ELIZABETH E. “BETTY” RYDER March 12, 1931 – September 24, 2025
On March 12, 1931, Elizabeth Brazee was born in her grandmother’s house in Tewksbury, a humble beginning of a life well-lived. Betty was the second child in a lineup of eight born to Elizabeth and Louis Brazee. For her 94 years, she called Tewksbury “home”. She married the love of her life, (the late) Milton E. “Gene” Ryder in 1949, and they raised three children, Pamela, Wayne and Brian. Betty is survived by her children and their spouses, Bruce Goody, Cindy Ryder, and Catherine Ryder. Betty’s grandchildren include John Ryder, Elle Moran and her husband Mike Moran, Max Goody, Brianna Ryder, Tia Floss and her husband Mike Floss. She has one great-grandson, Jared, as well as three sisters-in-law Pat Brazee, Roberta Brazee, Anna Brazee and many nieces and nephews. Family was always the most important part of her life.
Betty’s motto was “Be Positive.” She saw the bright side of things and gave people the benefit of the doubt. Every day was a gift to be savored. Tea and chocolate chip cookies with neighbors were a daily occurrence. Top it off with a Hershey’s kiss, and life was good.
She had an abiding love for her church community at the Tewksbury United Methodist Church. Betty and Gene Ryder were one of the first members, laying the cornerstone of the new building at Main and South Streets. They taught Sunday School and Summer Bible School to the youngsters, they joined Couples’ Club, bowling leagues, the annual Church Fair, and community outreach groups, the latest being the Magdalene Circle. The church was part of the fabric of their life.
Betty worked for many years as a lunchroom lady at the Llewella Dewing Elementary School. She enjoyed seeing the children and serving them their lunches each day.
Always ready for an adventure, she looked forward to going “up North” to her cottage in New Hampshire. She and Gene looked for moose, deer, and bear, and enjoyed the fragrances and sounds of nature in the woods. They liked taking dinner cruises on Lake Sunapee and hit the yard sales on weekends.
Betty had many caregivers in the past 5 years, at home and at Riverbend of South Natick. The family could not be more grateful. Thank you, all!
We thank Brad Dee (and his late father, Donald) of Farmer & Dee Funeral Home for tending to all the Brazee/Ryder burials throughout the years. The original Brazee family has been laid to rest in Tewksbury Cemetery. They are reunited once again: Mother/father: Elizabeth and Louis and their eight children: Louis, Jr, Betty, David, Barbara, Billy, George, Paul and Wendell.
Betty was an amazing person who wore many hats: wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, Great Gram, friend, neighbor, and confidante. She has touched the lives of many people and will be missed. Thank you to all who have been a part of Betty’s life. You have meant the world to her. Our lives have also been enriched and blessed by her presence for these past 94 years.
Funeral will be on Monday, September 29, 2025 at Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, located at 16 Lee Street, Tewksbury. Calling hour is at 10:00 AM. Funeral service is at 11:00 AM with burial at Tewksbury Cemetery on 172 East Street, adjacent to the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to:
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts & Rhode Island at www.wish.org/massri