TEWKSBURY, MA: Theresa "Bettie" (Hamel) Warden, age 82, died peacefully after a courageous year-long battle with cancer on Sunday, December 6, 2009 at the home of her daughter, Laurie. When she passed, Bettie was surrounded by her family who provided her with much love, support and prayers.
Born in Swanton, VT on October 3, 1927, she was the daughter of the late George and Ruth (Sullivan) Hamel. Mrs. Warden was raised in Swanton, VT, where she attended the local Catholic schools. She graduated from Champlain College in Burlington, VT, and then worked in the court system there.
In 1952, Bettie married John A. Warden, M.D., at the Church of the Nativity in Swanton, with whom she remained married for 55 years until he passed on September 2, 2007. On their 50th wedding anniversary, they exchanged vows again in a ceremony celebrated at St. Anne’s Shrine in Isle LaMotte, VT officiated by their dear friend, the late Reverend Maurice Boucher.
After their marriage, John and Bettie moved to Bluefield, WV and started their family. They moved to Philadelphia, PA, while John pursued his medical residency at the University of Pennsylvania, and then moved back to Bluefield, WV. By this time the family had grown to four children, and Bettie was proud to tell people that she had “four under five at home” (4 children under 5 years old).
In 1963, John and Bettie moved to Hamilton, MA, where they lived for the next 25 years. The family grew again, as two additional children were born. Bettie was an incredible mother, who enjoyed the simple pleasures of a shared family dinner, good conversation, friends and laughter. She was the true matriarch of the family, devout in her faith and cherished her holiday traditions. Known as the “life of the party,” she was never at a loss for words in any situation.
Upon John’s retirement, they resided in Sarasota, FL and summered in Alburgh, VT. In Florida, Bettie enjoyed her friends, family vacations and beautiful sunsets from their balcony on the beach. But, she truly loved the peace and tranquility of their unique family home in Vermont on the shores of Lake Champlain. She enjoyed gardening, family gatherings, her beloved Green Mountains and frequent trips to St. Anne’s Shrine.
She is survived by five children, John A. Warden, Jr. and his wife Pam of N. Andover, MA, Jane W. Folkman and her husband Paul of Mansfield, MA, Gregg M. Warden and his wife Paula of Rowley, MA, Christopher F. Warden and his wife Trang of San Francisco, CA and Laurie E. Warden and her husband Lundy Carre of Tewksbury, MA; eleven grandchildren, Kate Warden-Rohlfing, John, Sarah, James and Jeffrey Warden, Erin, Alicia and David Folkman, Matthew and Alexandra Warden, and Andrew Warden; one great grandchild Aislyn; one sister, Kathleen H. Morrissey and her husband Eugene of Burlington, VT; also many nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Warden was the mother of the late Roy A. Warden and sister of the late Wallace and James Hamel.
Calling hours: Thursday, Dec. 10th, from 4-8 p.m., at the Farmer & Dee Funeral Home, 16 Lee St., Tewksbury. Her funeral will be held Friday, Dec. 11th, at 10:30 a.m., from the funeral home, followed by her Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m., at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, 198 Haggetts Pond Rd., Andover. Interment at Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton, MA at 1:30 p.m.. In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to VNA Care Network & Hospice, 5 Federal Street, Danvers, MA 01923.