Marceline (Mimi) Moulton

Marceline (Mimi) Moulton, 94, of Milford, N.H., died March 20 at the Granite VNA Hospice in Concord, N.H., after spending her final days with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and other family members.

Family time was always special for Mimi, especially vacations that began when her children were young at Wicwas Lake in Meredith, N.H., and continued through the years at various spots in New England. In her later years, Mimi’s favorite times were spending holidays and other special occasions at the family homestead in Milford where she enjoyed catching up with her children and grandchildren and offering her acerbic witticisms as the family gathered around the dining table to play word games. She also looked forward to weekly phone calls from her children and grandchildren.

Her favorite saying was: “A family is a circle of love, not broken by a loss, but made stronger by the memories.”

Though her eyesight failed, Mimi’s mind remained sharp and she kept up with the latest news by listening to CNN and “60 Minutes.” She did not hesitate to express her intense dislike of the 45th president. She also was a faithful fan of “Jeopardy.” An avid reader, Mimi delighted in transitioning to audiobooks. Her interest in England’s royal family was piqued by listening to Prince Harry narrate his memoir “Spare.” Mimi’s final book was “All the Beauty in the World.”

She was born on April 22, 1928, in Boston to Alphonse and Marceline (Canali) Spettel. She grew up in Newton, Mass., and lived in Cleveland for a few years. Since 1955, Mimi had been a resident of the Milford area.

She received her bachelor’s degree in humanities from Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio. Mimi had two careers, first as a loving, stay-at-home mother to her four children who she encouraged to pursue their interests with passion, be kind to others and seek to leave the world a better place.

After her divorce in 1983, when her children were all in college or involved in their own careers, Mimi demonstrated her resilience in beginning her second chapter by earning a master’s degree in counseling and psychotherapy from Rivier Collage in Nashua, N.H. A licensed clinical mental health counselor, she practiced for many years at Milford Regional Counseling Services, where she focused on family counseling and helping the most vulnerable clients. She retired in 2003.

Since 1963, Mimi had been an active member of the Milford Unitarian Universalist Congregation (UUCM) and served in several leadership roles, including Council President and Chairperson of the 100th yearlong anniversary celebration. Mimi found particularly meaningful the opportunities she had over the years to create and/or participate in several Sunday worship services.

She also was active in the greater community, having served as President of the Milford Area League of Women Voters, and President of the Milford PTA.

Besides reading non-fiction, Mimi’s favorite activities included gardening, enjoying nature, reflective writing, light classical music, public speaking, group leadership, playing bridge, and rubber-stamp card making. Most recently, her favorite musician was Josh Groban. Later in life, she was absorbed by Red Sox games on TV.

Mimi had a dry wit, disliked status symbols, and had a great sensitivity to less fortunate people and to animal abuse. She loved all her pets, most of whom were strays, including one of her first, a mischievous kitty Cricky.

In addition to her parents, Mimi was predeceased by a brother, Charles A. Spettel, who was presumed drowned in the Adriatic Sea in February 1945 while serving in the Army Air Forces; and her former husband, Stanley W. Moulton Jr., who died in 2002.

Mimi is survived by two sons, Stanley W. Moulton III (partner Rebecca Rice) of Northampton, Mass., and Robert S. (Michele) Moulton of Milford; two daughters, Nancy M. (Rick) Evans of Jackson, N.J.; and Susan L. Moulton of Plymouth, Mass.; three granddaughters, Sarah T. (Adam) Reed of Webster, Mass., Christie M. Moulton (Mark Gedmin) of Waterbury Center, Vt., and Kelsea E. Moulton (partner Andrew Borelli) of Greenfield, Mass.; and four great-granddaughters, Ava, Annabelle and Adaline Reed of Webster, and Marceline C. Moulton of Waterbury Center. In addition, Mimi is survived by a brother, Richard J. Spettel of Brunswick, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, suggested are remembrances to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua, 24 Ferry Road, Nashua, N.H., 03064-8109 (hsfn.org); UUCM, 20 Elm St., Milford, N.H., 03055 (uucm.org); or SHARE Outreach, 1 Columbus Ave., Milford, N.H., 03055 (sharenh.org).

A celebration of Mimi’s life will be held at 11 a.m., April 22, at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 20 Elm St., Milford, with a reception to follow.