SPENCER: Phyllis Jane (Bowden) Hotz 84, of North Spencer Road , died peacefully Monday, Sept. 23rd at her home surrounded by family and dear friends after a long illness. She leaves her husband of 50 years, Charles F. Hotz; her two sons, Jonathan C. Hotz, and his wife Bethany Carlson of Rockport, and David P. Hotz, and his wife Amanda Eldridge of Charlton; her daughter, Priscilla Hotz, and her husband Thomas Tetreault of Southbridge; her six grandchildren, Christina Brown, Marissa Hotz, Zoe Tetreault, Jackson Tetreault, Henry Hotz and William Hotz; her great-granddaughter, Averie Tomey; her son-in-law, Nevin Miller and nieces, Linda Coningford and Jayne Tilden. She is predeceased by her daughter, Rebecca Hotzmiller in 2001 and her sister, Martha Hancock in 2006.
Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Philip K. and Esther (Brightman) Bowden. Jane attended Nasson College, Springvale, Maine earning bachelor's degrees in Home Economics and Chemistry. She played field hockey and basketball for Nasson, sat first chair violin in the orchestra, sang in the choir, served as member of the Judicial Board, and Debate Team. She completed her graduate studies at the former Bridgewater State College, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and Anna Maria College, Paxton, Massachusetts.
Jane worked in the textile industry after college at Fernald-Sandford, Sanford, Maine. She worked in service of others as a 4H Club Agent in Franklin and Worcester Counties before marrying then counseling those with substance use disorders at Harrington Memorial Hospital in Spencer and Southbridge before retiring in 1993.
Jane was a longtime Girl Scout Leader and Camp Counselor, as well as den mother for her sons' Cub Scout Troop. She volunteered tutoring children with learning disabilities in the Spencer School District, hosted children for the Fresh Air Fund for urban children, and hosted participants in the 4H International Exchange Program. She was a four decade long member of the First Congregational Church in North Brookfield where she sang alto in the choir, taught Sunday School, lead Pioneer Girls, and participated in Women's Bible Study and Prayer Group. She loved camping, caring for animals, and was a great prankster. She was an accomplished sailor, seamstress, violinist, and culinarian.
Jane was blessed to remain living in her home despite battling Parkinson's Disease for more than a decade. She was cared for by her husband and a group of dedicated women who became close family friends. The love, support and humor that Missy, Michele, Jill, Amanda, Yohanna, Stephanie, and Lisa brought to Jane's life helped make her final years joyous and rich.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 28th at 1p.m. at the First Congregational Church of North Brookfield , 144 Main Street, North Brookfield. Burial of her ashes will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, September 28th in Worcester County Memorial Park , 217 Richards Avenue, Paxton. Memorial calling hours will be held on Friday, September 27th from 5 to 7p.m. in the J.HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terrace, Spencer www.morin-morrison.com
In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Jane's and Rebecca's memory to Ovations for the Cure of Ovarian Cancer, 251 West Central Street, Suite 35, Natick, MA 01760, http://www.ovationsforthecure.org/.