Dover, NH – Willow Maranhas, 63, of Portsmouth, died peacefully Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Wentworth Douglass Hospital in Dover.
She was born June 21, 1952 in Charlotte, MI a daughter of the late William and Frances (Kreager) Cramer.
Raised in Amherst, MA she graduated from Amherst High School with the Class of 1970.
Willow worked as a bartender in Portsmouth for a number of years before becoming a realtor in the early 1980’s and working for the Norwood Group and later the former Jocelyn Caulfield Real Estate in North Hampton. After her time in real estate Willow worked for the IRS in the Learning & Education department as a writer and educator before retiring in 2010.
Willow was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority of Portsmouth. She loved Jazz, gardening, entertaining and cooking for family and friends; she always said the more the merrier. She was also an avid New England sports fan, especially the Boston Red Sox.
She shared 35 years of marriage with her husband Robert Maranhas of Portsmouth.
In addition to her husband, family members include her brother William Cramer; sisters, Chris Davi and her husband Ken and Nancy Rosencrans all of West Palm Beach, FL and her step mother Margaret Cramer of Jacksonville, FL.
A gathering to celebrate her life will be held on February 5, 2016 at 4:00 PM in the Elks Lodge No. 97, 500 Jones Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, MA 02284 or Womenaid of Greater Portsmouth, P.O. Box 4154, Portsmouth, NH, 03802.
Connie Clark says
I will miss your kind and giving heart. I believe you are in a place now where there is no pain and you can rest in peace. You will not be forgotten. I will remember the good times.
Mary Jane and Paul Searfoorce says
Paul and I are so sorry to hear of Willow’s death. You are in our thoughts and prayers. We shared some wonderful and fun times together and those memories will be with us always.
Michelle and Billy Marconi says
Bob,
I remember all the years the 4 of us would get together. I remember Willow’s cookies and trying to swap for Willow’s favorite treat. Willow and I would go get our toes done the past 4 years or so for our trips South. I’m going to miss her and my free Monday lunches. She was a very special friend to me.
Love,
Michelle and Billy
Robin Shaw says
Please accept my deepest condolences for the loss of dear Willow. She was so accepting, sociable, generous and brave. I will miss her so very much. Love you, Willow! Love, Robin
Donna Proctor says
Willow, my dear friend, I will miss you so much! We always had so much fun at work….whether we were teaching, or just talking about updating our MPQs. I remember we would laugh so hard at lunch discussing the latest absurdity, tears would be rolling down our cheeks. From the beginning of your battle to the end, you were and always will be an inspiration to me. No more pain, no more worry. Rest now.
Love, Donna
Ed DeMaria says
Bob, I am so very sad to learn of Willow’s death. Please accept my sincerest condolences. Willow was an angel on earth and an angel in heaven.
Karen Faye says
Dearest Willow,
Rest in peace my friend. Your smile was infectious and shall be carried in my heart through out time. May your memory be eternal.
Karen Faye (IRS)
J Melvin says
She was a wonderful person! My condolence to her family.
Pam Reardon says
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and the family. I worked with Willow at the IRS she was a wonderful friend and co-worker always willing to help anyone when needed. She will be missed!
Love Pam Reardon
Peggy guy says
I am sorry for your loss. Willow was a good person and is finally at peace.
Sue Brown says
I worked with Willow at the IRS. She was always a kind and giving person. Rest in peace now Willow. No more pain.
Sue Brown
ML Hannay says
My dearest Willow…..I am so thankful to have spent such sweet time with you and Bob last week. Your spirit of grace and beauty was still shining through! My memories of your smile and laughter, your always joyful entertaining, our lunches out, and our too few dinners with Bing and Bob and Susan, are precious ones. May you truly rest now, in peace. To you and Bob, I love you both, ML
Deb Parlatore says
I am so sorry for your loss. Willow left a lasting impression with a lot of us at the IRS. She was a kind and generous person who fought such a tough battle. Her memory will live on in my heart and I’m sure, in the hearts of all that were lucky enough to have known her. My sincerest sympathies to those she left behind.
Mike and Amy Quigley says
Dearest Bob,
We are so sorry for your loss. We will always remember fondly our time with you and Willow in our neighborhood. Always hospitable and so generous, Willow was always the one to pull us all together. She always came knocking on our door at just the right moment with a plate of warm cookies and smiles. We will miss her so.
All our love and prayers,
The Quigleys
Timothy Odell says
Bob,
We were so saddened to hear of your loss. Willow was a very gracious lady. We will always remember our good times at the Press Room. May you find strength in the days to come .
Tim & Mary Odell
David and Pat Gress says
A dear friend to us. We loved our time together at Norwood and our friendship. We gathered often for either cooking, playing cards or just hanging out. It certainly was a privilege to be Willow and Bob’s friend. Love and prayers to yiu, Bob.
Dale Hooper says
Bob, Cbris, Nancy, and Bill,
Terry and I are so very sorry to hear of Willow’s passing. As sick as she was, she offered encouragement to me when I was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer. She was a special woman and will be missed by many.
Dale and Terry Hooper
Ted Leed says
I knew Willow for many years while we were both living in the same Amherst neighborhood. She was a friendly, lively young lady. I am so sorry to hear of her death. My condolences to her family.