Doris Mary Ballantine

Grandmother, Teacher, Philanthropist

Doris Mary Ballantine, 90, of West Harwich, Massachusetts and Bradenton, Florida, went to the

Lord on September 12, 2022, surrounded by her loving daughters.

Doris was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts on February 5, 1932, to the late John Ambrose

Terrio and Ella Louise (Tyner) Terrio of Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Doris is survived by her husband of 65 years, Paul, her daughter Karol’s husband, Eric Ewing,

and their children, Konnor and Kirsten Ewing of Ojai, California; Susan and Dudley Hall of

Norfolk, Massachusetts and Susan’s children, Kevin Mistler, Lucas and Allie Mistler, Candace

and Craig Legge, and Colleen Mistler; Paula and Mark Waller of Mystic, Connecticut and their

children, Kathleen Waller, Abigail Waller and Devin Waller; and Doris’s three great-

grandchildren, Isabella and Amelia Mistler and Braxton Legge.

She was preceded in death by two daughters, Karol and Karen Ballantine, and her siblings, John

Tyner Terrio, Louise Catherine (Terrio) Hankin, and Francis Edward Terrio.

Following high school graduation, Doris completed the demanding Katharine Gibbs secretarial

training program and entered the work force as an administrative assistant with the Veterans

Administration (VA) in Brockton, Massachusetts. There, Doris was in the unique position to

process the reports of a promising young VA therapist who recognized her many charms and

graces. Paul and Doris soon wed in Wellesley’s St. James Catholic Church, built a house in the

growing suburban community of Westwood, and settled down to raise a family.

Supporting Paul as he worked several jobs, Doris followed her dream of becoming a teacher, earning a

bachelor of arts in Education from Boston State College and joining the Westwood Public

School system as a first-grade teacher. Furthering her education, Doris earned a master’s

degree in Education from Bridgewater State College, enabling her service as a reading specialist

in the district’s middle school programs. She was also selected to serve as the Westwood

Representative to the Massachusetts Teachers Association.

Doris cherished sharing her love with her expanding family and friends in Westwood and West

Harwich, Massachusetts, the Dominican Republic and in Bradenton, Florida. She especially

reveled in the experiences of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. But Doris was not one

to sit around, as she and Paul loved to travel and take in all that the world had to offer,

including renewing their wedding vows while in Cana. An avid golfer, Doris was much feared on

the links and was known for taking everyone’s lunch money. Doris remained active throughout

her life, tirelessly supporting worthy causes such as Cape Cod’s Family Pantry and Elks Club

activities and fundraisers in Bradenton. She spent her final years on her beloved Cape Cod with

her devoted husband, Paul.

Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 20, 2022, at Doane Beal & Ames

Funeral Home, 260 Main Street, West Harwich, Massachusetts, 02671.

Services will be held at 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 21, 2022, at Holy Trinity Catholic

Church, 246 Main Street, West Harwich, Massachusetts, 02671.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Doris Ballantine to the St. Jude

Children’s® Research Hospital at www.stjude.org/donate using the Memorial ID number

23094333.