Verna Burchell

STRAFFORD - Verna Virginia (Varley) Burchell, 86, of Strafford, NH, passed away peacefully at home on August 17, 2013. Born in Washington Depot, CT, on April 5, 1927, she was the daughter of John and Hilda (Anderson) Varley. After spending her childhood in Washington Depot, Verna attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Virginia and The University of Connecticut. After meeting and falling in love on the shores of Lake Waramaug in Warren, CT, Verna and Gerard A. Burchell, Jr. were married on December 3, 1949 in Lexington, VA. Together they raised 3 children, first residing in New York and later moving to Rochester, NH in 1965. Verna was a secretary at the First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NH and later worked as a teacher-aide and secretary at East Rochester School where she loved working with all of the children, especially those with special needs. Verna and her husband Jerry owned and operated Burch Farm on Whitehall Road in Rochester, NH for many years, selling a wide variety of apples, peaches, pears, berries, grapes, and vegetables from their home and at area stores and farmers' markets. Verna was raised in the Swedish Salem Evangelical Covenant Church of Washington Depot, CT and later became a member of the First United Methodist Church in Rochester, NH. She held numerous positions in her church and community over the years. She was a gifted pianist, an avid gardener, wild flower enthusiast, and lover of books, history, politics, art, antiques, embroidery, the Red Sox, and a good lobster roll. Verna was a wonderfully warm, giving, and accepting person who loved her church, her family, and her friends, and always enjoyed her life to the fullest. She believed in social justice for all and worked tirelessly for those less fortunate than her. Verna was predeceased by her husband of 61 years, Gerard A. Burchell, Jr., brothers William Varley and Edward Varley, and sisters Grace Couch and Ruth Hopkins. She is survived by sons, Tim Burchell of Malden, MA, Jim Burchell and his wife Roxanne Friedenfels of Madison, NJ, and daughter Judy Brownell and her husband Skip, of Strafford, NH, with whom she had resided for the past 12 years. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren, Katherine and Evan Burchell, Robin, Jesse, and Brandon Friebur, Jessa Schaaff, Jake, Emily, Alex, and Larry Brownell, several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and her sisters-in-law Dolly Varley and Barbara Varley of Washington, CT. The family would like to express their gratitude to the wonderful people from Living Innovations and Cornerstone Hospice and to Dr. Sarah Sullivan and her assistant Lori for taking such good care of Verna. A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 11 a.m. at The First United Methodist Church, 34 South Main Street, Rochester, NH. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church Missions Fund, 34 South Main Street, Rochester, NH, 03867.