Published in the November 23, 2020 edition.
WAKEFIELD — Elizabeth “Betty” N. (Norton) Callahan, 90, of Wakefield, died on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, at her home.
Elizabeth was born in Waltham on Sept. 1930 and was the daughter of the late James E. and Catherine C. (Horgan) Norton.
Elizabeth was raised in Medford and was a graduate of Medford High School, Class of 1948. She enjoyed playing the piano, horseback riding and spending time at Hampton Beach. After high school, she worked for the John Hancock Insurance Company in Boston. She met and married the late Thomas Callahan, first living in Dorchester, then in 1957 moved to Wakefield to raise her children. While her children were in school, she took a job at Walton Elementary school in the lunchroom and later worked at the lunch bar for Bradlees in Woburn. She was a member of the Winthrop Yacht Club and the West Side Social Club.
Elizabeth enjoyed over 20 years wintering in Venice Isle, Fla., with her husband. She was very active at their community Al Del Mar, enjoying the pool beach, her many friends and the knitting club. In the summer, she enjoyed visiting Maine and Cape Cod and many a summer day on her boat the Irish Rover.
Elizabeth and Thomas enjoyed traveling the world with their life long friends the Gallaghers and the Hunts. She enjoyed Irish music, and it was always playing in the house. She enjoyed knitting and made her grandsons plenty of hats, mittens, sweaters and blankets. She enjoyed sewing, making clothes for her daughters and herself. She was known for her homemade cakes, cookies, brownies and whoopee pies.
Elizabeth enjoyed people-watching and had a unique gift of just talking with people and getting to know them. Mom was a wonderful listener and always made a point of getting to know our friends. She would never miss our sporting events and concerts. This carried through to her eight grandsons, baby-sitting and watching their sporting events. She was very active in her grandsons’ lives. Most of all, she loved spending time with her family.
Elizabeth was the beloved wife of 66 years of the late Thomas F. Callahan Jr. She was the loving mother of Thomas Callahan and his wife Elizabeth of Wilmot, N,H., Cynthia Dickey and her husband David of Yarmouth, Linda Callahan Thurlow of York, Maine, and her former husband Jeffrey Thurlow of Scarborough, Maine, and Brenda Hudd and her husband Stephen of Wakefield. Sister of the late Catherine O’Donnell and her husband Gerald, her brother-in-law John Callahan and wife Cathy of Tewksbury, and her sister-in-law Agnes Burlone and husband Fred of Halifax. She is also survived by her eight grandsons: Matthew and Kevin Callahan, David and Christopher Dickey, Daniel and Ryan Thurlow and Thomas and Patrick Hudd, and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Callahan was predeceased by her sister in laws: Marie Belanger, Ann Dicicco and Joan Sablock.
A special thank you to Maureen and Joanna of Care Dimensions and Audrey Hall for taking such wonderful care of our Mom
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Care Dimensions, 75 Sylvan St., Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.
Due to COVID, a dual Celebration of life for Elizabeth and Thomas will be held in the spring.
Arrangements are in the care of the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield.
