On a beautiful Georgia spring day, March 9, 2017, with blue skies and warm sun shining, Arleene (Mary) Boyle Giles peacefully passed away at her home.
She was born on Nov. 3, 1927, in Lincoln, N.H., to Barbara Switser Boyle and William Joseph Boyle. She graduated from Portsmouth (N.H.) High School, Class of 1945. Arleene then graduated from Wentworth-Douglass Hospital School of Nursing in Dover, N.H., in 1948. She became an R.N. and worked briefly at Nashua (N.H.) Memorial Hospital.
She married Kenneth Smith Giles (Lt. Col. USAF-ret., also deceased) in 1950. They lived in Ft. Worth, Texas, Enid, Okla., Selma, Ala., Laredo, Texas, Salina, Kan., Zaragoza AFB, Spain, Fairview, Mass., and Bellevue, Neb. Upon her husband’s retirement, they moved to Goffstown, N.H.
About two weeks ago, at dusk, Arleene was visited by the largest herd of deer she had ever witnessed in her yard. They played and grazed outside her window and then went on their way. A few days later, two deer returned at dusk and stood frozen for a while as they stared at her front door. Two evenings after that, a single fawn came around from the side of the house, to her bedroom window, grazed for a few minutes, then lay down on the grass, as if to keep her company. No other deer were in sight, just the one fawn. Finally, the evening before Arleene left this world, the whole herd returned, again, at dusk, and maybe, just maybe, they came to say their final goodbyes.
Arleene returned to nursing, working at the Bedford (N.H.) Nursing Home and then Hanover Hill Nursing Home in Manchester, N.H. Upon her retirement in 1994, Arleene moved to Peachtree City.
Arleene volunteered for three years at the new Fayette Community Hospital when it first opened. She loved to garden, to read, going to the beach, having quiet conversations and taking long rides in the golf cart. She had two dear friends in New Hampshire, Sylvia and Gerry, with whom she stayed in touch with for over 35 years. They enjoyed many lunches at The Weathervane.
Arleene was predeceased by her son, William Joseph Giles, and her two sisters, Jean Mohns and Kathleen DeAngelis.
She is survived by daughters Cathy (Rod) Ballance of Riverside, Calif., and Mary Giles of Peachtree City, and sons Thomas Giles (LTC USA-Ret.) and wife Kim of Campton, N.H., and Kevin Giles (EMCM, USN-Ret.) and wife Vonnie of Mansfield, Texas. Arleene is also survived by her granddaughters, of whom she was so proud: Chelsea Arleene Giles, Lauren Giles and Ashley Giles. She also leaves nieces and nephews, Mrs. Stephanie (Anthony) Pacillo, Wendy Carr, Matthew DeAngelis, and Billy Carr.
Arrangements made with SouthCare. Interment will be in later in the spring in Upper Plains Cemetery in Bradford, Vt., where six generations of her ancestors are buried.
Thank you to Senior Helpers of PTC, the volunteers and staff of Fayette Senior Services, and to Peachtree City EMS. Finally, thank you for the support of the tremendous staff of Sacred Journey Hospice and Foundation and for your heartfelt care and compassion. See more at: www.legacy.com.
