Marcella M. Mills

Rye – Marcella M. Mills, 83, of Rye, died peacefully on Thursday, June 27, 2024, surrounded by her family. She was born in Pawtucket, RI, the daughter of the late James E. and Mary (McEachern) Fish. Marcie was raised in Portsmouth, graduated from Portsmouth High School with the Class of 1959 and later graduated from The Wilfred Beauty Academy. She worked briefly as a hairdresser before marrying and starting a family. Marcie shared 60 years of marriage with her husband Joseph G. Mills, Jr. whom she met in 7th grade at St. Patrick School in Portsmouth. Together they made their home in Rye beginning in 1963. Marcie was a stay-at-home Mom, the hardest job in the world and she did it effortlessly. She loved having her home filled with her children and all of their friends. She was always involved in her children’s activities. She ran the concession stand for Rye Little League, PHS football boosters, went on too many field trips to count, spent endless hours helping with homework and ensuring her children had the resources they needed, and was always ready to give a ride to a practice or game When her children became adults, she and her husband managed Antiques at Rye Center for several years. Later she worked as a salesclerk at Marshalls Department Store for 12 years. She supported Joe during his many years as a Rye Selectman, often attending meetings and offering her opinion, even if it did not align with his. Marcie spent endless hours on the beaches of Rye. She loved the beach and soaked up the sun. Even when faced with radiation treatment for breast cancer, she scheduled her daily treatments in the late afternoons to spend most of the day at the beach. She was predeceased by her husband, Joe and leaves four children, Joseph Mills, III and his wife Chrissy of Greenland, Brian Mills and his wife Toni of Hampton, Kevin Mills of Rye, Melissa Bunton and her husband Bill of Cumberland, ME, eight grandchildren, Alexandra, John, Patrick and Andrew Mills, William and Sadie Bunton, and Keaghan and Kayleigh Vogel, two brothers, James Fish and his wife Susan of Downey, CA, Thomas Fish of Portsmouth, several nieces and nephews. Visiting hours will be from 5:30 - 7:30 P.M. on Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 A.M. on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at St. Theresa Church 815 Central Road, Rye Beach. Burial will follow in the Central Cemetery Rye. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited. In lieu of flowers, please visit any of the beaches in Rye, take a walk, sit and soak up the sun with a friend and share a laugh in honor of Marcie.

Marcella M. Mills

February 15, 1941 - June 27, 2024