Ileene Grace Adams

BEDFORD- Ileene Grace Adams, 88, died peacefully at Ridgewood Center in Bedford, NH on July 18, 2020.

She was born on October 4, 1931 in Bristol, NH and was the beloved daughter of the late Grace Adams and Ernest Adams. She was also predeceased by her sisters Patsy Davis, and Edith Leblanc.

Survived by sister Shirley Avellino, brothers Earnest Adams Jr, Ronald Adams, Vernal Adams and his wife Cathy and many nieces and nephews and their families.  Survived by 2 children Raeleen (Adams) Grabeau her husband Glenn and 2 daughters Katrina and Lauren. Son Rodney Adams and grandson Ryan.

Ileene met Raymond Adams in the early 50's through family friends, they were married in Plymouth NH July 2, 1960. Raymond passed on December 22, 2004.

Ileene graduated from Bristol High School in 1951. She then went on to Laconia Business School and graduated in 1952. She then moved to Nashua and became the Executive Secretary for the Mother Superior of St Joseph Hospital.  She then partnered with Joseph Dubowik as a contracting and home improvement company. They were in business for many years together and eventually formed Sahara Heater Manufacturing in 1989. She became president in 1991 and continued leading the company until 2017.

She had many interests, but art and painting were where her passion was most directed toward. Her home was decorated by the many paintings she did.  She opened her home to many local children for group art lessons and became the art teacher for many home-schooled families in the early 90's.  She also had students with traumatic brain injury, who loved to come on Friday nights to sit and paint and would quite often stay late into the evening. Being a long-time member of the Nashua Artists Association, she was involved with the Greely Park Art Show, Taste of Nashua, eventually becoming President. In 1995 she worked together with Nashua's Downtown development to bring art and culture to the forefront. She worked with local restaurants and businesses to allow local artists to display, and sell their art, which is still going on today.

Ileene had a great love of genealogy. Always having wanted to be an archeologist, this was the next best thing, and spent hours researching Adams family history with her brothers and sisters.  Doing this without the use of a computer, she traveled to many towns in NH and Quebec Canada to do her research. She befriended the Harbormaster in Quebec when they found each other doing Adams research. Thinking they were from the same family, Ileene and Raymond went to visit him. They visited many historical sites, and town halls.  He also took them on a tour of an icebreaker. They discovered however, they were not from the same line of Adams', but had a great time helping each other do research.

She had a huge heart and would always reach out to help others. After many months of struggle, a Gulf War Vet had a hard time getting VA benefits from the state, Ileene wrote to the Governor's office explaining what was going on, and the difficulty this gentleman was having, and quickly got the results she was hoping for.

Most of all, she loved spending as much time with her family, especially the grandkids. She enjoyed 2 cruises to the Caribbean, trips to Florida, even went up Pikes Peak on a train by herself in Colorado!  Everywhere she went she collected rocks. She got this collection idea from her parents. She would even coerce other family members to bring rocks to her from where they had traveled.  

Relatives and friends are invited to Ileene’s visitation on THURSDAY, July 23rd from 4 until 7 PM at ROCHETTE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 21 Kinsley Street, Nashua. Her Funeral will be held on FRIDAY, July 24th at 9:30 AM in St. Patrick Church, 29 Spring Street, Nashua. Interment will follow in St. Louis Cemetery, Nashua. Donations may be made in Ileene's name to the Nashua Humane Society, 24 Ferry Road, Nashua, NH 03064. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ileene Grace Adams, please visit our floral store.