Katherine VanDerWerken Frenchpassed away peacefully on Thursday, December 17, 2015 at age 85 in Hanover, New Hampshire.

She was the beloved wife of the late Roger French and the devoted mother of three children, Margaret Bartow, Stewart French and Elizabeth Fribush; and three grandchildren, Jesse French, Jenny French, and Justin Fribush.

Her wide-ranging interests included ancient Greece and Rome, nature, art, classical music, and wilderness travel, though she considered her family to be the most important part of her life.

Kate graduated from the Emma Willard School and Simmons College, where she studied home economics. She later used this background in testing recipes for early models of the microwave oven, developed by her husband, Roger.

After raising her family in Wellesley, Massachusetts, she and Roger lived in Jackson, New Hampshire, and then Hanover, New Hampshire. Throughout her life she volunteered to help others, including teaching high school drop-outs to read and assisting at the Boston Center for Blind Children and Head Start. She also participated in the Kendal at Hanover Intergenerational Program.

She inspired both long-time and new acquaintances with her kindness, positive attitude, and focus on others.

Burial will be private. Remembrances may be made in her memory to a charity of the donor's choice.