TEWKSBURY: Grace E. "Betty" (Crown) Patterson, age 92, a resident of Tewksbury for over 85 years and for the past year a resident of the BrightView Concord River Assisted Living Facility in Billerica.
Betty passed peacefully in her sleep on Friday, December 31, 2010 at the Sunny Acres Nursing Home in Chelmsford, following a long and happy life, married to her beloved husband of 61 years, Harry M. Patterson, who passed away on April 7, 2000. Betty's family would like to thank the entire staff at the BrightView Concord River Assisted Living Facility for the enriched quality of life and love they provided to "Amazing Grace" over the past year.
Born in Medfield on June 29, 1918, she was the daughter of the late Samuel Crown and the late Grace (Wiggin) Crown.
Betty was raised in the Wamesit area of Tewksbury, attended Tewksbury schools and graduated from Tewksbury High School in 1936. Following graduation, she attended the former Lowell Commercial College.
Prior to her retirement in 1983, she was employed as a medical transcriber at the Tewksbury Hospital, where she worked for 14 years. In earlier years, she worked as a telephone operator at the Tewksbury Hospital, New England Telephone Co., and the Lowell Answering Service.
Mrs. Patterson was a member of the Tewksbury Congregational Church, where she sang in the choir and celebrated 75 years as a member in 2009.
Betty was a member of several area organizations including the Tewksbury Golden Age Club and Senior Drop-in-Center, the Tewksbury Carnation Belles and Red Hat Society, the Tewksbury Historical Society and the Lowell Choral Society.
Mrs. Patterson is survived by two daughters, Cheryl J. Donoghue and her husband Charles "Chuck" Donoghue of Tewksbury and Melissa M. Spinosa and her husband Stephen of Burlington; three sons, Robert W. Patterson and his wife Linda of Virginia, Richard E. Patterson, Sr. and his wife Judy and William N. Patterson and his wife Linda all of Dracut; two sisters, Alma Weeks and her husband Rudy and Esther Whittum and her husband Harold all of Port Charlotte, FL; eleven grandchildren, Shelly Larimer, Robert T.Patterson, Richard Patterson, Jr., Laurie Chase, Jeffrey Patterson, Matthew and Michelle Patterson, Lauren and Timothy Donoghue, Katie and Jenna Spinosa; seven great grandchildren, Charla Hudgins, James Howe, Johnny and Tiffany Larimer, Brian and Kevin Patterson and Trevor Chase; seven great great grandchildren, Alyssa, Erica and Kristin McGee, Jacob Hudgins, James, Robert and Dylan Howe; also many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Patterson was the sister of the late Arlene Rawson.
Calling hours Tuesday, Jan. 4th, from 4-7 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 10 a.m., at the Tewksbury Congregational Church, East St., Tewksbury Center. Interment to follow at Tewksbury Cemetery. At Betty's request kindly Omit Flowers, donations in her memory may be made to the Tewksbury Fire Dept. c/o Fire Equipment Fund , 21 Town Hall Ave., Tewksbury, MA 01876 or to the Tewksbury Congregational Church, East St., Tewksbury, MA 01876.