Abby Mary Orton, 74, passed away on Sunday, January 17th at Pleasant Bay Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Brewster, MA.
Abby was born July 27, 1946, and raised in Albany, NY, daughter of the late John L. and Helen M. Bennett. She attended Holy Names Academy and earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from The College of Saint Rose in 1968. Following graduation, Abby lived in a number of cities, including Boston, MA; San Francisco, CA; and Los Angeles, CA. She was a proud attendee of the famous music festival in Woodstock, NY in 1969.
She and her husband, Tony, eventually settled down in 1974 in the Outer Cape, her home for the rest of her life. Tony and Abby eventually separated; however, Tony remained very dear to Abby’s heart. Abby was a server at the Lobster Pot Restaurant in Provincetown, MA from 1974-1999, during which time she touched the lives of many people, several of whom she remained close to until her death.
Abby was a voracious reader, a brilliant writer, an animal-lover, and was deeply passionate about politics, movies, music, arts and culture. She especially loved spending Sundays with friends doing the “Sunday Times Crossword” at the beaches of Provincetown, MA. To those closest to her, she was vivacious, adventurous, fun, witty, hilarious, and lived life to the fullest and on her own terms. A free spirit, she found peace and solitude in the beauty of the Outer Cape.
Abby is survived by her sister-in law, Therese A. Bennett of North Greenbush, NY; her nieces, Meagan Bennett (Jamison Divoll) and Catherine Bennett (Nicholas Morris) of Brooklyn, NY; her nephew, Robert Bennett (Brent Krebs) of Orlando, FL; and her grand-nephews, Kyle Morris and Thomas Divoll. Abby also leaves behind many dear friends: Melissa, Madeline, Bonny & Kathy, Kate & Steve, Rodney, Katie, Paul, Priscilla, Marty, and John, just to name a few. Abby touched the lives of all she met; she will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. She shared a very special bond with her late brother, Thomas F. Bennett III.
Due to the current pandemic, Memorial Services for Abby will be arranged at a time when it is deemed safe to do so.
The family requests that donations in Abby’s memory be made to the Carrie A. Seaman Animal Shelter, 5 Sandy Hill Ln., Provincetown, MA 02657.