Nellie Eliza Johnson Munson, formerly of Waldoboro, passed away at her daughter’s home in Magnolia, Mass. on Jan. 7. Nellie was born on Nov. 8, 1912 to Gurli Eugenia Kristina Peterson Johnson and Nils Adolf Johnson in Brooklyn, N.Y.
Nell aspired to teach from an early age, graduated valedictorian from Closter High School, and obtained her teaching degree from Montclair State Teachers College in New Jersey. She was an advocate for women’s voting rights, women in the workplace, and environmental conservation. Nell was a founding member of the League of Women Voters in Closter, N.J. where she was raised, taught for many years, and raised her own family. She spearheaded early environmental conservation and recycling initiatives in that community as well. Nell taught Language Arts, sharing her passion for the English language in literature, poetry and proper usage.
She and her husband, Leslie Munson, now deceased, moved to their dream retirement home in Waldoboro, where they enjoyed more than 20 years of old and new friends “the way life should be.” Les and Nell belonged to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Closter and to Nativity Lutheran in Rockport.
She leaves behind two siblings, Carl Adolph Johnson of New Jersey and Anna Elvira Johnson Witham of California; and her children, Kristina Munson of New Jersey, Peter Munson and wife Martha of Maryland, and Alexa Scarlett and husband Brian of Massachusetts; grandchildren, Jackson, Amelia, Susannah, Joiee, Jordan; and great-grandchild, Sydney.
Funeral 11 a.m., Sat., Jan. 16 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Gloucester, Mass. with internment in the spring in Waldoboro.
In lieu of flowers, it is requested that donations be made to the Gloucester Lutheran Church Elevator Fund, or to Caring for Caring, 34 Rear Marmion Way, Rockport, MA 01966.
