Elizabeth "Betty" Pierce's Obituary
Elizabeth “Betty” (Manning) Pierce, 100, passed away on Friday, August 20, 2021, at Mary Immaculate Nursing and Restorative Center in Lawrence. She was the beloved wife of the late Robert S. Pierce with whom she shared 28 years of marriage. Elizabeth was a survivor of both breast cancer and COVID-19.
Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on October 8, 1920, Betty was the daughter of the late John F. and Ida C. Manning. She was a graduate of St. Mary High School and the McIntosh Business School. She earned an Associate Degree in Business from Northern Essex Community College.
She served for over 30 years as the Administrative Assistant at the AAA-Automobile Club of Merrimack Valley, where she especially enjoyed writing restaurant reviews for its monthly newsletter. Betty was active in the Lawrence Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, and she also served as President of the Lawrence Chapter of the International Quota Club. While working with Quota, she was instrumental in an initiative to work with the deaf community. She studied American Sign Language and was proud to be involved in setting up Masses for the deaf.
Betty was a woman of great faith and was active in her parish at St. Augustine, Tower Hill, Lawrence and most recently at St. Monica Parish, Methuen. The greatest and most important joy in her life was the large family gatherings where she could see all of her loved ones under one roof. Nana Betty always asked about the grandchildren and great-grandchildren, their schooling and the activities they were involved in. Everyone was her favorite. She loved us all the same and always let us know it!
She loved to travel with her family both in the United States and internationally to Ireland, Canada, Bermuda, Australia, New Zealand and Mexico.
Betty will be greatly missed by her children and their spouses, Julie Jaquish of Pomfret, CT, Deacon John and Kathrene Pierce of Methuen, Kathleen and Dennis Shortelle of Harwich, MA, William and Jean Pierce of Methuen, Michael and Nancy Pierce of Hampstead, NH and Denis and Kim Pierce of Andover, her grandchildren, Joanne Dursin, Erica Beeman, Shane Pierce, Keith Pierce, Patrick Pierce, Matthew Shortelle, Beth Hellman, Katie Pierce, Laura Pierce, Robert Pierce, Meghan Pierce and 16 great-grandchildren. She was also predeceased by her sister Frances Manning and son-in-law, Richard Jaquish. She also is survived by many faithful friends, nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family would like to thank the entire staff of Mary Immaculate Nursing/Restorative Center and staff from Beacon Hospice of Lawrence for all the compassionate care given to Betty during her stay. The family would also like to thank the home care staff from Home Instead of North Andover. Lastly, the family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude for all of the prayers from her many friends, those in the parishes of St. Monica, and St. Lucy and the Boston Diaconate Community. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Mary Immaculate Nursing/Restorative Center, 172 Lawrence Street, Lawrence, MA 01841 or Beacon Hospice, 290 Merrimack Street, Suite 242, Lawrence, MA 01843.
Friends and guests are invited to call on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at the Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral home, 233 Lawrence St. Methuen. A vigil service with words of remembrance will be held at 7:30 until 8:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Thursday, August 26, 2021 at 11:00 AM at St. Monica’s Parish, 212 Lawrence St. Methuen. Interment to follow at Immaculate Conception Cemetery. For directions and online guestbook, please visit the funeral home website, www.pollardfuneralhome.com. The Kenneth H. Pollard Funeral Home is honored to serve the Pierce Family.
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