Meredith Moulton (Harvey) Howlett, 81, of Hingham, MA, passed away September 4, 2026, in the home where she was raised. Born on March 12, 1945, in Hingham, to Draper and Mildred Harvey, she lived her entire life in the town she loved. She will be remembered for her devotion to family, her gift for creating beauty in the home and garden, and her deep ties to the Hingham community.
She met her husband, Steve, at Hingham High School, where the two became high school sweethearts. She went on to complete a postgraduate year at Kents Hill School before attending Mount Ida Junior College. They were married on June 15, 1968, and shared 58 years together.
Meredith dedicated herself to raising her children and creating a warm and loving home. She had a deep passion for gardening, finding joy in nurturing her own piece of earth—a passion she passed on to her daughters—and loved antiquing, always with an eye for treasures with history and character. She delighted in decorating for every holiday throughout the year, and her elegant home and stunning topiary collection were once featured in The Sunday Boston Globe Magazine. She also took great pride and care in maintaining her homes, especially the two cherished properties on Cape Cod: one passed down from her own parents, filled with memories from her childhood, and another she and Steve purchased together later in life. In both places, some of her happiest moments were spent with family, including crabbing in the river.
Family remained at the center of Meredith’s life. She was a proud grandmother who delighted in spoiling her grandchildren at every opportunity and especially cherished sharing a birthday with Cameron, one of many special connections she held with each of them. She also adored her poodles, Mac and Lily—beloved companions through the years. Mac predeceased her, and Lily remained faithfully by her side.
Meredith was a lifelong member of Hingham Congregational Church for over 70 years, which she attended from childhood and continued to hold dear into her adult life. She sang in the church choir and spent years teaching Sunday School. She also enjoyed daily walks around town with family and friends and took part on several occasions in the Jimmy Fund Walk, Boston’s annual marathon-route walk for Dana-Farber.
She was well traveled, often joining her husband on business trips both domestically and overseas and enjoying every chance to see new places alongside him. She also loved warm, tropical getaways, returning to favorite sun-soaked spots year after year.
In her final years, Meredith navigated the challenges of dementia, surrounded by the love and care of her family.
Meredith is survived by her devoted husband, Stephen Howlett. She is also survived by her daughters, Megan Baker (Steve) and Catherine Gilfoy (Jed), both of Hingham; her four grandchildren, Cameron Baker, Will Baker, Fern Gilfoy, and Hawk Gilfoy; her sister-in-law, Virginia Harvey; brothers-in-law Phil Howlett (Betty) and Jeff Howlett; sister-in-law Sue Ann Wall (Jim); and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Draper and Mildred Harvey; her brother, Charles Harvey; and her sister-in-law, Linda Howlett.
Service and burial will be private.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Scituate Animal Shelter, Hingham Congregational Church, or High Street Cemetery. For additional information and online guestbook please go to www.downingchapel.com