Elizabeth “Betty” Draper died peacefully in her home on Saturday, August 5, 2017. She was 96 years old. Betty was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1921, the oldest of four children of Lois and Charles Mansfield. She graduated from Salem High School.
Betty married John Draper of Peabody, Massachusetts in 1941. They moved to Danvers where she served as president of the PTA and was an active member of many organizations including the women's auxiliary of the Danvers Fish and Game Club.
When General Electric transferred John’s division to Lynchburg, VA, Betty easily made the transition from New England Yankee to southerner, speaking like a native in a matter of weeks.
The next transfer took the family of five to the Philadelphia, PA suburbs. In Glen Mills she founded and served as president of the Locksley Garden Club. She and John became avid square dancers.
Through all the moves, Betty spent every summer at Camper’s Haven in Dennisport first in a tent and later in a trailer. John would be at the Cape during his vacation but Betty and their sons stayed from June to Labor Day. When John retired in 1979 they had a house built in Brewster. They enjoyed clamming, biking, canoeing, and sailing. She served in the women's auxiliary of the EPAC Grotto. Betty was a founding member of Northside Methodist Church in Brewster and was a member of the Red Hat Ladies. In 2009 the couple moved to Thirwood Place where Betty rediscovered her love for painting. So devoted was she that Thirwood used a photo of her in her painting smock as a print ad.
Betty was predeceased by her sister, Lois of Salem, her son, Donald of Newburyport, and her husband of 69 years. She is survived by a brother, Howard Mansfield and his wife, Annette of Hicksville, NY; a brother, John Mansfield and his wife Maggie of Harrison, ME; a son, Richard and his wife, Barbara of Brewster; a son, Peter and his wife, Dyan of Glenmore, PA. She leaves seven grandchildren: Rebecca Draper and her partner, Dave LeBlanc of Epping, NH; Max Draper of Newbury, MA; Benjamin Draper and his wife, Rebecca O’Leary of Natick, MA; Evan Draper and his wife, Pamela of Philadelphia; Brendan Draper of Stowe, VT; Kristen Draper of Honeybrook, PA; and Courtney Draper of Honeybrook. Betty also leaves five great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren; a niece, Joanne of Naples, FL; a nephew Lester, of Taunton and Naples; and a nephew Matthew of Effingham, NH; and many close and dear
friends.
A memorial service celebrating Betty's life and wit will be held at Northside United Methodist Church 701 Airline Road, Brewster on Saturday, September 30 at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Betty's name to Hope Hospice, 765 Attucks Road, Hyannis. (https://hopehealthco.thankyou4caring.org/DonateNow) or Northside United Methodist Church, 701 Airline Road, Brewster, MA 02631.
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