GREENVILLE, RI – Bernice Waterhouse Sheldon, 90, formerly of Webster and Dudley, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2022 in Greeneville, RI. Her beloved husband of 49 years, Raymond W. “Shelly” Sheldon, died in 2000.
She leaves a son, Bruce W. Sheldon and his wife Jody of Darien, CT; four grandchildren, Kate Wetherell and her partner Bob of Sugar Hill, NH, Ivy Wetherell and her partner Dave of Danielson, CT, Matthew Sheldon of Redondo Beach, CA and Lee Walker and her husband Max of Annapolis, VA; a great-grandson, Amani Kamau of Danielson, CT; a great-granddaughter, Joanna Walker of Annapolis, VA.; and her former son-in-law, George A. Wetherell of Woodstock, CT. She was predeceased by her daughter, Prudence S. Wetherell and by her siblings, Phyllis Waterhouse Elwell, Jean Waterhouse McMillen and William Waterhouse.
Bernice was born in Worcester, MA the daughter of Moses Sargent and Jenny (Purcell) Waterhouse and was raised in Webster, graduating from Bartlett High School in 1949. She attended New England Deaconess Hospital of Nursing and Simmons College in Boston, MA. She lived on Dudley Hill for many years. She also lived in Estero and Naples, FL before returning to New England in March 2017 to be closer to her family.
In addition to raising her family, she was employed by Nichols College in Dudley, MA from 1968 to 1984, retiring as Alumni Secretary. She was the first woman to be made an Honorary Alumna of Nichols College.
Over the years Bernice enjoyed nature and the outdoors including gardening, the beach, bike riding, canoeing, vacationing, camping in the family travel trailer, cooking, reading and spending time with those she loved. Both Bernice and Shelly took great pride in the house and grounds they built on Dudley Hill.
She was a former member of the East Woodstock Congregational Church, the Webster-Dudley Woman’s Club, the Garden Club, l’Apres-Midi and various other social clubs. Bernice was blessed with the gift of gab and an outgoing personality which complimented her late husband’s quiet and conservative nature. Her sociability allowed her to easily make new friends wherever she lived.
A private burial will be held at Quasset Cemetery in Woodstock, CT. Memorial donations may be made to the East Woodstock Congregational Church, P.O. Box 156, Woodstock, CT 06244-0156. Sitkowski, Malboeuf & Hickey Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster, MA is assisting with the arrangements.