Hedwig Hamel passed away on Friday, July 4, 2025 at home surrounded by family members after a short illness. She was an amazing wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She will live on in the hearts of all those that knew her. Hedwig was predeceased by her husband of 41 years, Roger E. Hamel, who died May 10, 1997.

Hedwig was born in Erlangen, Germany. She grew up in Germany and lost her father in World War II at the young age of 8. She endured many hardships living in post-war Germany as a young girl which certainly formed the strong woman she became. Just before her 20th birthday she married a young US Army Sergeant and started her family soon after.  In December of 1957, she would leave her beloved homeland of Germany when orders came to relocate to Texas! That brought a drastic change to her life and one she wasn't very happy about.  She missed her family and the culture she was accustomed to very much. Fortunately, after 18 months Roger received orders to relocate again and best of all—back to Germany.

They would live in Germany another 3 years until orders came again—this time it was Fort Knox, Kentucky. They lived there for 3 years until Roger got orders for Viet Nam. These orders brought another big change to her and her family. She would have to leave the base and move with her four girls, so they decided to move to Roger's hometown of Merrimack, New Hampshire. The family moved in with Roger's mother (Blanche Hall) temporarily until Hedwig could acquire a home for them. Three months later they purchased a house in Merrimack where she resided for 59 years until she died.

In August of 2000, she committed her life to Jesus and once again her life changed drastically. She served God faithfully till she died and was a member of First Church of Merrimack. She loved her church family and attended faithfully until the last few years when it became increasingly difficult for her to go. However, she remained faithful to Jesus and her minister and friends from the church were still very much a part of her life.

In addition to her husband, Roger, Hedwig was predeceased in death by her parents, Anton & Magdelina (Porisch) Kohlenbeck; her 2 brothers, Fritz & Heinz Kohlenbeck; and her beloved grandson, Zackery Fortune.

She leaves behind four daughters: Betty Fortune (David) of Lakeland, Fl; Cindy McAninch (Steven) of Weare, NH; Dianna L'Heureux of Kailua, HI and Caroline Fortune of Honolulu, HI.

She also has 6 grandchildren: Valerie Fortune, Janet Fortune, Raymond (Amy) L'Heureux, Delia (Jason) Johnson, Lindsey (Matt) Sevigny, and Jesse Lemire.  Seven great-grandchildren:  Caleb Fortune, Madison Johnson, Alana, Ava and Amiyah Sevigny, Evelyn and Amelia L'Heureux,

Calling hours will be held at First Church of Merrimack located at 7 Baboosic Lake Rd, Merrimack, NH on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Visitation is from 9:30 to 10:45. Service to follow at 11 am followed by burial at Last Rest Cemetery also located in Merrimack.