Keith Wilson

Thursday, January 7, 2010

MERRIMACK – Keith Wilson, 24, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at Community Hospice House in Merrimack on Dec. 30 from complications related to his five-year recovery from brain cancer.

Keith was born at home on May 2, 1985, in Nashua. He spent his early childhood years in Wilton and lived in Amherst for the past 14 years. He was a 2003 graduate of Souhegan High School.

Keith was an inspiration to those around him for his unwavering ability to express love, gratitude, and joy in each moment of his life. He embraced the challenges of cancer and short-term memory loss with humor and grace, saying “It could be worse!” and continuously thanked his mother, father, caregivers and doctors.

Keith was a free spirit who valued his family above all else and enjoyed simple pleasures. Prior to his illness, he was an inquisitive, athletic young man who enjoyed friends, math, music, Frisbee, mountain biking, hockey, skiing and playing the drums. After his illness he continued to enjoy solving the Rubik’s cube, playing card games, eating ice cream and volunteer work.

His loving family includes his parents, Geoffrey and Mary (Black) Wilson; sisters Michelle, Heather and Danielle Wilson; brother-in-law, Nate Folan; as well as his grandparents, Raymond and Evelyn Wilson, and Ella Black, along with many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that donations be made to Stepping Stones, which has been such a beautiful part of Keith’s life for the past five years, www.krempelsfoundation.org/ steppingstones.shtml, or Community Hospice House, www.hhc.org, which provided a warm and loving environment for Keith to spend his final days.

A Mass of Christian burial was held at St. Patrick’s Church, 34 Amherst St., Milford, on Saturday, Jan. 2, at 10:30 a.m. Immediately following the funeral Mass, a celebration of his life was held at the Crowne Plaza, 2 Somerset Parkway, Nashua.

Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm St., Milford, handled arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com.