On Sept 3rd, Artemis Warburton, aged 97, passed away peacefully. She will be missed very much by her family and friends.
Artemis was born in New Bedford, MA, the daughter of Greek immigrant parents. Her father, Theodore Mitchell, was an original owner of Lupo's Restaurant, a longtime favorite eatery for the locals; her mother, Celia Barrows, was a trained seamstress of great talent. Artemis had two sisters, Ero and Beatrice.
On coming of age, Artemis moved to New York City along with Ero. There she received training at Pratt Institute to become a dietician. After that, with World War II raging, she enlisted in the Navy, and worked for two years at a military hospital in Virginia.
After receiving her honorable discharge a t the close of the war, she returned to New Bedford, where she chanced upon William (Bill) Warburton, Jr, who she had briefly dated in high school and who had also just returned from service in the Navy. They fell in love and became inseparable, and were married a few months later. The deep bond between these two souls is the pivotal story of Artemis’s life. They settled and built a house, all by hand, in Mattapoisett, and had three children; Diana, June, and William, lll. Artemis delighted in being a wife and mother and devoted herself wholeheartedly to it.
A vacation in Orleans in 1956 convinced the parents they should move to the Cape, and they purchased an old sea captain’s home in Hyannis, in which to operate a guest house. Bill developed a home maintenance business in Hyannisport, and Artemis ran the guest house, decorating each room with antiques she refinished, and developing beautiful gardens on all parts of the property. In the off season, Artemis would invariably pursue creative activities, showing a fine hand in all she touched. She was forever industrious, and always had projects of various kinds to which she would devote her spare moments-that is, when she wasn’t attending to the constant needs of three growing children and a demanding home business.
After the youngsters were grown and pursuing their own lives, Artemis and Bill traveled extensively across the US and Canada, having such adventures as riding mules to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and hiking the Smoky Mountain Trail, equipped with gear and sleeping bags made by Artemis, herself.
However, this well-earned life of adventure travel was not destined to continue. Bill became gravely ill, and passed away at the age of 57. After his untimely death, Artemis sold the guest house, and moved to a nearby property that she and Bill had purchased and started to develop together. It was then that the travel bug really took hold, and Artemis began a series of international trips, first with a tour group and soon by herself, over time visiting many countries and cultures. A solo trip to Japan provided the inspiration for the interior design and landscaping of her new home. She also began to paint.
After a number of years, Artemis realized that she wanted to have more time to pursue her artwork. She moved to a condo in Bourne to free up time for this pursuit. And paint she did. Her work was magnificent, and Artemis, once again demonstrated her artistic talent and refined eye in the many paintings she produced.
In the last years of her life, Artemis lived with her daughter, June, in Eastham, where she made many new friends and continued to enjoy life, taking quiet pleasure in whatever the day had to offer. Her indomitable spirit and ceaseless good cheer will be missed by all who were blessed to know her.
Artemis is survived by her daughter, June Lowther, her son, William Warburton lll, her grandchildren, Conrad Lowther, Will Warburton, and Erik Warburton, 4 great-grandchildren, her dear nieces, Theo Poulin, Michaele Cozzi, and Alethea Cozzi, as well as the spouses and partners of her children, grandchildren, and nieces. In addition to the loss of her dear husband, Artemis was predeceased by her daughter, Diana Warburton, and her sisters, Ero Kelley and Beatrice Mitchell.
It was Artemis’s wish that we remember her in our hearts, without ceremony.