Elizabeth Regina (Blackburn) Sherman of Plymouth, Massachusetts passed away at her home on July 8.
She was born to George W. and Georgianna Josephine (Mercier) Blackburn on Nov. 24, 1930, in Lawrence.
She was predeceased by her loving husband of 47 years, Royce F Sherman; her sisters Lillian Comeau and Louise Olson; her son-in-law James Sutton; and her granddaughter Bethany Dunne.
She is survived by her brother William R Blackburn and her four daughters: Joan Sutton; Ann Giuggio (Bill); Diana Warren (John); and Mary Rogers (Bill). Elizabeth is also survived by nine grandchildren: Kelly Ryll (Jim); Robyn Demuth (Mike); Michaela Giuggio (Brian Richards); Shana Warren; Derek Warren (Erin); Trevor Warren (Victoria); Kyle Robert (Luisa); Ashlee Robert; and Jackie Lach (Paul).
She is also survived by 19 great-grandchildren, with one more expected in December.
Elizabeth (also known as Betty or Liz) grew up in Weymouth and graduated from Weymouth High School in 1948. She graduated from Pierce Secretarial School in Boston and used her skills throughout many years as a secretary and bookkeeper in several places, including her husband’s business, South Shore Heating and Cooling of Weymouth and later in Yarmouth.
Betty and her husband Roy raised their four daughters in Quincy and Weymouth until 1967 when they moved to Plymouth.
They spent many years on Great Herring Pond where they entertained family and friends frequently, including at many family reunions and during an annual two-week stay for their grandchildren once they reached first grade.
Before the cottage became a home it was very rare for them to be there without their friends, Dick and Mary and their four children: Denise; Debbie; Joe; and Dawn. Somehow, they all squeezed into a one-bedroom cottage.
After their children were grown, Betty and Roy enjoyed traveling to many places including the British Isles, Mexico, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, Hungary, and Northern Italy. They purchased an RV which was used for travel throughout the United States for several years.
Elizabeth was a talented sewist, creating many Halloween costumes and dresses for her children and herself over the years. She also enjoyed knitting and completed a blanket for each of her 10 grandchildren for their high school graduations.
She also gave of her time willingly and cheerfully for the benefit of her children by leading Bluebirds and Camp Fire Girls for a few years and always attending her children’s (and often grandchildren’s) events. Her hospitality went further with her careful attention to the birthdays of many friends and relatives, including those of her children’s friends and in-laws as they married. She spent many hours playing cribbage with Roy, or Yahtzee with friends, kids, and grandkids. Of all the games she played over the years, Scrabble was her favorite, following the tradition of her mother. She played her final game of Scrabble as recently as Sunday, July 6 – just two days before her death.
One of her favorite things to do was to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a big dinner for the family, often including their friends Lloyd and Betty. She would prepare green recipes, buy green hats and squawkers, and decorate everything with green.
Elizabeth was a faithful member of Immaculate Conception Church in Weymouth, then St. Bonaventure Church in Manomet from 1967 until her death. She was active in the Bonnie Seniors group there.
She also joined the Red Hat Ladies and enjoyed bus trips with both groups to events and places, including the casino (where she gave herself a spending limit, then read a book until the bus departed).
In her final years, Elizabeth became a member of the Bourne Community Center, where she took several classes, enjoyed many lunches, movies, and especially the women who attended the coffee chats.
Above all else Elizabeth was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandma, and Gigi to Roy and their kids, grandkids and great- grandkids. She will be sorely missed but has truly earned her eternal rest.
Services will be through Cartmell-Davis Funeral home. A wake will be at their building at 619 State Road in Manomet on Tuesday, July 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. The funeral and burial will be on Wednesday, July 16, starting at 10 a.m. at St. Bonaventure Church, 803 State Road in Manomet, followed by burial at Cedarville Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to Cranberry Hospice, 36 Cordage Park Circle, Plymouth, MA, 02360, or
St. Bonaventure Church, PO Box 996, Plymouth, MA, 02345.