Elizabeth Heselton Bachelder
HALLOWELL -- Elizabeth Heselton Bachelder passed away peacefully surrounded by her family during the early hours of May 14, 2010, from complications of dementia.
Betty was born Dec. 23, 1929, in Gardiner, the daughter of Henry and Alice Crossland Heselton. She was a graduate of Gardiner High School, attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated from Simmons College in Boston in 1951.
Betty married Richard G. Bachelder a month after graduation and they made a wonderful life together for the next 59 years in their home up the hill on Mayflower Road in Hallowell.
Betty was the quiet, nurturing, and the creative half of the Betty-and-Dick love story. She was first and foremost the devoted mother and staunch supporter of five children and the proud and loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren, who filled her life with joy.
While cheering on her kids in their myriad activities, Betty also quietly pursued a wide range of achievements for which she never sought the limelight. While raising her loud and active family, Betty returned to college, completed her teaching certificate, and then spent the next 18 years in a career she loved -- teaching second grade at South Gardiner Primary School.
Meanwhile, her love for her community, music, sports, reading and the arts led her in many fruitful directions. She was a trustee of the Hubbard Free Library for many years, served on the Hallowell Planning Board and as a member of the Hospice Board, delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years, and was a longtime volunteer at the town hall. She also discovered a love of painting and jogging. When her knees started bothering her, she grudgingly shifted to walking and found enormous happiness walking the rail trail almost daily with her dear friend, Norma.
Betty will be remembered by many for her gift of music. The "hums," as Dick called them, were some of their favorite times together. She and Dick would sit side by each on the piano seat, harmonizing together, as friends and family gathered round singing favorite oldies. She shared this gift of music with the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church, where she sat in the choir and played the huge pipe organ for 40 years.
Betty's favorite pastime was undoubtedly tennis. She was the most competitive half of the Betty and Dick doubles team, and the only time her children feared her was when she was down a game and at the net. She would gladly do anything for Dick or the kids, except lose a tennis match.
Betty's life was unusually blessed and in return she blessed the lives of everyone who knew her. Dick and the kids will miss her unbearably every day of their lives, but they are comforted in the knowledge that they will continue to see her in the flowers in her rock garden, hear her voice in the sound of their favorite songs, smile with her at the taste of apple pie, and feel her presence in any walk they take and any hug they give.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, Dick; her son, Dick and his wife, Amy Ryan, of York: her daughters and their husbands, Susan and Leon Hadiaris, of Saco, Judy and Tom Bullitt, of Brookline, Mass., Patty and Dan Parker, of Cumberland, and Kathy and Michael Coster, of Falmouth: as well as by her beloved grandchildren, Joshua and his wife, Ari, and Jennifer Hadiaris; Ben, Lily and John Bullitt; Emily, Libby and Anna Parker; Kate; Jack and Maggie Coster; and Billy and Meggie Bachelder. She is also survived by her soulmate and sister, Joan Lockhart; her loving brothers, Bill Heselton and his wife, Hilda, of Hallowell, and George Heselton and his wife, Betty, of Gardiner; her sister-in-law, Mary, and her husband, Alton Sproul, of Centerville, Mass.; her "Aunt Frannie," Francesca Perazzi, of Portland; and many nieces and nephews.
Dick and the kids are so thankful for the many good friends who filled Betty and Dick's life with laughter and song. They will be forever grateful to Norma for her unwavering friendship, and to the incredible caregivers from Renaissance, the Woodlands and the VA Home, all of whom became part the family through their amazing devotion to this gentle, kind woman.
Though Betty's memory dimmed over the past year, our memories of her will shine on brightly forever. Visiting hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 17, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hallowell. Burial will follow in the Hallowell Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name in support of Hubbard Free Library, 155 Second St., Hallowell, ME 04347; or HealthReach Hospice c/o Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903.
HALLOWELL -- Elizabeth Heselton Bachelder passed away peacefully surrounded by her family during the early hours of May 14, 2010, from complications of dementia.
Betty was born Dec. 23, 1929, in Gardiner, the daughter of Henry and Alice Crossland Heselton. She was a graduate of Gardiner High School, attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated from Simmons College in Boston in 1951.
Betty married Richard G. Bachelder a month after graduation and they made a wonderful life together for the next 59 years in their home up the hill on Mayflower Road in Hallowell.
Betty was the quiet, nurturing, and the creative half of the Betty-and-Dick love story. She was first and foremost the devoted mother and staunch supporter of five children and the proud and loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren, who filled her life with joy.
While cheering on her kids in their myriad activities, Betty also quietly pursued a wide range of achievements for which she never sought the limelight. While raising her loud and active family, Betty returned to college, completed her teaching certificate, and then spent the next 18 years in a career she loved -- teaching second grade at South Gardiner Primary School.
Meanwhile, her love for her community, music, sports, reading and the arts led her in many fruitful directions. She was a trustee of the Hubbard Free Library for many years, served on the Hallowell Planning Board and as a member of the Hospice Board, delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years, and was a longtime volunteer at the town hall. She also discovered a love of painting and jogging. When her knees started bothering her, she grudgingly shifted to walking and found enormous happiness walking the rail trail almost daily with her dear friend, Norma.
