Linda Maynard

Being the oldest of five children, Linda was born in Hartford, CT to Frank and Evelyn Herrmann. She grew up in Massachusetts in the Lowell area. Her first career being a first grade teacher. Later on moving to Farmington, New Hampshire, she became the Administrative Assistant at First Church Congregational, UCC in Rochester, New Hampshire where she worked for the last almost 40 years.
Linda cared deeply for all humankind. As a cancer survivor at age 40, she believed that she was living her third lifetime after age 80, and that she had survived for a reason. She was the founder of the First Church Food Pantry and it became her ministry that people should not go hungry. Linda was the heart of First Church, working 30+ hours a week in the office and volunteering many more on top of that. She was often seen working at Rochester’s Fellowship Kitchen, handing out hot chocolate and hotdogs at the Rochester Parade, she was the maker of the pancakes at the church breakfasts, she did all of these things and so many more all at the age of 81. She could run circles around all of us, and still have energy and time to do so much more.
Linda was the matriarch of the Herrmann family. She was the oldest of five siblings, Aunt to 11 nieces and nephews, and Great Aunt to over 20 nieces and nephews. She was the heart of our family making sure that get togethers and holidays were events full of fun, mischief and love. She was famous for our Fourth of July scavenger hunts, holiday word games, potato pancake meals, French bread, and jams and muffins. Never did a gathering go by where she wasn’t passing out bread and jam to everyone who wanted some. Never did a birthday, anniversary, high school or college graduation go by where she wasn’t either there or making sure that a card and/or care package was sent in her place. Never did you feel forgotten. She was always there with a card or small token to let you know that she was thinking about you.
She was predeceased by her parents Frank and Evelyn Herrmann, her youngest brother Curtis Herrmann, and oldest brother Robert Herrmann. She is survived by her younger brother Carl Herrmann and wife, Cindy Herrmann, her younger sister Bette (Herrmann) Daley, and many nieces/nephews and great nieces/nephews. She will be greatly missed by her family, church, and the community.
The burial will be a private family affair, but we will be having a celebration of life service on February 15, 2025 at First Church Congregational in Rochester, NH. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to the First Church Congregational Food Pantry in Linda’s memory