Marlene Newell

Danville, Vermont: Marlene (Molly) W. Newell, 80, of McDowell Road, passed away peacefully at the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital June 23, 2015, in Saint Johnsbury, Vermont.

Molly was born in Burlington, Vermont, on July 4, 1934, daughter of the late Stephen Waterman, Sr. and Mable Bernice (Clark) Waterman. She was raised and educated in Burlington and graduated from Edmunds High School in Burlington, where she was a standout basketball player. After working at the University of Vermont, she left Burlington to become a dedicated military wife and mother, and in the years to follow she made a home for her family wherever they were called to duty - from Germany to Kentucky, Washington DC, Kansas, Virginia, and Massachusetts. Regardless of where she lived, though, she frequently returned to Danville, her true home.

Molly dedicated her life to serving military families and communities. She set an example of selfless service and instilled in her children the value of working on behalf of a greater good. She was the epitome of patience, strength and grace as she watched her children follow in those same footsteps - all serving their country whether in the military or in politics and government - and as she endured her family's many deployments in harm's way around the world.

Molly loved music, and she sang for many years in military chapel choirs. She was also an accomplished equestrian, and delighted in trail riding and foxhunting with her friends and children. Molly was passionate about historic preservation, and she was instrumental in the restoration of the Custer House Museum in Fort Riley, KS.

In 1985, she returned to Danville to restore the family farm and open the Broadview Farm Bed and Breakfast, where she would spend the next thirty years entertaining friends from around the world. She would eventually return to her penchant for preserving history by taking on the challenging restoration of the historic Old North Church in North Danville, Vermont, where she remained an active committee member until she passed.

Molly was a gift to her family, the communities she lived in, and to her country.

Molly is survived by son Michael, his wife Dale and their children, Katie, Jake, and Deven and her great-grandson Ryin of Albuquerque, New Mexico; son Tim, his wife Beth, and their children, Matthew and Christopher Kai of Mill Valley, California; her son Peter, his wife Vianne, and their children, Ian and Tanner of Palo Alto California; and daughter Nancy Jo, her husband Chris, their children Christopher, Gavin, Zachary and Madelyn of Williamsburg, Virginia.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, August 8, 2015, at the Old North Church in North Danville, Vermont, the Rev. Bob Sargent officiating. Burial will follow at the Danville Green Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made in Molly's name to the Old North Church, c/o the Danville Historical Society, P.O. Box 274, Danville, Vermont 05828.

Memories and condolences may be shared privately at www.saylesfh.com.