Published in the May 10, 2019 edition.
BRAINTREE — Beverly Lorraine (Root) English, 77, of Braintree, formerly of Stoneham and Saco, Maine, died peacefully on April 30, 2019, surrounded by her family.
Bev was a consummate storyteller, and she shared many of the details of her life with those she loved. She was always engaging and quick-witted, and could talk about almost any subject, from British history to the play-action pass. She was quick with a quip and had a wicked sense of humor.
Beverly was born July 17, 1941, in Cambridge, to the late Charles and the late Lorraine (Muse), and was one of the first infants with Rh factor disease saved by exchange transfusion. In her childhood, she especially loved spending time with her grandparents. She attended elementary school at St. Joseph’s School in Wakefield, and graduated from Wakefield High School, Class of ‘59.
In 1960, Bev joined the U.S. Navy where she trained in aviation electronics, placing “black boxes” in aircraft. She also served for several years on a flight crew, and was at that time one of only four women in the Navy doing so stateside. She was stationed at Bethesda, Memphis and San Diego. She later served in the Army National Guard. She had very fond memories of her time in the service, and was proud to have served our nation.
After leaving the Navy, Beverly moved to Stoneham, where she resided until 1996. She was active in the Unitarian Universalist Church of both Stoneham and Reading. She was employed at the Reading Post Office from 1983-1991. In 1996, Bev moved to Saco, Maine, to be closer to Ferry Beach, a place that she loved. After 16 years in Maine, she moved to Braintree to be closer to her family.
Besides spending time with her family, Bev’s greatest lifelong passion was reading. She read the Boston
Globe daily for over 40 years, as well as numerous magazines. Her expansive library of books of all types numbered in the hundreds. She was especially fond of the Harry Potter series, as she “became a 10-year-old girl again” while reading them.
She also had a lifelong love of music, from Chopin to CCR, folk, swing, old country, and early rock and roll. Her record collection was expansive, also numbering in the hundreds of titles and artists. This love was passed down to her sons, and she never wavered in her support for their ongoing musical ambitions. However, her own singing voice left room for improvement.
Bev also enjoyed gardening, and took great pride in her flower gardens, both in Stoneham and in Maine. In 1991, she took her “bucket list” trip to Great Britain, where she enjoyed sightseeing and took inspiration for her own well-tended gardens.
She amassed a large collection of postcards, mostly humorous, over the years. She also loved Christmas trees, and her home was decorated with many of them. She kept them out all year and kept one decorated according to the season or current holiday.
Bev was an ardent, lifelong Red Sox and Patriots fan, and was exceptionally knowledgeable in the finer points of both sports. She was also fond of all animals, and especially loved her cats.
She lived with bi-polar disorder and other mental health issues for many years, however, she managed her illnesses well. She educated herself and others about this and sought help when she needed to, minimizing the effect on her quality of life.
Bev’s childhood dream was to be a teacher, and in so many ways she was. She was kind to all she encountered, and her quick smile lit up a room. Her sense of humor made an impression on everyone she met, and the divine spark she so willingly shared will not be forgotten.
Beverly is survived by her two sons, Jason and his wife Allyson of Milton, and Mathew and the late Cara Brunton-English of Springfield. Grandmother of Keith and Ryan of Greensboro, N.C., Devin of Springfield, and Violet and Ben Pinola of Milton. Sister of Dianne Harvey of Manchester, N.H. and Charles Root and his wife Rose, of Reading. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews, dozens of cousins, and her dear friend Linda Palmer.
A celebration of Beverly’s life will be held Saturday, May 11 from 4-8 p.m. at Anderson-Bryant Funeral Home, 4 Common St., Stoneham.
