Pamela Wells Hanglin

Deerfield - Pamela Wells Hanglin, 44, died in her home in Deerfield on Tuesday afternoon, May 2, 2017 surrounded by people and dogs who adored her. The sea of broken hearts she has left behind is vast – that of her wife, Lisa Wolford, with whom she would have shared a 15th anniversary on May 3; her mother, Mary; her sister Jill and sister-in-law Sharman Hayward; her uncle, David Hanglin, and his family; her aunt, Sherry Bennett, and her family; her lifelong comrade-in-arms and very closest friend, of whom she was so proud, Heather MacKinnon; and the many, many other friends and family she loved so deeply. Pam cherished her nieces, Kira and Joss Hayward-Hanglin, who she got such a kick out of; they are too young by far for broken hearts but will always be filled with love for their funny Aunt Pam. Pam held a bachelor’s degree from Merrimack College and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University. She was a skilled private investigator with the New Hampshire Public Defender, where she dedicated her 20-year career to being a passionate defender of civil rights and a loyal champion of the Sixth Amendment. She was devoted to her Public Defender colleagues, and they loved her for her brilliant wit, incisive comments, elegant solutions to strategic problems, and beautifully written investigative reports. Pam did not like bad drivers. She loved tennis, Monhegan, her country club, good wine, manatees, penguins, the Red Sox, and Barbra Streisand. She devoured John Updike’s Rabbit novels all the while appreciating the special genius of Bravo TV’s Andy Cohen. She felt a part of Lisa’s family and loved visiting or being visited by them. Her heart was full of Hampton but she considered the Big Island, Santa Fe, and Mill Valley her homes away from home. Above all, she loved her beagles, Lionel and Marie, even though she suspected that Lionel loved Lisa more. For more than three years, Pam fought a stoic, determined battle against colon cancer. Until the bitter end, no matter what, she refused to let the disease hold her back. Pam loved her life. She was so thankful for all the people in it. Pam’s wishes were to have calling hours at Remick & Gendron Funeral Home, 811 Lafayette Road in Hampton. Calling hours there will be 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 8. She also planned for a celebration at Throwback Brewery, 7 Hobbs Road, North Hampton. The party at Throwback, where lots of laughter and stories and memories of Pam will be shared, will be Tuesday, May 9, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider making charitable donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 one of Pam’s father’s favorite charities www.stjude.org/; or Libby’s Haven for Senior Canines, P.O. Box 65, Canterbury, NH 03224 from whence the beagles came; www.lhsk9.org/. or the Rockingham VNA & Hospice, c/o Exeter Hospital, 5 Alumni Drive, Exeter, NH 03833 who helped us so much.

Pamela Wells Hanglin

September 6, 1972 - May 2, 2017