Elizabeth Ann Covell

Elizabeth Ann (Holmes) Covell of Eastham, Massachusetts passed away peacefully in her home on December 26, 2023. She was the daughter of Lester and Susan Holmes, and grew up in a large family with 4 sisters and 2 brothers. Elizabeth was third to the youngest in the family.

Elizabeth was born in Dover, New Hampshire in 1927 and spent her younger years in Worcester (Mass), eventually moving with her family to Maine and graduating from Waterboro High School in 1945. After High School, she settled in Boston and completed her Nursing Degree at the New England Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in 1949.

In her early teens, Elizabeth unknowingly met her future husband, Phanuel Bishop Covell, Jr. in Worcester, Mass, where Lester was the Pastor at Pleasant Street Baptist Church. Bishop’s father was also a Baptist Minister and the two teenagers would meet at Pleasant Street Baptist on Sundays and youth group events during the week. As the 40’s arrived and the Holmes moved to Maine, exchanging occasional letters during the next several years helped to keep their romance alive, culminating with their wedding in Alfred, Maine in June of 1950. Bishop would study at Gordon Theological Seminary in the 1940’s, eventually becoming ordained as a Baptist Minister in 1949.

Married life for Elizabeth and Bishop began in an apartment in Brighton, Mass and continued with stops in Peabody, Mass (1951-1957), Auburn, Maine (1958-1967) and Warwick, Rhode Island (1968-1992). Her energetic and fun-loving husband would lead the church congregation at each of these locations, with Elizabeth fully immersing herself in the church community at every stop. Both Elizabeth and Bishop would joyfully sing in the choir, lead various church committees, perform outreach to those in need and advocate for new and existing community service programs in each town they lived in. In 1993, Bishop and Elizabeth retired and moved permanently to the Cape, settling in their summer home in Eastham for the remainder of their lives and becoming active members of the Brewster Baptist Church.

Bishop had family roots on the Cape, dating back to the 1800’s, and his father introduced him to the magic of the Eastham sand dunes during his formative years in the 1930’s and 1940’s. Elizabeth was first introduced to the Cape by her fiance in the late 40’s and it was no surprise she instantly fell in love with the beach. The young family would rent in Eastham for summer vacations during the early 1950’s, and were excited to acquire 5 acres on Lawton Road in 1956. They built a home on Lawton in 1957-1958 and the family proceeded to spend every summer there for the next 30+ years. The whole family looked forward to trips to the Outer Beach on Coast Guard in our 1950's Willy's Jeep to dig clams, roast marshmallows, play in the dunes, surf, swim and sunbathe in that glorious Cape Cod summer air! Or perhaps load up Dad's homemade boat and head to Great Pond for a day of waterskiing. Vivid memories of our annual pilgrimage to Provincetown to picnic in the dunes and finish the day with Penny Candy on Commercial Street will last forever. Dad and Mom generously gave each of their children a plot of land and now 6 houses can be found on the “Covell Compound” in Eastham. When Bishop sadly passed away in December 2005, Mom realized she had to assume more responsibility in the leadership role for our family, a role she proudly excelled at for almost the next two decades!

Though tirelessly devoted to her faith and the churches she served, Elizabeth was most proud of her children - five boys and one girl. Raising the children with a stern hand when required, but calmly ensuring each of them knew her love was boundless and never-ending. Her gentle hands always ready to wipe away the tears and her softly spoken words of encouragement working their magic at just the right times. Son Timothy is her oldest, followed by Peter, then Jonathan, David was next, Jean (finally!) arrived and James was the youngest. All named from references in the Bible! Timothy (Kim), Peter (Ellen), James (Nancy) currently reside in Eastham with their families, Jean (Leighton) lives in Orleans, while Jonathan (Sue) is in Brewster, Mass, and David (Diana) lives in Saunderstown, RI.

From 1981 to 2007, thirteen Grandchildren were born into the Covell extended family, each one of them would grow to experience Grammie’s special love and kindness during their many visits to her home, and Grammie had a special plaque on her wall with all of their names: Erin and Ben (Tim and Kim), Allie and Sarah (Pete and Ellen), Jessie and Katie (Jon and Sue), Alicia, Jared, Jake (David and Diana), Megan and Jenny (Jean and Jeff Leyton), Kai and Sam (Jim and Nancy). Birthday Celebrations, Fourth of July Cookouts and Christmas Parties kept expanding every year, much to the delight of the Matriarch of the family!

From 2009 to 2023, eight Great-Grandchildren entered the Covell world, lighting up Grammie’s magical blue eyes with every new addition. Place a Covell baby in Grammie’s arms and her beautiful face would radiantly beam with nothing but Pure Joy! Over the past several years, the names were all added to Grammie’s plaque: Max, Elizabeth, Gabriel (Erin and David Cronen), Vivienne and Thomas (Allie and Chris Dupont), Seamus (Sarah and Matt Schroth), Ari (Jessie and Brandon Raneo) and Addie (Katie and Gus Wollenberg).

While faith and family formed the center of her world, Mom managed to find the time to enjoy several hobbies and interests. She loved to sing and play the organ - most often “playing by ear” without any sheet music. In retirement, Mom was most at peace while working in her garden. Growing both flowers and vegetables each summer was her passion. A perfect summer day in Eastham included eating breakfast while watching the multiple variety of birds come to her backyard feeder, checking if the Hummingbirds had yet arrived to the sugar-feeder on the front window and tending to the garden after lunch, growing and harvesting wonderful fruits and vegetables - a Green Thumb indeed! She was a magician in the kitchen, tirelessly feeding 6 active children and 1 always-late-for-dinner husband for decades. Every family visitor would make a beeline to her Cookie Jar, for one of Grammie’s Hermits, Whoopie Pies, Toll House Cookies or perhaps a new Chocolate Square recipe she was trying. Her love of chocolate would invariably shine through in her confectionary creations much to the delight of every chocoholic in the extended family!

In all aspects of her life - Daughter, Sister, Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Friend, Nurse - she always found a way to make you feel welcome with her beautiful smile, warm heart and helping hands. Every day she unselfishly put the needs of others before her own, concerned with the welfare of family and friends right up to her final days. She was a role model of human kindness for all who were blessed to know her and her memory will stay with each of us until we meet her again in Heaven.

Elizabeth’s family and friends are welcomed to attend her Celebration of Life at Brewster Baptist Church on Saturday January 27th at 1:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations are welcomed to the organization of your choice, including VNA Hospice and Palliative Care of Cape Cod, The American Heart Association and The Alzheimer's Association of Cape Cod.