Elisabeth Correlle of Gilmanton, NH, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 7, 2024, her 92nd birthday, at Peabody Place in Franklin, NH. Bette was born in North Reading, Massachusetts, the daughter of Harry and Hildred (Eisenhaure) Merriman. She lived on the Eisenhaure Farm where they operated both the local school buses as well as grew hot house tomatoes that they sold to Boston restaurants. She graduated from Reading High School in the Class of 1949 and then went on to Framingham Teachers College and Andover Junior College. She married and raised three children with her late husband Richard Grant in the neighboring town of Andover, Massachusetts.
Bette then married the late Bernard Correlle and moved south to be part of the endless summer sunshine of Kissimmee, Florida, where they lived and worked for many years. At 60, she attended the University of Central Florida, where she received an adult education teaching degree. She taught many to be safe school bus drivers for the Osceola School District Transportation Center where she then retired. In retirement, they both loved being snowbirds by following the sun from North to South, back and forth. They made many, many good friends along the way each year. They eventually decided to stay permanently in the North to be close to family in Massachusetts and New Hampshire area.
At her home on “The Hill”, Bette with her friend Cliff enjoyed tending the vegetable garden and the many different varieties of flowers growing on her porch with a beautiful mountain view. She loved to feed and watch the wild birds and the deer that visited, read the Parade section of the Sunday newspaper, complete word searches, and put together jigsaw puzzles.
Last year, Bette moved into a lovely, assisted living apartment at Peabody Place in Franklin NH. She met lots of new friends; Ed thank you for your patience and guidance, Sophie for your social fun gathering skills, Betsy for your smiles and Terri for your daily “Hello Bette” and your get-well cards. She loved playing and winning at BINGO and received the best of care from the whole staff; Nurses, LNA’s, everyone: reception desk staff to maintenance crew. They all knew at mealtime, she wanted her soup first with the appropriate spoon, her special coffee cup and a big dish (or two) of classic vanilla ice cream for dessert! Thank you to all on the 2nd floor and to everyone at Peabody Place.
Bette is survived by her children, daughters Catherine Raulick and Sandra Grant and her son Peter Grant and their spouses. Bette also leaves Bernie’s children, Bernadette, Sandra, Leona, Patricia, Mary, Anne Marie, and Paul, as well their combined families full of many Grandchildren and Grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she is predeceased by her brother Richard Merriman.
A celebration of Bette’s life will be held on Monday, March 18 at 11:00 AM to Noon, followed by a service at Noon at the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow Street, North Reading. Immediately followed by a graveside interment at Riverside Cemetery in North Reading, alongside her late husband Bernie Correlle.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to the Sunshine Activity fund for The Peabody Place Assisted Living residents in Franklin, NH.
