Cherished her family and the friendship of neighbors
Published in the January 14, 2016 edition
NORTH READING — Betty Louise (Currier) Davis, 84, of North Reading passed away peacefully Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016, surrounded by family.
Betty was born May 12, 1931, in Everett and raised in Melrose, graduating from Melrose High School in 1949 and attending nurse’s training at Melrose Hospital. She and her high school sweetheart, John E. Davis Jr, were married in 1951 and moved to North Reading in 1954. They devoted their lives to each other and to raising a happy family, parting only when John passed away two years ago. Now they are rejoined in eternity along with their youngest child, John Michael. Betty is predeceased by her parents, Phineas and Ellen (Virgin) Currier.
Betty and John are survived by her children, Jayne M. Downing and her husband Paul of Methuen, Jeanne M. Arena and her husband Joe of Milford, N.H., Joseph E. Davis and his wife Kristine of North Reading, Joanne M. Davis of Melrose, James E. Davis and his wife Mary of Middleton and John J. Davis and his wife Beth of King George, Va., as well as her brother David and sisters, Pauline and Virginia. Betty’s long life revolved around her family. Betty and John enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, in the early years on camping excursions with their children and in later years seeing the world together, including trips to Ireland and Italy. But when the camping gear was stowed and the AAA maps put away, they were happiest when in the company of their children and 12 grandchildren, John, Amanda, Matthew and Paul Downing, Emily and Amy Arena, Erin and Patrick Davis, Lindsey, Kelly, Bill and his wife Hannah Davis and James L Davis. Whether it was at a cookout in the backyard on Kingston Street or at one of their children’s houses, at a youth ballgame or school concert or taking the gang down to Revere Beach where Betty and John and their friends had hung out as teenagers in another era, Betty and John were all about spending quality time with family.
Betty and John moved to North Reading in 1954. They came to love their new home town and cherished the friendship of their neighbors and of the people they met through church (St. Theresa) and through their children’s school and athletic activities. They almost never missed a town meeting and always were very supportive of the town’s school system and hard-working teachers. Betty spent many years volunteering in the library at the E. Ethel Little School, where all of her children went to grade school.
Betty’s passions outside of family were reading and bowling. During winter months she enjoyed weekly bowling outings at Candlewood Lanes with a group of friends. Due to a heart disorder, her doctor discouraged her from working for health reasons and advised her that she’d be putting herself at risk if she tried to have any children. The rest is history. Good bye, Mom. We love you. Now you’re back with your beloved Jack and we’re happy for both of you.
Her funeral was private from the Croswell Funeral Home, 19 Bow St., North Reading on Saturday, Jan. 9, followed by an 11 a.m. Funeral Mass at St. Theresa Church, 63 Winter St., (Rt. 62), North Reading. Burial was in Riverside Cemetery in North Reading. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in her memory to North Reading Dollars for Scholars (CSF), P.O. Box 529, North Reading MA, 01864-0529.
