Nellie (Murphy) Lord, of Berlin, MA and formerly of Merrimack, NH died peacefully at The Blaire House in Milford, MA, after a long and courageous battle with the Covid-19 virus on May 30, at the age of 93.

Nellie was born in Manchester, NH on December 8, 1926, the first of seven children, to the late Thomas and Nellie (Brown) Murphy. She married John A. Lord on May 1, 1948 and moved to Pomfret, CT in 1955, where they raised their two sons and were active in town affairs. Widowed in 1972, Nellie served as a teacher's aide at Pomfret Community School, Pomfret, CT, until 1985, when she returned to Merrimack, NH to rejoin family there. In Merrimack she served as an aide to special needs students in the Merrimack School District until her retirement in 1996. She loved working with children and was filled with joy at their successes.

Nellie is survived by her two sons and their wives, Scott Lord (and Marian Lord) of Dover, NH, and Brian Lord (and Nancy Cali) of Berlin, MA, as well as by her brother Thomas Murphy of Lagrangeville, NY, sister Olive Corbin of Merrimack, NH, and sister Sheila Henry of Manchester, NH. She is also survived by her four beloved grandchildren—Ben Lord (and wife Nami) of Kula, HI, Amy Zimbone (and husband Mike) of Needham, MA, Austin Lord (and wife Allison) of Watertown, MA, and Juliana Lord of Washington, DC—as well as by her four great-grandchildren—Kylie Lord and Nicklas (Taz) Lord of Kula, HI, Owen Zimbone of Needham, MA, and Charlie Lord of Watertown, MA. Nellie cherished every opportunity to spend time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Nellie is pre-deceased by her husband John Lord, her sister Patricia Virtue (and brother-in-law Billie Virtue), sister Edith Connell (and brother-in-law Orrin Connell), brother Daniel Murphy (and sister-in-law Sylvia Murphy), sister-in-law Priscilla Murphy (late wife of brother Thomas Murphy), brother-in-law Robert Corbin (late husband of sister Olive Corbin), brother-in-law William Lord (and wife Kate) and brother-in-law Warren Lord (and wife Patricia). They are all sorely missed and warmly remembered.

A wonderful day for Nellie included feeding the birds on her patio, baking some banana chocolate chip cookies, and watching (and frequently commenting on) the Red Sox game on TV. Nellie led a most extraordinary life, under seemingly ordinary circumstances, because she derived the greatest pleasure from making those around her happy and their lives easier.

A memorial service will be scheduled when Covid-19 restrictions are lifted. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Nellie's name to Special Olympics New Hampshire or to New Hampshire Audubon.

Please feel free to share a condolence or words of comfort for Nellie's family. Hays Funeral Home, 56 Main Street, Northborough was honored to assist with arrangements.