Shirley Marie Keniston

Shirley Marie (Brown) Keniston, 85, formerly of Ashland, passed away in her sleep Jan. 24, 2018 at the Belknap County Nursing Home after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Shirley was born Dec. 10, 1932 in Ashland NH to Marvin Harry Brown Sr. and Laura Grace (Moore) Brown. She was the second born of 12 children, all delivered at home. She was married to Harold Dean Keniston on June 27, 1953. Shirley was a very hard worker from a young age. Along with helping to raise her siblings, she worked part time jobs during school and summers. She was a talented basketball player and loved to swim. After getting married and starting a family Shirley worked various jobs. She worked as a housekeeper at the Holderness Boy's School. She worked at the Asbestos mill in Meredith and retired from the L.W. Packard Woolen Mill in Ashland running spinning frames. Stories are told that she was so good at her job that she sometimes ran 2 of the largest frames by herself when it took 2 operators to run just one similar machine. In the early 1980's she was recognized as Employee of the Year of over 300 co-workers! She and Harold got to go to Washington D.C. Shirley and Harold were known as "Grandma" and "Grandad" to everybody, and life revolved around grandchildren and then great grandchildren. After having a 20'x40' inground pool put in in the early 1980's, Grandma's Pool became the place to spend time in the summer with countless friends and family. Scores of kids were taught to swim there. Everyone was welcome. In the winter she hosted Sunday dinners and knitted many hats and mittens. Shirley was predeceased by her husband of over 50 years, Harold in 2003; brothers William Brown, Richard Brown and sister Edna Tyrell and her infant sister Marion. Shirley is survived by her son Marvin "Butch" Keniston and his wife Hilary of Meredith and daughter Rachel Ciampa and her husband Rob of New Hampton, her grandchildren, Toby Knowlton and his wife Candace of Laconia along with great grand-children Jack, Sam and Libby, Nick Knowlton of Ashland and great grandchildren Isaiah and Harmony, Jody Passanante and husband John of Pennsylvania along with great grandchildren Anna, Evie, Zoey, and John, Charlotte Keniston-Joo and husband Arnold of Baltimore MD, along with great grandson Cole, Aaron Keniston of Denver CO, her siblings, June Keniston, Marvin Brown Jr. and Gary Brown of Meredith, Robert Brown of Virginia, Carole Berry and Linda Mutney of Ashland and Bonnie Fogg of Bristol, A graveside service and celebration of life will be held at a later date, to be determined by the family. The family would like to thank the Peabody Home and the Belknap County Nursing Home for the excellent care Grandma received.

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Shirley Marie Keniston

December 10, 1932 - January 24, 2018