Janice “Peg” M. (McDurfee) Chalmers, 87, died after a long battle with kidney disease on September 9, 2018 at the Westwood Center Nursing Home in Keene, N.H. Peg was born on March 15, 1931, the daughter of Arthur Henry and Elizabeth (Rich) McDurfee in Burlington, Vermont. Peg was raised in Burlington and graduated from High School in 1949. She married Andrew James Chalmers, Sr. in 1951 and was married for 57 years until Andrew passed away in 2009.
In addition to her parents, Peg was predeceased by her brother Richard A. McDurfee of Burlington, Vermont.
Peg and Andy owned Keller’s Grocery store in South Sutton, NH in the mid 1970s-1980s and Peg was the Postmaster for 28 years until her retirement on November 3, 1995. She was recognized by the Town of Sutton in a proclamation for her service which read: “Such public dedication and civic duty rightly deserves recognition from the citizens of Sutton and the Board of Selectmen and Selectmen of the Town of Sutton, County of Merrimack, State of N.H. proclaimed the third of November 1995 be designated as Janice Margaret “Peg” Chalmers Day. Her late husband, Andy was the mailman for the Bradford to North Sutton route for 34 years until his retirement in 2006 at age 79.
As a young woman, Peg and Andy loved dancing the jitterbug to the bands in the 1940s and were very good at it. She loved spending time with her family especially on major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas. She was known for her wonderful apple pie, like none other. She crocheted afghan blankets for each of her children and grandchildren as a gift when they married. She had a doll collection she enjoyed even at 80 years young that included many hand crafted dolls such as the Dr. Ann doll. Peg’s faith was the source of her strength in life. Her greatest joy was hearing from her children, grand-children and great grand-children and was proud of them all.
Peg is survived by her daughter Robin Ann and husband Bruce Emmerton of Florida; her son Andrew James, Jr. and his wife Tepa (Carl) Chalmers of Nevada; her daughter Judy Ann and James Udell of California; and her daughter Elizabeth Wendy and husband Durwin Clark of Surry, N.H.; five grandchildren: Nicholas (Teresa), Sarah (James), Riann (Mike) and Mathias (Amanda) ; eight great-grandchildren: Christopher, Robyn, Damien, Sylis, Gauge, Seth, Riley and Emily. She had many nieces and nephews in Vermont. She was predeceased by her loving granddaughter Jennifer Chalmers-DeLaquil.
Friends and family may call at the Beth-El Bible Church, 13 Village Rd, Surry, NH 03431 on Saturday, September 22, 2018, from 3:30-4:30 p.m. with a funeral service at 4:30 p.m. A reception will be held after.
Burial will be in the Village Cemetery, Surry, N.H. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation at www.kidney.org where a donation many be made in honor of Janice Chalmers.
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