Elizabeth Bellavance

Scarborough, ME – Elizabeth (Grady) Bellavance, 77, of Scarborough passed on peacefully Thursday, May 21, 2009 at the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House, surrounded by her family, after a six month battle with cancer. She was the wife of Henry R. Bellavance.She was born on January 24, 1932 in Edinburgh, Scotland a daughter of the late Robert & Elizabeth (Burns) Grady. She completed her schooling in Edinburgh while competitively dancing throughout many of the castles around Scotland.In 1953 Betty, while working as a librarian, met Navy Petty Officer, Henry Bellavance on a night out dancing. After a year long relationship, she left Scotland for the States to marry Henry. She went on to give birth to five children and enjoyed seeing so much of the country while Henry was being transferred in the Navy.After moving back to Scarborough for the last time in 1966, Betty worked as a waitress in Mary & Bob’s Restaurant for a couple of years before starting at the Jetport Restaurant in 1970 where she worked up to management before leaving in 1983.Soon after she began working as a dietitian for the Casa Home in Scarborough, working with severely handicapped adults. She felt highly rewarded when she could make the kids happy with her cooking and amuse them with her sense of humor. She remained there until her retirement in 1994.She was also an avid Red Sox fan and a ferocious Patriots fan.Besides her husband of 55 years she is survived by her five children, James Roland Bellavance and his wife Robin of Gray, ME; Zachary Todd Bellavance of Gray, ME; Michelle Anne Hayes and her husband Nelson of Cumberland, ME; Richard Allen Bellavance and his wife Tammy of Passadumkeag, ME and Shawn Lee Gilbert and her husband Dennis of Antioch, CA. Elizabeth also leaves eight grandchildren Christopher, Becky, Gilbert, Kristy, Derick, Kaylee, Taylor and Elizabeth as well as three brothers Edward Grady, James Grady and Thomas Grady and a sister Celia McIntyre all of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is also the mother of the late Michael Wayne Bellavance and the sister of the late Robert Grady.Relatives and friends are invited to attend a visitation on Tuesday, May 26, 2009 from 5 – 8 p.m. at Jones, Rich & Hutchins Funeral Home, 199 Woodford Street Portland.Funeral prayers will be recited on Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. at the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. at St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Church, 150 Black Point Road, Scarborough.Internment at the Maine Veterans Cemetery will be held at a later date.In lieu of flowers donation in her memory can be made to:The Marshall L. and Susan Gibson Pavilion22 Bramhall StreetPortland, ME 04102-3175You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Bellavance family by visiting Elizabeth’s guest book at www.mem.com.