Eva Abigail (Brown) Raitto, 82, longtime resident of Troy, died peacefully September 26, 2015 in the comfort of her daughter’s home with family close by after a period of failing health.
She was born in Bradford, NH on September 12, 1933, daughter of late Eva A. (Ingalls) and Norman C. Brown. Her family moved to Keene in 1941. She attended Bradford and Keene schools.
She married the love of her life, Alvin R. Raitto, on July 20, 1963, at the Congregational Church in Troy, New Hampshire, where they resided and enjoyed a full life together.
Eva was a long-time employee of MPB (Timken) for more than 40 years, where she worked in various roles, including the quality control department. She took on the role of Brownie troop leader in Troy in the mid-80s, worked with the Girl Scouts to help them earn various patches, including embroidery. She was a cancer survivor who also spent some time volunteering at Cedarcrest in Keene and took on fundraising activities for Cystic Fibrosis.
Mrs. Raitto and her husband Alvin enjoyed traveling in their motorhome to various spots around New England and favorite yearly vacation spots in Kissimmee, Florida and at Disney World in Orlando, FL. She was an avid sports fan, including NASCAR and her beloved Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. Other hobbies included upholstering, embroidery, sewing, acrylic paints, dabbling in wine making, canning and freezing vegetables, family barbecues and watching her collection of John Wayne movies.
A loving wife, mother and “Nana”, Eva was well known for being a straight-shooter with a soft side for those close to her. Her candor and honesty was somewhat of a rare personality trait that is sure to be missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Survivors include her daughter, Kimberly Nalette and her husband, Don, of Jaffrey, granddaughter Holly Charlonne and her husband, David, of Jaffrey, grandson Timothy LeMoine Jr., of Dublin, grandson Anthony Deiana, of Jaffrey, and four great-granddaughters, Morgann, Melora, Samantha and Isabella, soon to be great-grandson Anthony, her “son”, Lucien Duranleau, his wife Katy and their two daughters, of North Carolina, brother Norman Brown and his wife, Jane, and William Brown, all of Florida, Wayne Brown of Keene, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Her husband Alvin Raitto, sister Hattie Todd and brothers Ona, Benjamin and Ted Brown all died earlier.
A graveside service for both Eva and Alvin Raitto will be held in the family lot at: Mountain View Cemetery, Troy, with military honors for Alvin in the spring of 2016. Donations can be made in memory of Eva A. Raitto to: Home Health Care and Hospice, 312 Marlboro St. Keene, NH. 03431. All services are under the care of Cheshire Family Funeral Home, 46 South Winchester St. Swanzey, NH. 03446. www.cheshirefamilyfuneralhome.com
