Else Aasted Jensen McInerney; Hudson, NH

Else Aasted Jensen McInerney, born in Holstebro, Denmark, passed away following a period of declining health.  She was the daughter of Lilly Esther (Hansen) Jensen, a homemaker and herbalist who owned a small shop, and Oskar Jensen, an accountant.  She was the second youngest of six children; Anne Lise Jensen, Jens Peter Jensen, Ida Marie Jensen, Jorgen Aasted Jensen and Lars Bjorn Aasted Jensen.

Growing up during World War II, Else and her family, especially her brothers, were actively engaged in the resistance against Nazi infiltration in Holstebro, a period that profoundly shaped her life and perspective for her entire life. Else attended and graduated high school in Holstebro and attended the University of Copenhagen where she studied film. Else excelled at languages; speaking and reading multiple languages, a talent that served her well throughout her life. She began her career in Copenhagen, Denmark as a researcher in the film industry. Her first marriage was to Guy Rouviere, a French citizen whose family owned rubber plantation in Vietnam.  They resided in Ourgla, Algeria and Paris, France.  They welcomed a daughter, Anne. During their time living in Paris, Else became a teacher, working for the U.S. Army teaching French.

After her marriage to Guy ended, Else met and married U.S. Army Public Information Specialist William (Bill) C. McInerney. Their marriage spanned 58 years until Bill’s passing in 2023. Else converted from Lutheranism to Catholicism upon her marriage to Bill, and together they were part of the Immaculate Conception congregation in the Belvidere neighborhood of Lowell.  In addition to Anne, they had three children: Kristina, William C. “Charlie,” and Patrick. While raising her growing family, Else was an active support to the work of McInerney Real Estate and Insurance firm and in 1977, served as President and Director of Alvah Jones and Company, a Real Estate firm in Lowell, MA.

Determined and driven, Else pursued a successful career in technology as Bill continued in Real Estate. She began a career at Visual Technology in Tewksbury, MA, and later held positions at Digital Equipment Corporation in Shrewsbury, Quantum Technology in Shrewsbury and ultimately MITRE in Bedford, MA, where her career supported research and development projects.  She worked at MITRE in a role she found interesting and engaging until her reluctant retirement at age 82.

While living in Lowell, Else and Bill’s family were actively engaged in local politics. They were strong supporters of the campaigns of Senator Paul Tsongas, reflecting their deep connection to the community and their belief in public service.  They moved to Hudson, NH 22 years ago and continued to engage in causes they supported and believed in.

Independent and enigmatic, Else was a student of history, particularly ancient civilizations and European histories, which she studied with great interest throughout her life. Else was also known for her culinary talent, often experimenting with various cuisines. She had a deep love of the ocean and fragile seacoast ecologies, frequently spending summers along the eastern seaboard, exploring the nooks and crannies of Cape Cod, beachcombing, and swimming. Rye Beach in NH and Plum Island; Newburyport, MA among her favorite spots and where she summered and visited for several decades.  Her home and life held room for a number of dogs and cats; and she had an extended family of them through her children as well.

An avid gardener, Else grew numerous roses and flowers at home in Lowell and Hudson, NH. In every place she lived, there were always flowers and flowering shrubs, bringing beauty and joy to her surroundings.   Else had a keen eye for interior design, blending simple Danish designs of teak mid-century modern furniture with bold colors and strong patterns. She enjoyed creating a balance of simplicity, whimsy and vibrancy in her spaces.

An amateur astronomer, Else was a member of various clubs and traveled extensively for star-gazing opportunities. Athletic and active throughout her life, she enjoyed Pilates, yoga, aerobics, and weightlifting. She shared her husband Bill’s passion for art, and together they visited galleries, museums, and art shows around the world. Hiking was another of her passions, with the New Hampshire mountains and Great Brook Farm State Park in Carlisle among her favorite spots.

Fondly known as “Geema” to her grandchildren, Else’s boundless curiosity and zest for life created an engaging environment for her family. Her love of history, the night sky, art nature, and the outdoors will be remembered by all who knew her.

Else was preceded in death by her husband, William “Bill” McInerney; her son, William C. “Charlie”; her parents; her brothers, Peter and Jorgen; and her sisters, Ida and Lise. She is survived by her brother Lars; her children, Anne Sidel and her husband, Michael, of Pepperell, MA; Kristina Ickes and her husband, Dave, of Candia, NH; Patrick McInerney and his wife, Lara, of Hilton Head, SC and her children, Dan Oliveira, Olivia Oliveira. Sam Oliveira and Emily Oliveira; Else is also survived by her beloved grandchildren: Claire Sidel, Alexis Ickes, and Jayden Ickes. Nieces Eva Munk and Hanne Munk along with her husband, Soren Helms Knudsen, and nephew Christian Aasted, of Denmark also survive her