Elizabeth A. (Doherty) Walsh

Elizabeth A. (Doherty) Walsh, of Reading, MA

Elizabeth "Betty" Walsh was born into a large Irish-American family of seven children, and her siblings and their families were a cherished part of her life for all of her years. Betty began her working career at the Arlington town hall, and always spoke fondly of this work as a building block for her professional life.

In the summer of 1959, Betty met her husband-to-be, Jack Walsh, at the Reservoir Beach in Arlington. She was coming to collect her four younger sisters from the beach and they all wanted Betty to meet Jack, the life guard. They married in 1964, moved to Belmont where their sons John and Chris were born. The youngest son, Keith, was born after they purchased a home on Vine Street in Reading.

During the early 1970s, Betty was elected to the Reading School Committee. She introduced the town to recycling (way back then!) as well as the creation of a food co-op to help those in need. The family were members of St. Agnes Parish in Reading. Betty taught many children and sang at Sunday masses for many years. She went back to school when her three boys were all in school, earning a Bachelor's degree from Salem State College, followed by Master's degrees from Emmanuel College and Andover Newton Theological School. She worked in service to others as an interfaith chaplain at Youville Hospital in Cambridge, MA, and Mary Immaculate Nursing Center in Lawrence MA, and for a time also worked as a minister in the Unitarian Church in Billerica. Helping others was a constant theme in Betty's life, and holiday dinners were known to be filled with her family, friends, and often people she had recently met who did not have a place to go. Her home and her heart were open to all during her lifetime. Betty spear-headed family camping and vacation adventures and also loved her Vine Street neighborhood. In her later years, as Betty and Jack moved to Summit Towers in Reading, they discovered a "new neighborhood" of wonderful, caring friends.

She will be fondly remembered as a mother, wife, Grammie, aunt and friend who loved gardening, music and people and led a life of compassion, positive energy and love for all.

Betty is the beloved wife of John Walsh. She is the cherished mother of John Walsh and his wife Laure Walsh, Christopher Walsh and his wife Dawn, and Keith Walsh and his wife Stephanie Walsh. She is the devoted grandmother of Amanda Swartz and her husband Corey, Macayla Phan and her husband Michael, Jack Walsh and his partner Abby Boyd, Sarah Walsh, Ryan Walsh, Derek Walsh and Caroline Walsh. Loving great grandmother of Teagan Swartz, Rowan Swartz and Mila Phan. Dear sister of Maureen McGowan, William Doherty and his partner Arlene, Carol Dunphy and her husband Thomas, Elieen Donohoe and her husband James, Kathleen Doherty and the late Joan Vasconcellas. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephew.

Family and friends are kindly invited to gather and share memories with the family on Thursday, July 9th from 3 pm to 7 pm in the Doherty Barile Family Funeral Home, 11 Linden Street, Reading, MA. Parking attendants and elevator available.

Funeral from the Doherty Barile Family Funeral Home 11 Linden St. Reading, MA on Friday, July 10th at 9:30 am followed by a Funeral Mass Celebrating Elizabeth's Eternal Life in St. Agnes Church 186 Woburn St. at 10:30 am. A luncheon at St. Agnes Church will immediately follow the service, and all are welcome.

Please consider donations in memory of Elizabeth to Dana Farber Cancer Institute by visiting https://www.dana-farber.org/