Elaine S. Bliss

Elaine S. Bliss Elaine Sylvia Bliss, 76, of Rochester, NH, died Saturday, May 7, 2011 in hospice care at Colonial Hills Nursing Home after a brief period of failing health, with family members sharing her last days. Born in Norwood, MA on September 3, 1934, Elaine grew up in Walpole, MA where she became a Camp Fire Girl and developed her love of organ music at the United Church in Walpole (UCC). She graduated from Walpole High School in 1952. Elaine continued her music passion at Middlebury College in Vermont, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1956, and at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, earning her Masters of Sacred Music in 1960. Combining two of her talents and interests, Elaine's nearly thirty-year career in music and accounting took her from Walpole to New York City and Staten Island, NY to Atlanta, GA, and Pittsburgh, PA. She worked for the Kendall Company and L. B. Foster Company and served churches as a choir director and organist in and around her favorite city of New York. Moving to Rochester, NH in 1989, she lived at 77 Franklin Heights. She remained an active member of the American Guild of Organists and enjoyed attending musical performances and recitals and serving in several capacities, including editor of the newsletter. Elaine found pleasure and challenge in word games and math puzzles, adventure and intrigue in literature, beauty in butterflies and sea shells, inspiration and expression in music of all kinds, and solace in her strong personal faith. Elaine was the daughter of the late Zenas Lee Bliss and Myrtle Elaine (Kirk) Bliss of Rochester, NH. The eldest of their four children, she is survived by two sisters: Mary Jane Swanson and husband John of Raymond, ME, Donna Lee Jonas and husband Karl of Sunapee, NH; a brother Barry Kirk Bliss and wife Elinor of Franconia, NH; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and cousins. Tooky, as she was known to her family, will be missed. A celebratory memorial service will take place on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at the First United Methodist Church at 34 So. Main St., Rochester, NH at 1:30 PM. Further information and an on-line guestbook can be found at www.edgerlyfh.com as arrangements are being handled by R.M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 So. Main Street, Rochester, NH. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, Centralized Memorial Processing Center, Framingham, MA 01701.