1916 – 2016

SOUTH PARIS — Louise E. Twitchell, 100, died Friday evening at Market Square Health Care Center in South Paris after a long period of failing health.

She was born May 7, 1916 in Mechanic Falls to the Rev. W. Merton Snow and Lena Holman Snow. Her mother died a few days after her birth and she was raised by her father and stepmother, Zilpha Dingley Snow. During her growing up years she lived in Bridgton, Concord, N.H., Belmont, N.H. and Danville, Quebec. She attended the New England School of Theology in Boston and graduated in 1937.

On Oct. 12, 1938 she married Albert E. Twitchell and they made their home in Oxford until Albert died in 1998 and Louise moved to Market Square in 2009. They had six children, 11 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Louise was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, always ready to cuddle the newest baby in the family. She spent many hours of her life knitting, crocheting and doing crafts, most of which were given to children or grandchildren or donated to a worthy cause.

Even after moving to the nursing home she spent her time knitting, crocheting, reading and doing crossword puzzles. She was known at the nursing home for her humble and caring spirit and was loved by both staff and residents. She could often be found wheeling herself around the corridors and stopping to visit or wave to people as she went by.

Louise was active in her church for many years and was a long-time Sunday school teacher and deaconess. She had the gift of hospitality and often had guests in her home for Sunday dinner after church services. She also hosted traveling Vacation Bible School teachers during the summer months for many years. Louise loved music, especially the old hymns, and continued playing the piano into her 90s.

She is survived by her children, Margaret Knightly and husband, Harold, Roger Twitchell and wife, Margaret, Donald Twitchell, Phyllis Hobbs, and Joanne Volpe and husband, Paul; her grandchildren, Jeffrey and David Knightly, Arnold, Brian, Douglas, and Jonathan Twitchell, Leon Twitchell and Diana Landry, Kimberly Congrove, Benjamin, and Bethany Volpe, and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her husband, Albert; her parents; her sisters, Miriam Priebe and Kathleen Tyler; her son, Lincoln Twitchell; her son-in-law, William Hobbs; and great-grandsons, Matthew Farr and Joseph Knightly.