Rochester, NH- Faith H. Follum, 74 of Rochester NH.

On March 9, 2021 Faith went home to God to dance in the arms of her husband Rod. Surrounded by her family in Ohio, she died after a long struggle with her health.

Faith Follum was a gardener.   Everything that she planted grew beautifully, strongly and uniquely.    She spent her life intricately sowing traditions, love and knowledge into her world and her family was her most prized garden.

Her core value that family is at the center of it all, is the reason that everything radiated from her.   If you were lucky enough to be brought into the family, you were enfolded into the stories, the memories and had the traditions she loved and valued, gifted to you. Born in Hartford, CT in 1947, she was the only daughter of Lydia and Ewald Schwentke.  Her childhood was made up of the antics of she shared with her three cousins, Kurt, Dwight and Lorelei who were like siblings.  She learned how to play a mean pinochle game at a young age in order to avoid dinner dishes,and she always had a listening ear for the stories of her family.   It was also at this young age that she developed a huge thirst for knowledge and became an avid reader; she was lovingly referred to as a walking encyclopedia.

Her love of learning led her to nursing school with her good friend Laura and she was honored as the class valedictorian.   While there, she was convinced by her childhood friend John Geckler to go on a blind date with his college roommate, Rod Follum. By the second date, Rod and Faith knew that they would marry; they celebrated 52 years of love, laughter and dancing together. An avid gardener and dog lover, Faith, with Rod by her side, planted her own secret gardens of wonder and beauty, even participating in a showcase of homes. They loved their home, their birds, their furry friends and their family.

It was having a family of her own though that gave Faith the best opportunity to build the foundation of who she was.  She dedicated herself to her two daughters Elizabeth Hoffman and Rebecca Schenk. She filled their worlds with song and used those melodies to teach them, to make the pain stop, to get ready for bed, to pass the time on road trips, and to know the words to every musical. She gifted her daughters the importance of being sisters and they grew up inseparable despite the four-year age gap. Forever together was her greatest lesson to them. She wovetraditions into every part of their family, teaching them to give away coffee bread at the holidays, how to sew your own wardrobe, to always stand out and stand strong when public speaking, to not fear singing solos, to open the windows to hear the church bells at Easter, and the importance of not peeking at the gifts when sneaking past the Christmas tree in the early morning.  Most importantly she taught them simply that family is everything, absolutely everything.

It was among her church family at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Rochester that she dedicated her time, love, and teachings. An active member from 1974 to its closing, she madelifelong friends and fantastic memories. She taught Bible studies with her famous stick figure drawings, sang in the choir, was part of the church council, and made that church family as important as her own. She valued her neighbors and cherished her connections there. She never missed a field trip and was always active in the classrooms at McClelland Elementary School and she was involved in community volunteering.

Spending all her years dancing with her husband, Rod, they both rejoiced when their daughters found dancing partners of their own and they welcomed Mark and Hank into the song, into the Follum garden, not as son in laws but as sons. Faith wrapped them in family traditions and loved them fully as the family grew.

Faith was the adoring "Ammie" of five grandchildren and loved spending time with them, teaching them and passing along the family traditions.   Epic hide and go seek games, Harry Potter marathons, cookie decorating competitions, fishing trips, and lobster eating, she loved capturing moments with them.  Her oldest Gabe wanted to grow up to be a "boy Ammie" and they shared an incredible bond over their thirst for knowledge. She loved watching her oldest granddaughter Lydia command the stage, the band, her grades, and loved taking her on yearly shopping sprees. Henry enjoyed keeping Ammie on the go with walks in the woods, trips to the beach, and discovering new fishing spots. Benjamin, her little Buddy, enjoyed baking famous carrot cake and gaming together.  And Amelia, her youngest granddaughter enjoyed snuggles, playdough baking,and taking care of each other.  They were her pride and joy. They were the brightest flowers in her garden.

Faith is predeceased by her parents Ewald and Lydia Schwentke, her half brother and sister William Schwentke, Patricia DeCarlo, and her loving husband Roderick Follum. She is survived by herdaughters, Elizabeth (Mark) Hoffman, Rebecca (Henry) Schenk, grandchildren Gabriel, Lydia, Henry, Benjamin, and Amelia.Her sister in law Martha (Dick ) Knowlton and many nieces and nephews, as well as other important family and friends, Anne Talbot, Lorelei Foster, Kurt Oughstun, Dwight Oughstun, John Geckler, Danny and Cheryl Gilbert, Janet Andrews, Angelina Gagne, and Jeffrey Pelkey.

If you would like to make a gift in honor and memory of Faith, we invite you to make a donation in her name to the Video and Sound Technology Fund at The First Congregational Church of Eliot, Maine (Eliotucc.org).  This is the church of her family, it was her greatest joy to see first, her daughters and then all of her grandchildren offer word and music in worship.  As a family, finding the microphones after church and singing just for joy was a long standing tradition.   She taught us all to find our voice and use it for good.

Faith spent her life weaving traditions, family and knowledge into everything that she touched. She planted seeds and stories that grew under her care and attention to full bloom. In doing that, she gifted her family with the ability to love deeply and connect closely so that the traditions will always grow on!    She will always live on!