Margaret Fernald

ROCHESTER - Margaret "Elaine" Fernald, 85, of 406 Old Dover Road, Rochester, died Friday, Oct. 16, 2009, at Frisbie Memorial Hospital after a brief illness.She was born Dec. 16, 1923, in Berwick, Maine, the daughter of the late Odilon and Delia (Ashier) Plante. Elaine had resided in Rochester for the past 40 years and was a devoted wife and mother, who loved spending time with her grandchildren and being at home. She always thought of everyone else first. Elaine loved feeding the squirrels and birds and trying to keep track of her cat "Lady." She also enjoyed sitting in the sun and being outside working in her flower gardens.Members of her family include her husband, Robert Fernald of Rochester; son, David R. Fernald and wife, Sandi, of South Berwick, Maine; daughters, Judy Slane and husband, Jim, of Milford, N.H., Donna Chick of Stratham, N.H., Janet Douglass and husband, Haven, of Rochester; 10 grandchildren, Brianne, Marissa, Nicole, Trevor, Bruce, Laura, Jamie, Billy, Tyler and Jennifer; three great-grandchildren, Abby, Christina, and Kathleen; brother, Odilon Plante, Jr., and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her brothers, George and Arthur Plante; sisters, Flora Plante, Beatrice Labbie, Emma Studley and Eva Bragdon.The funeral service will be Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 12 p.m. at the R. M. Edgerly & Son Funeral Home, 86 South Main St., Rochester. Visitation will be two hours before the service from 10 a.m. to noon in the chapel of the funeral home. Burial will follow in St. Charles Cemetery, Old Rochester Road, Dover.In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cocheco Valley Humane Society, 275 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820.Visit the online guest book at www.fosters.com/obits