Gertrude (Sidebottom) Webster died Thursday, May 31, 2007, after suffering a heart attack at home. She was predeceased by her husband, William "Bill" Webster, after 62 years of marriage. She leaves a daughter, Judith A. Webster of Holden; two sons, Robert B. and Richard P. She was grandmother to Jamie, Bryan, Alaina and Victoria Webster of Worcester. She leaves one nephew, Richard Sidebottom and his wife, Patricia; and two nieces, Judith Sidebottom and Nancy Clements. Mrs. Webster was born in Worcester in 1917, the daughter of Arthur and Inez (Kinder) Sidebottom. She had one brother, Ernest, who predeceased her.
She was raised in Worcester and graduated from Commerce High School. Mrs. Webster was employed by Frost and Billick, George F. Wright Co. and the City of Worcester's Treasurers Office until she stayed home as a full-time mother and volunteer. She was a faithful member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church where she served as Superintendent of the Sunday School, Director of the Altar Guild, Director of the Thrift Shop and a member of the Vestry. When her boys were young, she was active at Gates Lane and Ludlow Street Elementary Schools as president of the PTAs and as a weekly library volunteer. She was a member of the Memorial Hospital Volunteers who met weekly to make dressings for the surgery department. She was a Den Mother and Den Leader Trainer for the Boy Scouts of America and was honored by them as a recipient of the Baden Powell Award for service. Her commercial skills came in handy when she became treasurer of the Bancroft Chapter of the AARP. She was past treasurer of the Worcester Women's Republican Club and the Worcester Republican City Committee. She was an avid reader, knitter and card sender. She loved to play the piano and entertained at many a gathering.
The funeral service will be held on Monday, June 4, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Zero Freeland St. Calling hours will be held Sunday, June 3 from 5-8 p.m. at NORDGREN MEMORIAL CHAPEL, 300 Lincoln St. Burial will be private. Donations can be made to Abby's House, Inc., 52 High St., Worcester, MA 01609; Salvation Army, 72 Cambridge St., Worcester, MA 01603 or St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Zero Freeland St., Worcester, MA 01603. For directions and on-line condolences, please click below.