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Edith Griffith Keiser
1923 - 2008
Edith Griffith Keiser, 85, passed away at her home in Waterbury Center on August 15, 2008 of complications from cancer. She was born the youngest of five children on August 12, 1923 in Pass Christian, Mississippi, to David Cooper Griffith and Edith Nye Griffith and had an idyllic childhood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. She attended Southern Mississippi College and taught at Delisle Elementary School prior to her marriage to George Michael Keiser, Jr. on December 31, 1945.
During the early years of her marriage she cared for her family and opened and operated a kindergarten in Pottsville, PA. She also taught school in Pemberton, NJ before moving to Vermont.
Edith was a proud member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, her family having served honorably in the War Between the States. She was a member of St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington, VT, St. Andrew’s Church in Colchester, VT, and most recently of Living Hope Fellowship Church in Waterbury Center, VT, volunteering her time to serve her churches’ members and community. She was also a volunteer for several years at Ethan Allen Homestead in Burlington.
In 2002, she began the transition to Waterbury Center to live with her son, moving there permanently in 2005. She loved sitting on her cottage’s front porch, gazing at the views and visiting with her friends and family.
Edith is survived by her son Michael Keiser and his wife, Isabelle Turpin Keiser of Waterbury Center; her daughter, Kathy Cox, and her husband Chuck Cox of Fairfax and their children Charles Michael (and his son Christopher) and Jennifer Cox, she loved her grandchildren dearly. She leaves many nieces, nephews, and extended family. She also leaves her faithful feline companion, Andy, who comforted her to the end. She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers and sisters; William Griffith, Cora Burch, Caroline Sharp, and David Griffith. She was also predeceased by her husband, George, in 2000 and her beloved grandson, Christopher Griffith Cox in 2006.
As difficult as the last few months of her life were, she was comforted by staying in her home and happy and content that she would soon join her mamma, daddy, brothers, sisters, husband George, and her beloved Chris.
Services will be held at Living Hope Fellowship Church on Friday, August 29 at 11:00 a.m.
Michael and Izzi would like to thank the staff of Central Vermont Health and Hospice, Waterbury Center Ambulance, Central Vermont Hospital, Jennifer Gelbstein, MD and her staff, and David Ospina, MD and his staff for their years of support and care of Edith’s health and well-being.
Michael and Izzi would especially like to express their deepest gratitude for cousin Lucy Wheeldon who came to Vermont from Mississippi to care for her Aunt Edith. Having her with us not only ensured that Edith’s wishes to stay at home were met, but gave her the best of care and helped and supported us in so many ways. We are forever in her debt.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Edith’s memory may be made to Central Vermont Health and Hospice, 600 Granger Road, Barre VT 05641 or to Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, PO Box 576, Waterbury, VT 05676, (a cancer camp for children). To send on-line condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com (http://www.perkinsparker.com) . Assisting the family is the Perkins-Parker Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Waterbury.