TEWKSBURY: Mary Elizabeth (Scherban) Spencer, age 73, a resident of Tewksbury and a communicant and active parishioner of St. William’s Church since 1967, died Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at Saints Medical Center in Lowell.
She was the wife of John Richard Spencer, Sr., who died February 14, 1988.
Born Mary Elizabeth Scherban in Boston on August 20, 1933, she was the daughter of the late Dimitri and Maria (Turchenetz) Scherban.
Mrs. Spencer was raised in the Dorchester area of Boston and married her late husband in 1953.
She served as a Eucharistic Minister and assisted St. William’s Parish in many capacities including visiting and serving communion to the sick, homebound and infirmed residents of the community, participating with team evangelism and sponsoring candidates for catholic retreats. In addition, she was often asked to give testimony or be a guest speaker at church sponsored events.
Prior to her retirement in 1984, she was employed and trained as a technician at the Wang Laboratories in Tewksbury, where she worked for 10 years.
According to her children, her favorite role in life was that of a wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
She is survived by her eight children, John R. Spencer, Jr. of Tewksbury, Diane M. McLean and her husband John of Lowell, Janet A. Spencer of Long Beach, CA, Mary Beth Petros and her husband Mark of Lowell, Patricia E. Humphrey of Greenville, NC, Susan M. Yandle of Dracut, Judith A. Spencer of Long Beach, CA and Steven M. Spencer of Tewksbury; three sisters, Jenny Guido and Anne Thompson both of Quincy and Dr. Lillian F. Scherban of Milton. She was a beloved grandmother and is survived by sixteen grandchildren; three great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.
Calling hours Sunday, April 29th, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral Monday, April 30th, at 10:30 a.m., from the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m., at St. Williams Church, 1351 Main St., Rte. 38, Tewksbury. Interment at Tewksbury Cemetery.