Louise Cahill of Londonderry, NH, 1929 - 2024 |

Born in 1929 in Nashua, NH, Louise Anna (Griffin) Cahill lived a long, beautiful life filled with family, friends and adventures that spanned from her roots in New England to New York, California, New Jersey, Florida and beyond. Louise grew up on the Griffin family farm in Londonderry with her parents, Anna (Sullivan) and Frank Griffin, and her beloved brothers Frank and Fred. She was delighted when summer arrived and a host of cousins and friends would visit the farm and expand the family. A caregiver at her core, she pursued a degree in nursing at St.Elizabeth's Nursing School in Boston, MA after graduating from Nashua High School. She formed deep and lasting friendships at the school and met her future husband, John "Jack" Cahill, who was a graduate of nearby Boston College. Louise and Jack moved around the country several times for John's job with the RT French Company. As he traveled the world for business, she kept the homefront humming. She was a dedicated volunteer in her children's school library and helped out with all their myriad activities. When the children were older, she studied hard to pass the NYS board exams and returned to nursing at The Friendly Home of Rochester, NY. .

Louise cared for her husband, children, grandchildren and lived long enough to have meaningful connections with her great grandchildren. She nurtured everything and everyone around her: people, pets, plants and any neighbor child who landed at her door in need of a band aid and TLC.  She put amazing energy into making things just a little bit nicer for everyone around her. She could make a bed with a precision admired by even the most critical supervising nun. No paper lunch bag went out of the house without a note or a smile drawn on it. She spent countless hours working on an extensive, international Christmas card list assuring that everyone got a personal message. If you didn't get one that year, she started with yours the next year.

Louise and Jack retired to the Griffin family's Londonderry homestead in 1990. She loved being back in her childhood home with many relatives around. She enjoyed watching the cows in the fields and the moon over the barn. She was a parishioner at St. Jude's parish in Londonderry and helped with their food pantry when she was not traveling across several states to visit family and help with the grandchildren. There was no distance she was afraid to drive. When someone was in need, she was "on the road again." The quintessential wife, mother and nurse, her favorite title was "Nana."

Always one to linger longer to enjoy a bit more company and conversation, Louise passed away peacefully after an extended two-year goodbye in the comfort of the home of her daughter, Marylou, and son-in-law, Joe. All of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren were able to spend time with her as her health declined in the past two years.

She was predeceased by her husband, John "Jack" Cahill, her brothers, Frank and Fred Griffin, brothers-in-law Jack McGloin and Thomas Cahill, and sisters-in-law Anne McGloin, Mary Cahill and Joan Cahill.

She will be dearly missed by her children Marylou (Joseph) Bourdow, Annemarie Mattison, Timothy (Minoo) Cahill, Carolyn (Richard) Glass, Patricia (Christopher) Guzikowski, her grandchildren Brian (Chelsey) Armendinger, Kerry (Patrick) Pierce, Sarah Mattison, Jonathan Glass, Lucia, Sophie and Nora Guzikowski and Kate (Charlie) Bourdow, her great-grandchildren Luke and Ella Armendinger, Erin Pierce, Alex and Casey Juhl. She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Rita Griffin and Helen Cahill, O.P. and her brother-in-law Richard Cahill as well as many beloved nephews and nieces.

The family would like to thank the incredible care team from Assisting Hands who supported her at home during her lengthy illness as well as the family and friends who brought joy to her life throughout the years.

A Celebration of Life will be held June 8, 2024 in Thousand Island Park, NY - a treasured gathering place for the Cahill family. The memorial service begins at 11:00 AM at Thousand Island Park Chapel (42830 St. Lawrence Ave, Thousand Island Park, NY 13692) with a reception following at noon at The Thousand Island Club (21952 Club Road, Wellesley Island, NY 13640).

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Wellesley Island Fire Department (PO Box 250 Wellesley Island, New York, 13640), Thousand Island Park Library (42822 St. Lawrence Ave, unit 239, Thousand Island Park, NY 13692) or honor Louise's memory by reaching out to someone in need as often as you can.