Maria Concepcion Spaulding

Concepcion Spaulding went to her rest on Sunday, December 29, 2024, surrounded by loving family and at peace with her earthly journey and the promise of eternal life. A woman of tremendous courage and faith, she was born Maria de la Concepcion Garcia Aguilera in Sevilla, Spain on December 7, 1929 to Ramon Garcia and Concepcion Aguilera. She grew up in Madrid, Spain, the third eldest of five children. Part of her childhood was during the difficult years of the Spanish Civil War. The adversity she experienced in her youth strengthened her spirit and compassion and was matched by her exceptional beauty.

A love of language and literature led to her mastery and fluency in three languages. While working at the American Embassy in Madrid, she met a charismatic American, Dayton Spaulding, who was working for the United States State Department. They married in January 1956 and soon after came to the United States to build their life together, with their journey taking them from Louisiana, Florida, New Jersey and ultimately to New Hampshire. During their retirement years Concepcion and Dayton enjoyed spending time in Florida and New Hampshire, with various travels along the way.

Concepcion was a consummate seamstress and valued education. Managing the household while Dayton taught a full course load and coached the men’s basketball team at Plymouth State University and completed his doctoral studies at Boston University, Concepcion later earned a Bachelor’s degree at Plymouth State University and began a teaching career, first at the upper secondary level and then as a native speaker in the foreign language department at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Throughout her years in New Hampshire, Concepcion was active in the Catholic community, for many years at Saint Matthew Church in Plymouth and then at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church in Bedford. She will always be lovingly remembered by her three children and their families: Christopher Spaulding and his wife Andrea Fabricius, and their children, Matthew, and Andrew Spaulding; Christopher's son, Michael, and his wife Kayley and their children, Davis and Nora; Deborah Spaulding Rainey and her husband John S. Rainey, Jr.; Michelle Caraccio and her children Joseph, Natalie and Jack Caraccio. She was predeceased by her husband Dayton and her son in law Albert. She was very pleased to have known Michael Fazio, Natalie’s fiance.

She was predeceased by two brothers in Spain and also is survived by two sisters in Spain, as well as nieces and nephews in the United States and Europe.

Concepcion had many other talents and interests. She enjoyed listening to Andrea Bocelli and the Three Tenors (Carreras, Domingo and Pavarotti), cooking Spanish meals, and speaking French with anyone who spoke the language. She led a French group in her final years to teach others the language. She dressed impeccably everyday, even for short excursions to the grocery store. She enjoyed writing in her later years and always took the time to ask about others.

A memorial service will take place on Thursday, January 30, 2025 at Noon at the New Hampshire Veterans Cemetery in Boscawen where she will be laid to rest next to Dayton. Depending on weather, the service will either take place graveside or in the chapel at the cemetery.

Concepcion had deep compassion for others and was always deeply troubled by human suffering. She gave charitably to a number of worthy causes during her lifetime. Because of this, in lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice, or to the New Hampshire Food Bank, which Concepcion supported during her lifetime.