Betty will be remembered by many for her gift of music. The "hums," as Dick called them, were some of their favorite times together. She and Dick would sit side by each on the piano seat, harmonizing together, as friends and family gathered round singing favorite oldies. She shared this gift of music with the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church, where she sat in the choir and played the huge pipe organ for 40 years.
Betty's favorite pastime was undoubtedly tennis. She was the most competitive half of the Betty and Dick doubles team, and the only time her children feared her was when she was down a game and at the net. She would gladly do anything for Dick or the kids, except lose a tennis match.
Betty's life was unusually blessed and in return she blessed the lives of everyone who knew her. Dick and the kids will miss her unbearably every day of their lives, but they are comforted in the knowledge that they will continue to see her in the flowers in her rock garden, hear her voice in the sound of their favorite songs, smile with her at the taste of apple pie, and feel her presence in any walk they take and any hug they give.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, Dick; her son, Dick and his wife, Amy Ryan, of York: her daughters and their husbands, Susan and Leon Hadiaris, of Saco, Judy and Tom Bullitt, of Brookline, Mass., Patty and Dan Parker, of Cumberland, and Kathy and Michael Coster, of Falmouth: as well as by her beloved grandchildren, Joshua and his wife, Ari, and Jennifer Hadiaris; Ben, Lily and John Bullitt; Emily, Libby and Anna Parker; Kate; Jack and Maggie Coster; and Billy and Meggie Bachelder. She is also survived by her soulmate and sister, Joan Lockhart; her loving brothers, Bill Heselton and his wife, Hilda, of Hallowell, and George Heselton and his wife, Betty, of Gardiner; her sister-in-law, Mary, and her husband, Alton Sproul, of Centerville, Mass.; her "Aunt Frannie," Francesca Perazzi, of Portland; and many nieces and nephews.
Dick and the kids are so thankful for the many good friends who filled Betty and Dick's life with laughter and song. They will be forever grateful to Norma for her unwavering friendship, and to the incredible caregivers from Renaissance, the Woodlands and the VA Home, all of whom became part the family through their amazing devotion to this gentle, kind woman.
Though Betty's memory dimmed over the past year, our memories of her will shine on brightly forever. Visiting hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 17, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hallowell. Burial will follow in the Hallowell Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name in support of Hubbard Free Library, 155 Second St., Hallowell, ME 04347; or HealthReach Hospice c/o Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903.
Elizabeth Heselton Bachelder
HALLOWELL -- Elizabeth Heselton Bachelder passed away peacefully surrounded by her family during the early hours of May 14, 2010, from complications of dementia.
Betty was born Dec. 23, 1929, in Gardiner, the daughter of Henry and Alice Crossland Heselton. She was a graduate of Gardiner High School, attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated from Simmons College in Boston in 1951.
Betty married Richard G. Bachelder a month after graduation and they made a wonderful life together for the next 59 years in their home up the hill on Mayflower Road in Hallowell.
Betty was the quiet, nurturing, and the creative half of the Betty-and-Dick love story. She was first and foremost the devoted mother and staunch supporter of five children and the proud and loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren, who filled her life with joy.
While cheering on her kids in their myriad activities, Betty also quietly pursued a wide range of achievements for which she never sought the limelight. While raising her loud and active family, Betty returned to college, completed her teaching certificate, and then spent the next 18 years in a career she loved -- teaching second grade at South Gardiner Primary School.
Meanwhile, her love for her community, music, sports, reading and the arts led her in many fruitful directions. She was a trustee of the Hubbard Free Library for many years, served on the Hallowell Planning Board and as a member of the Hospice Board, delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years, and was a longtime volunteer at the town hall. She also discovered a love of painting and jogging. When her knees started bothering her, she grudgingly shifted to walking and found enormous happiness walking the rail trail almost daily with her dear friend, Norma.
Betty will be remembered by many for her gift of music. The "hums," as Dick called them, were some of their favorite times together. She and Dick would sit side by each on the piano seat, harmonizing together, as friends and family gathered round singing favorite oldies. She shared this gift of music with the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church, where she sat in the choir and played the huge pipe organ for 40 years.
Betty's favorite pastime was undoubtedly tennis. She was the most competitive half of the Betty and Dick doubles team, and the only time her children feared her was when she was down a game and at the net. She would gladly do anything for Dick or the kids, except lose a tennis match.
Betty's life was unusually blessed and in return she blessed the lives of everyone who knew her. Dick and the kids will miss her unbearably every day of their lives, but they are comforted in the knowledge that they will continue to see her in the flowers in her rock garden, hear her voice in the sound of their favorite songs, smile with her at the taste of apple pie, and feel her presence in any walk they take and any hug they give.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, Dick; her son, Dick and his wife, Amy Ryan, of York: her daughters and their husbands, Susan and Leon Hadiaris, of Saco, Judy and Tom Bullitt, of Brookline, Mass., Patty and Dan Parker, of Cumberland, and Kathy and Michael Coster, of Falmouth: as well as by her beloved grandchildren, Joshua and his wife, Ari, and Jennifer Hadiaris; Ben, Lily and John Bullitt; Emily, Libby and Anna Parker; Kate; Jack and Maggie Coster; and Billy and Meggie Bachelder. She is also survived by her soulmate and sister, Joan Lockhart; her loving brothers, Bill Heselton and his wife, Hilda, of Hallowell, and George Heselton and his wife, Betty, of Gardiner; her sister-in-law, Mary, and her husband, Alton Sproul, of Centerville, Mass.; her "Aunt Frannie," Francesca Perazzi, of Portland; and many nieces and nephews.
