Martha J. Tenney

Herman and Beatrice (Hoyt) Oberle welcomed their daughter into the world on September 23, 1932, in Sandown, NH. Martha graduated from Sanborn Seminary in Kingston, NH.

Martha married E. David Tenney while in nurse’s training in Concord, NH. Together, they raised five children.

Martha began her career of helping many, first at the former Elliot Community Hospital now Cheshire Medical Center in Keene, in the medical records department, a career that spanned over 28 years, 23 of which were as the director of the medical records department at the hospital. It was during these 28 years that Martha created many wonderful friendships with those she was able to help in many different capacities at the hospital, along with her cherished co-workers.

She was a member of the NH Medical Record Association serving as president as well as holding many other offices. She was a representative of the House of Delegates three times, at the National Medical Records Association.

Martha was a member of the NH, New England, and the National Tumor Registrars Association and severed for many years as Parliamentarian for the NH and New England Associations, for which, she was given the "Most Valuable Member" award. She was awarded the Gilsum citizen of the year award in 2021.

Following her retirement from the hospital in 1993, Martha, not able to sit idle, continued to work at the former Cheshire Medical Associates in Keene, and later as a secretary at Keene High School, working with the NH Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Department, as well as volunteering at the Cheshire Medical Center.

Martha’s favorite hobby was traveling and her most memorable trip was to China in 1998 where her youngest granddaughter was born and subsequently adopted into the family.

She will be greatly missed by many, especially her family she cherished with all her heart, her children, Eugene "Dave" Tenney Jr. and his life partner Paula Gillis, of Stow, ME, Karen Mattson and her husband Weldon of Swanzey, NH, Russell P. Tenney and his wife Wendy of Swanzey; her grandchildren, Gene, Katie, Inga, Shanna, Ryan, Caitlin, Steven Jr., Aleah, Jacob, Mallory, Emma, Joshua, Chelsey; 22 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; her daughters-in-law, Robin Tenney of Colorado Springs, CO, Lynn Tenney of Swanzey, Anne Young of Florida; and many nieces nephews and extended family members. Her husband of 55 years, E. David Tenney, Sr., two sons, Walter J. Tenney and Steven C. Tenney, Sr., a daughter-in-law Margaret "Peggy" Tenney, her brothers Herman J. Oberle and Roger Oberle, and a sister Carol Ann Hall, predeceased her.

A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at 11:00am in the St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial with committal prayers will follow the funeral mass in the Centennial Cemetery, Centennial Road, Gilsum. All are welcome to attend these services.

For those who wish, donations in lieu of flowers may be made in Mrs. Tenney’s memory to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741; or to Hospice of HCS, PO Box 564, Keene, NH 03431.