Obit: Juliet Lamy Hatch ... enjoyed reading

ROCHESTER - Juliet Lamy Hatch died Nov. 13 at Watson Fields, Dover. She was  was born May 2, 1917, in Rochester.

A devoted wife of 64 years, mother to three daughters, grandmother to six, great-grandmother to six, daughter, sister, and beloved friend. Her husband, Jim Hatch, died in 2004. Julie and Jim met at a high school dance, marrying after Jim's 1940 college graduation.

Poised for an acting career, Julie had key roles in local productions. Putting that aside, she became a homemaker, supporting her husband's career. Once children came along, she dedicated herself to raising their family, whom she put first. She was a gifted seamstress, creating many of her daughters' clothes; a Brownie Troop leader; drama coach for her children's elementary school; volunteer at the hospital gift shop. She enjoyed skiing with her family and traveling to business conventions with her husband. Julie was a loving grandmother extraordinaire. Her best friend since childhood, Helen Story, and her husband, John (Jim's best friend since fourth grade), spent many happy times and vacations together.

Julie could be seen walking wherever she lived or visited. Florida winters, or New Hampshire summers. She regularly walked well over a mile several times daily. Any challenge softened with a good walk! A voracious reader, a favorite pastime was browsing in the local library. Living in her own home until age 95, it was difficult for her to move to Bellamy Fields November, 2012.

She will be dearly missed by her surviving family members - her daughters: Priscilla Jones of Wolfeboro, Jane Preston of Sarasota, Florida, Judith Hatch Orme of Rockport, Maine; sons-in-law: Sheldon Jones and Gordon Orme; grandchildren: Todd Preston of San Francisco, Calif.; Sarah Jones Watts of Concord, Massachusetts; Abigail Jones Herriott of Providence, R.I.; Bree Preston Watson of Sarasota, Florida; Hayden Orme of Portsmouth; and Zachary Orme of Boston; great-grandchildren: Skylar Watson; Phoebe Herriott; Eben Watson; Angus Watts; Eloise Herriott; Ozias Watson. She will also be sadly missed by her lifelong friend, Helen Story, of Dover.

Julie was cremated. A celebration of her life will be held in May, 2014.