DUBLIN -- Rosemary P. James died on March 7 at the age of 93. She was born in Rochester, New York, to Mary (Heffron) and George E. Puddington. After the early loss of her mother she spent her teenage years in Reno, Nevada, with her father and younger sister, Georgiana. While attending nursing school in San Francisco, she met her husband, Alexander "Sandy" James, who had just completed service in the Pacific in WWII as a Marine. She left medical school to marry Sandy in 1948 and they lived in San Francisco, where he practiced architecture. They returned to Sandy's hometown of Dublin in 1956.

Rosemary brought with her a pure sense of the Wild West: There was something open and expansive about her. She favored blue jean skirts and wore Indian jewelry. As a practicing Catholic, she was deeply spiritual and had a way of including the concept of a higher power in most conversations. Her lack of convention could knock people a little off-kilter, but she was first and foremost funny, generous, and kind. It was hard not to be drawn in by her candor and quick wit.

She worked full time as a nurse at hospitals including Bellevue in New York, McLean in Massachusetts, in Keene and Peterborough, and at Beach Hill Farm in Dublin. Later, her work included private care for friends and neighbors.

She loved going for a drive. Twice she brought her children on camping trips across the country. Closer to home and later in life, she loved making the rounds to Carr's store for gas, to the library for mystery novels, to the police station to report breaking news to Dana and Jimmy, and finally to the General Store for her daily newspapers and a chocolate bar. She referred to the transfer station as "The Social Club."

In her last years, her children witnessed how she was warmly greeted by the many people with whom she shared intimate connections through the varied facets of her life: church, prayer groups, book clubs, art classes, nursing, and many circles of friends. Her world was complete, especially with the arrival of her six grandchildren. Becoming a grandmother charged Rosemary with a renewed sense of purpose; here was a whole new audience to entertain with her stories.

After 62 years of living in the house on Lake Road designed by her late husband, she died in the care of her children. She is survived by her son Cartney, his wife, Rachel, and their daughter Emma; her daughter Susan, and her sons, Abbott and Alexander; her daughter Bay; her daughter Rosemary and her husband, David Wolpe, and their children, Olivia, Meredith and James; and her twin sons, Henry and Robert. The family wishes to extend their tremendous appreciation for the loving care she received from the staff at Pheasant Wood, HCS Services, and Monadnock Adult Care Center in Jaffrey. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 7, at 2 p.m. at the Dublin Community Church. Donations may be made to the Dublin Fire Company in Rosemary's memory.

Published in The Monadnock Ledger-Transcript on Mar. 22, 2018