Rachel C. Conides

Rachel was born June 24, 1930 in Keene, NH, the daughter of John Contas and Zoy (Sarkavos) Contas. A very bright student, she was a 1948 graduate of Keene High School and was accepted at Duke University. She then started at Keene Public Library, working her way up to librarian, which fit perfectly with her lifelong love of books and word games.

Rachel was a voracious reader and always had a book going. She was an excellent crossword puzzler and a formidable Scrabble player. She also had a longtime interest in TV detective and mystery shows, spanning many decades from Perry Mason and 77 Sunset Strip to Columbo, Murder She Wrote and many others.

She was working at the Library when she met Ernie Conides who was running the Keene Diner at the time. They fell in love and were married in 1963. A family followed and Rachel left the workforce to raise her children. In addition to being a wife and mother Rachel had many other talents. Gardening, making clothes, all manner of arts and crafts are just a few examples. Like many members of Keene’s close-knit Greek community she was an outstanding cook whose skill at pastry-making delighted many a friend and family member with delicious holiday treats over the years.

She returned to the workforce and spent many years at Peerless Insurance in Keene. Her department was one of the first to be computerized. She took to it quickly and used them until well into her 80s. Facebook and online solitaire were her favorites. She also constantly tried out new recipes she found on the Internet.

Rachel loved to entertain and the Conides family home was a destination for Christmas Eve with her extended family and the Easter morning celebration after the midnight service was a truly memorable event.

Later in life Rachel took great joy in spending time with her grandchildren, and spending winters in Florida with Ernie and her siblings.

Rachel was truly loved and will be deeply missed by her son John Conides, of North Andover, Mass; grandchildren, Caitlin Smith of Keene and Austin Smith of Swanzey; son-in-law Robert Smith of Swanzey; sister, Stella Kiritsy of Hilton Head, South Carolina; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

She was predeceased by her husband Ernest Conides; daughter Christine; daughter Andrea Smith; and siblings Charles Contas, Gregory Contas and James Condon.

Calling hours will be held at Fletcher Funeral Home, 33 Marlboro Street, Keene, NH on Monday, January 29th from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. A funeral service will be help on Tuesday, January 30th at 11:00 AM at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 70 West Street, Keene, NH. Burial will follow at Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Ave, Keene, NH.