Mary Margaret “Peg” (Shepardson) Bence, 85, of Westport died Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at home. The wife of the late Raymond Everett Bence, Jr., they were married for 47 years. She is survived by her daughter Catherine Lee Bence of Dunstable, MA.
Born in Somerville, MA she was the daughter of the late Winthrop Earl and Catherine (MacKenzie) Shepardson. She and Ray were longtime residents of Braintree, MA before moving to Westport, MA in 1979.
After graduating from Braintree High School in 1943, Peg attended the Quincy City Hospital School of Nursing and was a member of the Nursing Cadet Corps during World War II. Her passion was working with mothers and their children. After many years as a delivery room nurse at Quincy City Hospital, she returned to school and graduated from Boston University School of Nursing with a Masters in Maternal-Child Health. She later taught nursing at Malden and Quincy and was instrumental in the introduction of family-centered obstetrical services at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. After retirement in Westport she served as a volunteer Ombudsman for Coastlines Elderly Services, Inc. and volunteered with the Westport Council on Aging.
Peg had a life-long love of music. She joined her first church choir as a child and continued to sing choral music throughout her life in school, at church, with the New Bedford Choral Society, and with the Berkshire Choral Society. She joined the Westport Point United Methodist Church shortly after moving to Westport and was active in the choir and church to the very end. Despite health problems in recent years she remained active in her community, largely through the support of her church family.
Relatives and friends are invited to a memorial service and celebration of her life Saturday, October 1, 2011, 11:00 A.M. at the Westport Point United Methodist Church, 1912 Main Road, Westport, MA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.