OBITUARY: Martha A. Wagner, 55

Martha A. (Adie) Wagner, 55, of Merrimack, NH passed away peacefully due to complications from melanoma on Aug. 20, 2012, at the Community Hospice House in Merrimack.

Hers was a life of service and devotion to others – her community, students, fellow teachers, and most especially her sons, Matthew and Andrew.

Martha graduated from Chelmsford High School, received her Bachelors degree from Bridgewater State College, and went on to earn a Masters of Education degree in Special Education from Rivier College. She began her career as a teacher at the Elliott School in Lowell, MA, and also taught in the Bedford, NH public school district. For the past 20 years she taught in Amherst, NH public schools, most recently first and second grade at the Clark-Wilkins School. She said her greatest professional joy was the moment when her students realized they could read.

A born teacher, Martha will long be remembered for the legacy of love for learning that she imparted to the hundreds of students whose lives were touched by her years of dedication in the classroom. Her patience and kindness in working with each student will never be forgotten.

In 2010 she was elected to serve as a library trustee for the town of Merrimack. Her love of reading and commitment to literacy motivated her to work tirelessly to modernize the library and ensure access to books for all the town's residents.

She took strength from her faith, serving her church, Our Lady of Mercy, as a lector, CCD teacher, and in other volunteer roles over the years.

Always ready to get the family together, the family fun at Martha’s Fourth of July parties, where handstand contests in the pool, burgers on the grill, and gourmet hot fudge ice cream topping were annual traditions. The gentle spirit and dry sense of humor that Martha shared with family and friends will be missed by all.

Martha was blessed to be surrounded by a loving and supportive staff at the Clark-Wilkins School in Amherst. This team, led by Victoria Demgard, Victoria Robinson, Kathy Johnson, and Betsy Heald, supported Martha and her family with love, nourishment, and companionship during the difficult treatment periods over the last few years.

Martha was the daughter of the late Richard. D. and Julia A. (Vaughan) Adie of Chelmsford, MA.

She leaves her loving and supportive husband of 27 years, Mark A. Wagner. She dedicated her life to her two sons, Matthew A. Wagner of Lowell, MA and Andrew T. Wagner of Merrimack NH. She is also survived by her siblings: Donna (Adie) Birrow of Chelmsford, MA, Richard D. Adie, Jr. of Ithaca, NY, Garrett V. Adie of Londonderry, NH, and their families. She also leaves her godfather Col. Cyrus W. Bassett of Jericho, VT, and her goddaughters Katherine F. Birrow of Washington, DC and Mary Katherine Adie of Ithaca, NY. She also leaves her mother-in-law Barbara Wagner of South Yarmouth, MA, and her husband’s sisters and brothers and their families.

Calling hours will be in the Rivet Funeral Home, 425 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack, NH Thursday from 2-4 and 6-9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Our Lady of Mercy Church, 16 Baboosic Lake Rd, Merrimack Friday at 9:30 AM. Burial will follow in Last Rest Cemetery, Merrimack. In lieu of flowers Martha had requested that contributions be sent to: Merrimack Public Library Development Fund, Merrimack Public Library 470 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack, NH 03054.