Arlene E. Griffith

May 13, 1936 - August 3, 2020

Newmarket – Arlene E. Griffith, 84, of Newmarket, died Monday, August 3, 2020 at her home of congestive heart failure. She was born in Somerville, MA on May 13, 1936, the daughter of the late Albert and Sarah (Whalen) Rourke. Arlene was raised in Somerville and graduated from Mt. St. Mary Seminary in Nashua. She was employed by New England Telephone in Cambridge, MA before moving to NH in 1979. She worked for the United States Postal Service in Portsmouth for many years until a promotion relocated her to Bedford, NH. She retired from the postal service in 1998. Arlene loved to write music and play the piano. She was an active member of the folk group at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church in Hampton, performing not only in church but at many nursing homes in the seacoast area. She also participated in many activities with the local Women’s Quest adventure group. She is survived by her daughters Maureen Whelan of Victor, MT and Lynda Joyce of Newmarket, her sons John Griffith and his wife Judy of Jaffrey, and Kevin Griffith and his wife Kimberly of Fremont and her 5 beloved grandchildren, John, Jennifer, Makala, Skyler and Ashley. She was predeceased by her brothers Albert, Allen and Arthur Rourke and her sister Audrey Turner. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M. Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, 289 Lafayette Road, Hampton. Burial will follow in the High Street Cemetery, Hampton. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. Social distancing and masks are required.