NORTHAMPTON - Betty Jane Dewey Addis, 70, of Florence, passed away March 19 at Hampshire Care Nursing Home in Leeds. Born Aug. 4, 1937, in Northampton, she was the daughter of Harry Vernon Dewey, originally of Stowe, Vt., and Muriel Osgood Howe, of Northampton. She attended Northampton public schools, starting with kindergarten at Hill Institute in Florence and graduating from Northampton High School with the class of 1955.
She was inspired to become a registered nurse by her aunt, Clara Dewey Therrien, and attended the Cooley Dickinson School of Nursing, graduating with the class of 1958. She worked at Cooley Dickinson Hospital as a pediatric care nurse.
She was an active member of the Girl Scouts and earned the Curved Bar, Girl Scouting's highest award at the time.
She was married to Edwin C. "Ted" Addis on Dec. 28, 1963, at Florence Congregational Church. She was a member of First Church of Christ, UCC. She attended and enjoyed various arts and craft classes at Hill Institute. She was active as a Cub Scout den mother for both of her sons and was also active as a merit badge counselor for Boy Scout health badges. She volunteered as a team member with the decisional training program at the local house of correction and was on the Board of Directors for the Visiting Nurses Association of Northampton.
After raising her family, she returned to work as a school nurse at Ryan Road School and Florence Grammar School from 1986 to 1992. At the schools, she sometimes found that the best medicine was a hug and loved spending time with both the children and staff.
She and her husband, Ted, traveled with the Northampton and Williamsburg travel club on several occasions, including trips overseas to Great Britain and Switzerland.
She will be remembered as a loving and dedicated wife and mother who enjoyed spending time with friends and family. She leaves a husband, Edwin Addis, of Florence; a brother, Robert Vernon Dewey, and his wife, Marjorie Caldwell Dewey, of Crofton, Md.; a son, Mark Edwin Addis, his wife, Cynthia Voisine, and their children, Benjamin and Caleb, of Kennebunk, Maine; and a son, Craig Edwin Addis, his wife, Susan Williams Addis, and their children, Megan and Gareth, of Florence. She also leaves an aunt, Jane Foskitt, of Easthampton; uncles Karl Dewey, of Randolph, Vt., Harold Dewey, of Newington, Conn., and an aunt, Lillian Ricketson, of Stowe, Vt.
Her family would like to express their gratitude to the staff at the Hampshire Care Nursing Home in Leeds for their dedication, care and compassion.
Calling hours will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, March 24, at Pease and Gay Funeral Home in Northampton.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, March 25, at 10 a.m. at Edwards Church in Northampton, with an internment at Spring Grove Cemetery to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hill Institute, 83 Pine St., Florence, MA 01062, or the MSPCA, 171 Union St., Springfield, MA 01105.
3-20-2008