under the excellent care of the Newfield House and in conjunction with Cranberry Hospice staff
in Plymouth. She was born to Benjamin and Laura (Chenevert) Allaire who raised their children
in a French-speaking household in Brockton, MA.
Pauline was in love with her husband, Leo F. Best, and often stated that raising their eight
children was her greatest joy. Organized, industrious, and fun-loving, every meal Pauline
prepared for her family was as well-balanced as her measures of discipline, high jinx, and
hilarity. On Leo’s handmade dining room table, Pauline measured fabric, cut patterns, and sewed
everything from school clothes to beautiful wedding dresses for her children. Leo and Pauline raised their eight children to be responsible and self-sufficient, thus enabling her to pursue her passions. An avid reader of mystery novels, she completed thousands of crossword puzzles and was unbeatable at Scrabble, cribbage, and bridge. Along with the aromas of many a birthday cake, her home was often filled with the music of her classical piano pieces and the songs she performed with her friends in the Mayflower Chapter of Sweet Adelines and the St. Peter’s Church choir.
Before her marriage, Pauline attended secretarial school in Boston. Long before personal
computers, Pauline helped her children by manually typing their school reports. She was an
exacting grammarian. Curious about the world, Leo and Pauline traveled with their family, often
with a camper in tow. They visited Conway, NH, Washington, D.C., Amish Country in
Pennsylvania, and New York. Later in life, Pauline traveled to the Caribbean Islands, Grand
Canyon, Alaska, England, France, and Croatia.
When her children became young adults, Pauline returned to the work force. Over the years, she
was employed by Associated Engineers, Ocean Spray Cranberry World, Plymouth Community
Intermediate School, and Kelly Girls.
During the winters of their retirement years, Pauline and Leo enjoyed active social lives in St.
Petersburg, Florida, where Pauline played golf and volunteered with Catholic Charities and other
organizations in the city. When she moved to Shrewsbury to live with her daughter Margaret
Aulenback, Margaret’s husband Steve, and Margaret’s children, Jane, Joe, Tom, and Emma,
Pauline crocheted and knitted items that warmed her extended family as well as the
disadvantaged in her community.
Pauline is predeceased by her husband, Leo F. Best, to whom she was married for 48 years. In
addition to her numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great- grandchildren,
currently estimated at more than 50, she is survived by her daughter Paula and husband Paul
Ruozzi of Norton, MA, Ann and husband John Shea of Sandwich, MA, Michael and wife Susan
Best of Mather, CA, Barbara Best and husband Zarko Svatovic of New York City, Ellen Best
and husband Charles Cowing of Bridgewater, MA, Margaret and husband Steve Aulenback of
Shrewsbury, MA, John and wife Lynne Best of Carver, MA, and Laura Best of Marshfield, MA.
Services to celebrate Pauline’s life are private. For online condolences please visit
www.nickersonbournefuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, Pauline Best’s family would appreciate donations in her name to the following
charitable organizations:
Catholic Charities of Boston
275 W Broadway
Boston, MA 02127
(617) 268-9670
National Shrine of St. Jude
Claretian Missionaries
205 W. Monroe St.
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone : 312-544-8230
