Delia M. Ganley

She was the daughter of William Mayo and Ora Marie (Hamel) Miller and was born in her parents’ home on South River Road in Bedford NH. She was the seventh of 11 children in the family. She attended schools in Bedford and graduated from Manchester West High School in 1948.

Her working career began in Manchester, as a department store sales clerk, soon becoming a store window fashion model.

She married Robert J. Ganley in August 1951, after his return from serving in the U.S. Army. She returned to working in the women’s fashion stores in Worcester, MA until the birth of their daughter and a move to Leicester, MA. As a stay-at-home mother, she was self-taught as a gourmet cook and baker. She prided herself as a skilled seamstress, making all clothing for her daughter and herself. She took on extensive projects designing and sewing dance costumes for a local dance studio troupe for several seasons. The Ganleys also enjoyed acting in several local Worcester County stage productions.

In the middle 1950’s she became a novelty for the era, working part-time as a female advertising salesperson for her local shopper media: The Leicester Drummer Gazette. In 1956, they relocated to Fairbanks, Alaska, then a U.S. Territory. When opportunities didn’t go as planned, the family returned to Leicester, Massachusetts. In the late 1950’s, she worked as the Department Secretary for International Studies at Clark University in Worcester. Moving back to her native New Hampshire in 1960 to the town of Sullivan, she took up her passion of garden-landscaping and bird watching. She developed “country skills” of growing large vegetable gardens, canning, knitting, rug braiding, and engaged in maple-sugaring. She annually enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and canoeing, along the Allagash & Penobscot Rivers in Maine, and at Baxter’s Log Haven in Millsfield, New Hampshire. Rye Beach, NH was her all-time favorite vacation place for eating lobsters on the shoreline and enjoying the ocean.

In the 1960’s, she worked as a secretary for the former Ashuelot National Bank and later at the Monadnock Children’s Center in Keene. Once her husband opened Ganley Advertising Agency at 25 Main Street in Keene, she devoted herself to copywriting, and the technical ad design elements of typesetting, graphic production, and bookkeeping. Upon moving to Hancock in 1965, the couple opened a second location there, and continued operating both agencies until their retirement.

Mrs. Ganley enjoyed taking on another house and property in Hancock, developing the gardens and landscaping to attract wildlife and birds. She committed untold hours, building brick pathways and stone walls. She was often the subject of many of her husband’s writings in his Monadnock Shopper News column: ‘Birds and Things’ which published for nearly 17 years. Her love for antiques and collectibles was evident by attending the many auctions of local notable auctioneers, and decorating her home with her treasures. She worked for NH Antique Co-op in Milford, as her final job, and then, settled into retirement, selling her own antiques and collectibles.

She was a member of the Audubon Society, the Monadnock Advertising Club, the Keene Chamber of Commerce, and many wildlife and conservation organizations.

Survivors include her daughter Linda, and husband, Robert Bergevin, of Surry, NH; a son, Robert Thoreau Ganley and wife, Mary Ellen Cote of Henniker, NH; a sister, Marion Handschumaker and a step-sister Darlene M. Brooks, both of Manchester, NH; two step-brothers Neal M. Miller of Woburn, MA and Earl Mayo Miller of Suffolk, Virginia; her step-mother, Noreta Miller, of Manchester; her grandchildren, Kristine Lynn Bergevin and her partner, Scott Churchward, of Whitby, Ontario, Canada, Kathleen Marie and her husband, Gregory D. Johnson, of Hingham, MA, Amelia, Gabrielle and Devin Ganley all of Henniker; a step-granddaughter, Belinda Jean Melanson and a step-great-grandson, Benjamin R. Melanson, both of Marlborough, NH; sister-in-laws, Carmel D. Miller of Manchester, Phyllis Miller of Searsport, ME, Barbara Miller of Ormond Beach, FL, Mary Lee Ganley of West Hartford, CT; a brother-in-law, James Benson Ganley of Bow, NH; and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, Robert J. Ganley, and all of her brothers and sisters.

In following Mrs. Ganley’s wishes, there will be private family services. Her desire was to be remembered by those who knew and loved her, to take time to enjoy the melody of songbirds, the brightness of moonlight and the formation of beautiful clouds which gave her such pleasure throughout her life.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Maplewood Nursing Home Activity Fund, c/o Steve Wilson, Activity Director, 201 River Road, Westmoreland, NH 03467. These activities meant very much to her while she was in residence there, and for her friends that she leaves behind.

Also, her family wishes contributions to be made to Alzheimer’s Association, Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter, 480 Pleasant Street. Watertown, MA 02472, or any other organization that supports the research, treatments, cures and prevention of this impactful disease; or volunteer at local nursing homes, and care facilities: every pair of hands, every hug or smile is meaningful. Lastly, please establish natural habitats and feeding stations for the songbirds in your living space, which would be a true living memorial to her.

The Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene, NH is assisting the family with the arrangements.