Frances 'Kit' Woods Fairchild

Frances “Kit” Woods Fairchild, 90, of Peterborough, NH (formerly of Belchertown, MA, and East Setauket, NY) died peacefully on April 1, 2026, surrounded by family.

Born December 8, 1935, in Rochester, NY, Kit believed creativity was the essence of life. She infused art into her work as a kindergarten teacher, in the writings, poems and paintings she produced throughout her life, even writing poetry in her last weeks. Her creative spirit lives on in her beloved log cabin, designed with 10-foot-tall windows and built by hand with her family in the Adirondacks.

Kit moved to RiverMead 10 years ago, drawn to the Monadnock region after childhood summers on Jaffrey’s Thorndike Pond. A lifelong Quaker, Kit attended Westtown School in Westtown, Pennsylvania, and was a member of Conscience Bay Meeting in Saint James, NY, and Mount Toby Meeting in Leverett, MA. She was also a graduate of Wellesley College and Bank Street Graduate School of Education.

She is survived by five siblings: David Woods of Peterborough, NH; Carol Gehlbach (Stephen) of Peterborough, NH; Heather Ames (Richard) of Jaffrey, NH; Robert Woods (Shoshi) of Rockport, MA; and Gail Woods (Andrzej) of New York, NY. She also leaves four children: David Fairchild (Susie) of Sherborn, MA; James Fairchild (Mari) of Eden Prairie, MN; Stefanie Fairchild of Falmouth, ME; and Jovi Fairchild (Vincent) of Owings Mills, MD; 13 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren.

She was predeceased by her parents, Francis and Davida Woods; her husband, Ralph Fairchild; and her grandson, Nicholas Fairchild.

The family is grateful to the staff at RiverMead and HCS Hospice for their thoughtful end-of-life care.

A celebration of life will be held at Wellesley Friends Meeting, 26 Benvenue St, Wellesley, MA, on Saturday, May 23rd at 2PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the American Friends Service Committee, located at 1501 Cherry Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102.