Edna Mae (Eddi) Mordecai passed away surrounded by family on July 22, 2017 at Dartmouth Hitchcock Hospital. She was the oldest of four children born to Helen (Huyck) and Daniel Miller on October 1, 1930. While she was born in Omro, Wisconsin, she quickly found her roots in New England where she spent her life.

Her childhood was spent in Keene and Rochester, New Hampshire, where her father was a minister and her mother supported the ministry and raised the family. She enjoyed riding bicycles long distances to see other parts of New England. She attended the Northfield School for Girls and then Colby College from where she graduated in 1952.

At Colby, she met her husband of almost 64 years, Mark Mordecai. She also made many lifelong friends there, including a group that called themselves “the Robins” who kept up a round robin letter to each other for over fifty years.

She and Mark were married in December of 1953 and started their lives together as a Navy family in New London, CT and Key West, FL. Over time, they had four children, Kathy, Annie, Carol, and Don, eventually moving the family to Waban and then Wayland, Massachusetts where they lived for over thirty-five years enjoying the company of many friends.

In mid-life, Eddi decided to pursue a career in mental health. She eventually earned a certificate in social work, a masters in mental health counseling, and a PhD in Clinical Psychology. As part of her training, she interned at the Mystic Valley Mental Health Center and the Boston Institute for Psychotherapy, where she spent much of her subsequent professional career as a teacher, supervisor, and Director of Training. While there, she founded an infant-family mental health training program; supporting the development of infants and parents would continue to be an interest of hers throughout life. She also maintained a private practice in clinical psychology for many years.

Eddi and Mark retired to a home on Pleasant Lake in New London, New Hampshire, where Eddi continued to remain actively engaged in causes she cared about including supporting mothers of young children, and supporting the rehabilitation of women incarcerated in New Hampshire. Despite struggles with chronic health issues and macular degeneration, Eddi stayed active. She was a member of the Kearsarge Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Andover, New Hampshire, The League of Women Voters, and Ladies Left of Center. She enjoyed traveling with her husband; took many Adventures in Learning courses at Colby Sawyer College in New London; and traveled often to Boston with friends to hear the Boston Symphony Orchestra. When she could no longer read books, she avidly listened to them.

Eddi is survived by her husband, Mark, their children and grandchildren, and two sisters.

A memorial service was held at St. Andrew Episcopal Church, New London, New Hampshire. The family would appreciate donations in lieu of flowers to any of the following organizations: The Kearsarge Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, P.O. Box 1578, New London, New Hampshire 03257-1578; kuufnh.org.

New London Hospital 273 County Rd. New London, New Hampshire 03257; newlondonhospital.org.

Good Beginnings of the Upper Valley (a program that supports mothers and young children), PO Box 5054, West Lebanon, New Hampshire 03784.