Alisan Buckley Henderson

Alisan Buckley Henderson, 94, passed away on August 1, 2026, in the very capable, loving care of the nurses, aides, Hospice care-givers and fellow residents in the Memory Care Wing of Langdon Place, Keene, NH. Born August 27, 1931, in Wilmington, Delaware, the youngest of 4 to Edward S. and Alice S. Buckley, she grew up mostly in Wayne, PA , graduating from The Baldwin School ’49 and the University Of Delaware ’53 with a degree in Home Economics. During her years at Baldwin, formal dances were held where she met and fell in love with Richard Henderson, a student at The Episcopal Academy. After she graduated from the University they married and lived briefly in New London, CT, where Richard was serving in the Navy at the nearby submarine base. Their daughter, Alice, was born there, and they moved back to the Philadelphia area.

Throughout Alisan’s adult life she put her Home Economics degree to good use teaching nursery school, sewing many of her own and family clothes, costumes, curtains, upholstery and pillows, cooked spectacularly delicious meals and baked goods and managed the family finances. Together she and Richard designed, dug, planted and maintained landscaping, fruit trees, vegetable and flower gardens from which she harvested to enhance the meals.

An avid swimmer, (she never passed up a pool, river, lake, ocean or frigid mountain stream) Alisan was a life guard, camper then counselor at a summer camp in Thetford, VT for many years. This introduced her to extensive backpacking in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. She and Richard continued to hike there as well as in the Adirondacks, Green Mountains, Blue Ridge Mts of VA, Colorado and Wyoming Rockies, California Sierras and in Arizona. Their vacations revolved around a good hiking trail. In her early 60’s she began to swim in organized ocean races along the New Jersey shore continuing for 20 years to bring home countless trophies and medals. She was a great supporter of the Arts including the ballet, orchestra, art museums and historical museums in the Philadelphia area and beyond. She loved birdwatching and could exactly imitate a white throated sparrow or a screech owl.

Alisan was a life-long, devout member of St. Martin”s Episcopal Church in Radnor, PA, where she taught Sunday School, sang in the choir, served on altar guild, assisted in the office, and organized bake sales, Christmas Bazaars and summer fairs. She could always be counted on when needed to lend a helping hand. She also volunteered for over 60 years at the Bryn Mawr Hospital. She and Richard sang in the Wayne Oratorio Society choir for many years. Spending time playing and laughing with her 3 grandchildren was her great joy and she bent over backwards to be at every family event and milestone. In 2022 she and Richard moved to Langdon Place of Keene, NH, to be near family. Alisan enthusiastically joined the community of staff and residents helping when able, bringing laughter to all, making friends and greeting everyone with her beaming smile. Known affectionately as “Toots” to nieces, nephews, grandchildren, greatgrands and many friends, her good nature and sense of humor is legendary as is her work ethic, as is her love, compassion and caring advocacy for extended family and friends. She brightened everyone’s day and she will be greatly missed.

Alisan was pre-deceased by her husband of 70 years, Richard Henderson, her parents and 3 older siblings Barbara (Bob) Mallinckrodt, Edward (Buck) Buckley, Jr., John (Jack) Buckley and two nieces, Barbara Osborne and Lucy Filmer as well as three dear sisters-in-law: Meme Price, Betsy Buckley and Betty Henderson.

Her brother-in-law and lifelong friend, Herbert (Hobey) Henderson passed shortly after her death.

Alisan is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Alice Henderson Funk and Mark Funk of Roxbury, NH, 3 grandchildren Alisan Funk of Stockholm, Sweden, Emily Funk Delldonna of Alfred, ME, and Peter Afton Funk (Gabrielle) of Raymond, ME, 5 great-grandchildren (Adelaide, Jack, Desmond, Wilfred and Walter) and 10 nieces and nephews for whom she was like a second mother: Betsy (Lewis), Spike, Mike (Judy), Lydia, Zippy, Buck, Doug, Bill, Jan(John), and Chad.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 11 AM at St. James Episcopal Church, Keene, NH, reception at the church following the service. Interment will be at a later date in the Washington Memorial Chapel Cemetery in Valley Forge Park, PA, alongside her husband.

In lieu of flowers please send a donation in Alisan’s memory payable to: The Alzheimer’s Association c/o Langdon Place Of Keene, 136A Arch St. Keene, NH 03431