Lydia D. Johnson passed away peacefully on April 27th, 2019 at the age of 83 in Bedford, NH after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s.  She was in the loving hands of her primary caretaker Heidi at the time of her death.

Lydia is survived by her children Paul Johnson of Nashua, NH (wife Wendy), Philip Johnson of Brookline, NH (wife Karen), Peter Johnson of Nashua, NH and Pamela Hores of Columbus, OH.  She is also survived by her grandchildren Andrew Johnson of Nashua, NH, Cameron Johnson of Dover, NH, Audrey Johnson of Brookline, NH, Jeffrey LeCours of Merrimack, NH (wife Natasha), Stephanie Infante of Methuen, MA (husband Hasnel), Nicole Hores of Columbus, OH and great grandchildren Sydney and Madison LeCours and Liliana Infante. She is also survived by her brother John Doolittle of Vienna, VA and her sister Betsy Freeman of Meriden, CT.

She is predeceased by her ex-husband and father of her four children, Arnold R Johnson.

Lydia was born in New Haven, CT on October 18, 1935, daughter of Franklin Malcolm Doolittle and Frances (Cooper) Doolittle.  She studied at Vassar College, Pembroke College (Brown University) and earned degree in Cytotechnology from the Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow, NY.  She worked at various labs and hospitals as a cytotechnologist in NH, MA, VA and PA throughout her working life.

Her life’s travels led her from Hamden, CT to homes in West Islip NY, Amherst, Milford, West Lebanon and Nashua, NH as well as Oil City, PA, Butler, PA, Essex, MA, Harrisonburg, VA and Clearwater, FL.

Lydia’s hobbies included gardening, going to flea markets looking for bargains, politics, tennis, music and singing.

She was a member of the Souhegan Valley Chorus and the Radical Reds Chapter of the Red Hat Society.

She loved her family and friends with her whole heart and was a “Mom” to many more than just her own children. She was a great listener and gave the best hugs and advice. She was a kind and caring person and loved all animals, especially her cats. She also loved all things seafood, but especially a hot buttery Connecticut-style lobster roll.

Her great wisdom and wonderful smile will be sorely missed.

Calling hours will be held on Friday, May 17th 2019 at Smith & Heald Funeral Home, 63 Elm Street, Milford, NH from 5-7pm.  At her request, Lydia’s ashes will be sprinkled into Lake Chocorua, in the shadow of Mount Chocorua in Tamworth, NH where her family vacationed as a child. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to the Humane Society for Greater Nashua (www.hsfn.org) or the Cure Alzheimer’s fund (https://curealz.org/). To share a memory or offer a condolence, please go to www.smith-heald.com. The family would like to thank the staff at the Arbors of Bedford and VNA Hospice for their loving care.