Cynthia M. (Hanshaw) Merrill

Cynthia M. Merrill Winchester, NH – Cynthia M. (Hanshaw) Merrill, 70, died Tuesday, May 29, 2012, at the Cheshire Medical Center in Keene.      Cynthia was born in Athol, Massachusetts, July 23, 1941 the daughter of Lawrence E. and Leontine (Valley) Hanshaw.  She grew up in Athol and attended Athol schools.  She had also lived in Rindge, Marlboro and Gilsum before moving to Winchester in 1986.        Cynthia and her husband operated Merrill’s Cars and Parts in Marlboro for many years and Merrill’s Oil Undercoating in Gilsum for 10 years.  She was an avid coin collector and occasional stamp collector.  She also enjoyed gardening, bird watching, the outdoors and life in general.      Her husband, companion and soul mate of 38 years, Fred J. Merrill, Jr., died (12-26-2003).  She leaves a daughter, Sherry Wilder of NH; two sisters, Carole A. Burns and her companion Steve Newton and Leanne Cummings and her husband Michael, both of Orange, MA; a sister-in-law, Sandra Hanshaw of Athol, MA and several nieces, nephews and cousins.  She was predeceased by two sons, Sherman and Carl Wilder, a daughter, Cheryl Wilder and her brother, Lawrence J. Hanshaw.      A graveside service will be held Friday, June 1, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. at the Sullivan Center Cemetery in Sullivan, NH with her nephew, John A. Masaitis, officiating.  There are no calling hours and in lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions be made to:  a charity of the donor’s choice. Higgins-O’Connor Funeral Home, 146 Main St., Athol, MA is directing arrangements.  For more information or to share a memory with the family go to: www.higginsoconnorfuneralhome.com. $(document).ready(function(){ });