Dick and the kids are so thankful for the many good friends who filled Betty and Dick's life with laughter and song. They will be forever grateful to Norma for her unwavering friendship, and to the incredible caregivers from Renaissance, the Woodlands and the VA Home, all of whom became part the family through their amazing devotion to this gentle, kind woman.
Though Betty's memory dimmed over the past year, our memories of her will shine on brightly forever. Visiting hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 17, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hallowell. Burial will follow in the Hallowell Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name in support of Hubbard Free Library, 155 Second St., Hallowell, ME 04347; or HealthReach Hospice c/o Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903.
HALLOWELL -- Elizabeth Heselton Bachelder passed away peacefully surrounded by her family during the early hours of May 14, 2010, from complications of dementia.
Betty was born Dec. 23, 1929, in Gardiner, the daughter of Henry and Alice Crossland Heselton. She was a graduate of Gardiner High School, attended the University of Maine in Orono and graduated from Simmons College in Boston in 1951.
Betty married Richard G. Bachelder a month after graduation and they made a wonderful life together for the next 59 years in their home up the hill on Mayflower Road in Hallowell.
Betty was the quiet, nurturing, and the creative half of the Betty-and-Dick love story. She was first and foremost the devoted mother and staunch supporter of five children and the proud and loving grandmother of 13 grandchildren, who filled her life with joy.
While cheering on her kids in their myriad activities, Betty also quietly pursued a wide range of achievements for which she never sought the limelight. While raising her loud and active family, Betty returned to college, completed her teaching certificate, and then spent the next 18 years in a career she loved -- teaching second grade at South Gardiner Primary School.
Meanwhile, her love for her community, music, sports, reading and the arts led her in many fruitful directions. She was a trustee of the Hubbard Free Library for many years, served on the Hallowell Planning Board and as a member of the Hospice Board, delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years, and was a longtime volunteer at the town hall. She also discovered a love of painting and jogging. When her knees started bothering her, she grudgingly shifted to walking and found enormous happiness walking the rail trail almost daily with her dear friend, Norma.
Betty will be remembered by many for her gift of music. The "hums," as Dick called them, were some of their favorite times together. She and Dick would sit side by each on the piano seat, harmonizing together, as friends and family gathered round singing favorite oldies. She shared this gift of music with the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Church, where she sat in the choir and played the huge pipe organ for 40 years.
Betty's favorite pastime was undoubtedly tennis. She was the most competitive half of the Betty and Dick doubles team, and the only time her children feared her was when she was down a game and at the net. She would gladly do anything for Dick or the kids, except lose a tennis match.
Betty's life was unusually blessed and in return she blessed the lives of everyone who knew her. Dick and the kids will miss her unbearably every day of their lives, but they are comforted in the knowledge that they will continue to see her in the flowers in her rock garden, hear her voice in the sound of their favorite songs, smile with her at the taste of apple pie, and feel her presence in any walk they take and any hug they give.
Betty is survived by her loving husband, Dick; her son, Dick and his wife, Amy Ryan, of York: her daughters and their husbands, Susan and Leon Hadiaris, of Saco, Judy and Tom Bullitt, of Brookline, Mass., Patty and Dan Parker, of Cumberland, and Kathy and Michael Coster, of Falmouth: as well as by her beloved grandchildren, Joshua and his wife, Ari, and Jennifer Hadiaris; Ben, Lily and John Bullitt; Emily, Libby and Anna Parker; Kate; Jack and Maggie Coster; and Billy and Meggie Bachelder. She is also survived by her soulmate and sister, Joan Lockhart; her loving brothers, Bill Heselton and his wife, Hilda, of Hallowell, and George Heselton and his wife, Betty, of Gardiner; her sister-in-law, Mary, and her husband, Alton Sproul, of Centerville, Mass.; her "Aunt Frannie," Francesca Perazzi, of Portland; and many nieces and nephews.
Dick and the kids are so thankful for the many good friends who filled Betty and Dick's life with laughter and song. They will be forever grateful to Norma for her unwavering friendship, and to the incredible caregivers from Renaissance, the Woodlands and the VA Home, all of whom became part the family through their amazing devotion to this gentle, kind woman.
Though Betty's memory dimmed over the past year, our memories of her will shine on brightly forever. Visiting hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, May 17, at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Ave., Gardiner. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 18, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Hallowell. Burial will follow in the Hallowell Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in her name in support of Hubbard Free Library, 155 Second St., Hallowell, ME 04347; or HealthReach Hospice c/o Office of Philanthropy, P.O. Box 828, Waterville, ME 04903.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
