Elizabeth L. (Patterson) Dickenson

Elizabeth Leanna (Patterson) Dickinson passed peacefully away on  September 7, 2022.  She leaves her husband, Douglas Dickinson, her son and daughter in law Dean and Jennifer Dickinson, her daughter Kelly and husband Rudy Hellyar, her adored grandchildren, Jenna, Keegan and Emmet and her sister Freda Lee and brother Kenneth Patterson and sister in law Emylee.

She was born in Belfast Northern Ireland, April 25, 1944, the daughter of Fredrick Patterson and Elizabeth Patterson.  She immigrated with her family, mother, father, brother and sister, to the united states in 1951, leaving Belfast, traveling to St. John, New Brunswick ,Canada.  From there she traveled to Toronto, entering the United States in Detroit Michigan.   The family then crossed the great American prairie by train to Pasadena, California where Elizabeth was raised and attended school, graduating from Pasadena High School and Pasadena City College.  She attended California State University at LA when her education was interrupted when she fell in love with Douglas (Doug) Dickinson, a native boy from wales, ma who was a lance corporal in the united states marine corp.  They were married and came east to settle in Wales, MA in 1965.  Liz received her Bachelor’s of Science from AIC in Springfield and a Masters of Science from Worcester State College in 1988.  She took greatest pride in becoming a naturalized US citizen and traveled the country with the family who loved their trips to California, Florida, Canada, and the Cape.  
She loved the little New England town where they had two children, Dean and Kelly.  The family loved walking the trails and byways, playing in the brook, sledding in the snow, snowmobiling, going to Dean Pond and other beaches for swimming, and traveling to California to visit family.
The family supported a strong New England environment and Elizabeth supported good school and good education for the district.  She worked in the town as the first executive secretary, town accountant, moderator, and became a teacher in Brimfield and Wales.  She then became a district wide trainer and teacher and retired as the Director for Curriculum for the Humanities for Tantasqua and School Union 61.

Elizabeth was an avid reader, a lover of mystery books. She enjoyed gardening, canning, making jams, jellies and pies, hobbies that were equally enjoyed by Doug.   She loved watching her children playing sports, from softball, soccer, basketball, football, and track and field.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wales Food Pantry, 85 Main Street, Wales MA 01081.

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