was still taking classes on CD’s, watching educational TV programs, reading the “Christian Science Monitor” and re-reading the classics. Anyone who knew Anna will remember her love of travel, including the Maine coast where she sailed with her husband, and her love of literature and history. She was an avid knitter all her life, including charitable knitting with her daughter, donating hat and scarf sets to various church sponsored programs. She was always surrounded by a dog and a cat or two, mainly ones who needed a new loving home. 

Anna was the beloved wife of John L. Hayden who predeceased her in 1989. She was the loving mother of Judith Hayden, Betty Hayden PhD., Patricia Millette (who predeceased her in 2022) and Pat’s husband Brian Millette and John (“Jay”) C. Hayden and his significant other Susan (“Suzel”); devoted and very special grandmother of Nicholas John Hayden and his wife Karen (Renteria) and John Patrick (“JP”) Hayden and his wife Abbie (Keeler); great grandmother of Liam, Raelynn, Elaina, and Carson; and beloved aunt of Jane Bower, Heidi Roggenbauer and Mitzie Horne.

A memorial service and celebration of Anna’s life will take place at All Saints Episcopal Church in Littleton, NH, on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at 11:30. Interment will be held private at the Glenwood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Anna’s memory may be made to the Second Chance Animal Rescue, 1517 Meadow St. Littleton, NH 03561; the Anna Hayden Memorial Fund at the Littleton Public Library, 92 Main St. Littleton, NH 03561; the Crusader Book Club c/o Littleton High School, 159 Oak Hill Ave., Littleton, NH 03561: or the North Country Home Health & Hospice Agency, 536 Cottage St., Littleton, NH 03561 https://northcountryhomehealth-hospice.org/donate/

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