Elizabeth A. Monahan

Elizabeth A. “Betty” Monahan was born in Marblehead (at home) in the SHIPYARD in 1924. She died Monday, August 12, 2013. She is predeceased by her parents Thomas J. Monahan Sr. & Helga (Halvorsen) Monahan, her brother Thomas J. Monahan Jr., her niece Sharon (Monahan) Herrick, sister-in-law Janis Monahan, nephews David Monahan and Karl Monahan Jr. She leaves her sister Doris (Monahan) Meehan, her brother Karl Monahan Sr. and sister-in-law Norma Monahan. Betty graduated from Marblehead High School and Mrs. Hunt’s School, Back Bay, Boston. She proudly served in the US Women’s Marine Corp. during World War II. After the war she trained in histology at Lynn Hospital and was a histologist at Retina Eye Research in Boston for many years. In later years she became a successful antique dealer, owned a shop in Sugar Hill, NH and did the best shows in the country until her retirement in 1991 when she returned to her beloved “Marblehead forever”.

She marched with Martin Luther King in Boston in the 1960’s after witnessing the injustice on television of children trying to enter school. She was a secretary of, and then served on the Board of Directors of the Catholic Women’s Club of Star of the Sea Parish. She also served on the Christian Service Committee and was the chairperson for entertaining international students and a member of the Ladies Solidarity.

Betty was a charter member of Salem Ski Meister’s and skied downhill in Franconia, NH and Stowe Mountain in VT from the 1930’s through the 1980’s with her family until she was 75. A true Marbleheader & Shipyarder, she raced her Barnegat sailboat #1, the Tai Kata, built by Graves and won many races and season championships.

She was a former member of the Quarterdeck Yacht Club at the Rockmere and then a member of Boston Yacht Club and secretary and cruise mistress of the Barnegat Association. Betty also enjoyed ballroom dancing, gourmet cooking, singing, traveling in the US and Europe, mountain climbing, walking around town, writing poetry and ballads for “her kids” (nieces & nephews) and was the owner of a miniature schnauzer and golden retriever.

She was a former member of the Marblehead Historical Society, Marblehead Art Association, Friend of Abbott Library, Peabody Essex Museum, Essex Museum, Shipyard Association and Sugar Hill Garden Club, winning 1st prize twice for her arrangements in the White Mountain Flower Show, curator of the Sugar Hill Historical Museum and a charter member of the Ski Museum in Franconia, NH.

Betty also leaves 11 nieces and nephews and their dear spouses; Frank Monahan, Debra Freedman, Carol Johnson, Paul Monahan, Maryellen McCarthy, Dr. Martha Monahan, Kristin Monahan and John, Peter, Susan and Rob Meehan. Aunt Betty loved and received immense love and affection from all “her kids”. She also leaves 19 great nieces and nephews, Frank Jr., Chris, JJ, Julie, Colin M, Ryan, Greg, John, Dr. Michael, Tom, Anna, Emily F., Emily S., Kelly, Colin Mc, Amelia, Moira, Jimmy, Corey and Jennifer and leaves 15 great-great nieces and nephews. She also leaves many dear friends.

Betty suffered for many years with systemic sclerosis and Sjogren’s syndrome but lived “mind over matter” each day with her strong faith and her family.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, 85 Atlantic Avenue, Marblehead on Saturday, August 17 at 11:00AM. All our welcome. Interment will be at Star of the Sea Cemetery in Marblehead. Donations in her name may be made to Catholic Charities or Hospice of the North Shore and Greater Boston. Arrangements by the Eustis and Cornell Funeral Home, Marblehead.