GLOUCESTER: Bessie (Thanos) Herrick, 87, died Tuesday, January 13, 2009 in the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston following an extended illness. She was the wife of Paul M. Herrick.
Born in Ipswich on May 5, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Savas and Caroline (Papadopulous) Thanos. She had resided in Ipswich for many years before moving to Gloucester in 1946.
In her younger years, Bessie had worked at the Ipswich Shellfish Company, as a stitcher at the Martin & Tickelis Shoe Company in Newburyport and at the Sylvania Plant in Ipswich. An avid reader, Bessie enjoyed cooking and sewing and loved animals.
In addition to her husband of sixty-three years, she is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Joanne C. Witham and Elizabeth J. and David Hunter all of Gloucester, two grandsons, Christopher and Nathaniel Hunter both of Gloucester, a sister, Jennie Dumont of Gloucester and two nieces, Diane MacDonald of Gloucester and Donna Coutant of Marietta, Georgia. She was also predeceased by her son-in-law, Jay Witham, a sister, Simone Martin and two brothers, George and Anthony Thanos.
Her funeral services will be held on Saturday in the Pike-Grondin Funeral Home, 61 Middle Street, Gloucester at 10 a.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to attend. There are no visiting hours. Interment will be held in the Seaside Cemetery, Lanesville.