Doris N. Coolidge

PETERSHAM – Doris N. Coolidge, 83, of Petersham, died Saturday, April 7, 2012 in the St. Vincent’s Hospital, Worcester following a severe stroke.   She was born in Worcester, on April 15, 1928, the daughter of the late John Carlson and the late Ebba (Neylen) Nelson.   As a very young child, Mrs. Coolidge’s parents separated, and she grew up in Worcester with her mother and grandmother on Balder Road in the heart of Worcester’s Swedish district. Her grandmother had emigrated from Sweden, and Mrs. Coolidge was raised in a loving household full of Swedish language and culture.   Her mother remarried and they moved to Petersham when she was age 7. She was adopted by her new father, John Carroll Nelson of Petersham whom she loved and called father the rest of her life.   Mrs. Coolidge was graduated from Petersham High School with the Class of 1946. She was an excellent student and a gifted pianist. She was admitted to the New England Conservatory of Music in 1946 where she studied piano and counterpoint with Warren Storey Smith. She also worked in the school’s administration office where she supported several faculty members and conductors including the late Arthur Fiedler.   In 1948, Mrs. Coolidge married the late Horace O. Coolidge, Jr. also of Petersham. They lived in Concord where she worked at a local life insurance company while her husband completed his college studies at Northeastern University. In 1951, they moved to Carter Hill Farm in Petersham where they spent the next several years rebuilding the farm house and starting a family. Mrs. Coolidge went on to become a highly regarded teacher’s aide in the Petersham Center School focusing on special needs children. She was an avid reader who never stopped learning. She was a strong, independent woman who enjoyed gardening, walking in the woods, and caring for her family and friends. Even after the death of her husband in 2010, she continued to live independently on her hilltop farm.   Late in her life she learned that her biological father had remarried and that she had two half-sisters living nearby. One of her half-sisters found her and made the first connection. Her life was blessed to have had the love and friendship from her two half-sisters for the last decade of her life.   Mrs. Coolidge was a devoted member of her church where she served on many committees throughout her entire life. As a young woman she was instrumental in developing a religious education program at the church. She was a trustee of the Petersham Memorial Library, and was very knowledgeable about both family and local history, serving as a member of the Beverly Historical Society and as a member and volunteer docent of the Petersham Historical Society.   She is survived by her son, Curtis A. Coolidge, his wife Katherine K. of Belchertown, MA, and their children Carter A. Coolidge of Castle Rock, CO and Collin J. Coolidge of Broomfield, CO; by her daughter in-law Christina L. Coolidge of Sherman Oaks, CA, and her children, Joseph T. Coolidge of Tulare, CA, Louis C. Coolidge of Clovis, CA, and Karen M. Coolidge of Fresno, CA; by her great grandchild, Fiona L. Coolidge; by her sister, Viola N. Kiklis of Somerville, MA; by her half-sisters Joanne Volpe of Brockton, MA, and Barbara Morrissey of Hanson, MA.   She was predeceased by her husband who died in 2010, by her daughter, Susan M. Coolidge who died in 1976, by her son, John C. Coolidge who died in 2003, by her sister Lois (Nelson Ahlstrom) Valley who died in 1999, by her half-sister Louise (Carlson) Booth who died in 1995, and by her half-brother John Carlson who died in 1997.   Calling hours will be held Saturday, April 14, 2012 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the First Congregational Parish, Unitarian church, On The Common, Petersham.   A graveside service will be held on August 11, 2012 at 11:30 a.m. in the East Street Cemetery Petersham.  A potluck picninc will follow at the Carter Hill Farm, Nichewaug Rd., Petersham.   In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made in her memory to the Petersham Memorial Library, 23 Common Street or to the Petersham Historical Society, PO Box 364, Petersham, MA 01366.   For more information or to sign our online guest book please visit www.fiskemurphymack.com.   Fiske-Murphy & Mack Funeral Home, 110 New Athol Road, Orange is directing arrangements.   $(document).ready(function(){ });